Appliance for maintaining moisture in the mouth

The invention is to a liquid filled soft pouch attached to an upper partial or complete denture or a Hawley appliance for moisturizing a dry mouth (Xerostomia) the pouch having a fill valve and an exit valve, the latter operated by the tongue to permit exit of liquid, artifical salvia, to wet the mouth. The exit valve may be eliminated by employing a lower surface of the pouch which is porous so that it in effect sweats and liquid may be acquired by running the tongue over the porous surface.

The present invention relates to alleviating the symptoms of dry mouth 
(Xerostomia) and more particularly to an appliance fitted in the mouth to 
provide a flow of fluid as required to maintain the mouth moist. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
As stated in the October 1989 issue of AGD Impact at page 4, "Dry mouth is 
unexplored territory for dentists, yet it haunts about one-third of all 
adult patients." Dry mouth may produce "pain, a burning sensation of the 
tongue, difficulty chewing and swallowing foods, . . . " 
Two U.S. patents directed to the problem of dry mouth are U.S. Pat. Nos. 
4,838,882 and 3,991,471. The former patent provides a pad or sponge 
contained in a knit cotton cloth that is saturated with water and placed 
in a cheek pouch of the user. Such an arrangement puffs out the cheek, is 
uncomfortable, unsanitary and liquid flow is not readily controlled. 
Further, such a pouch will interfere with chewing and, thus, must be 
removed while eating. 
The latter patent provides a palatal appliance for maintaining humidity in 
the mouth and respiratory tract. It comprises a rigid plastic shell that 
conforms to the hard palate and holds a sponge saturated with liquid. 
Again, the discharge of liquid from the device is substantially 
uncontrolled and the device must be removed during eating. 
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
The appliance of the present invention may be affixed to a full or partial 
upper denture or supported by natural teeth or a Hawley appliance and 
essentially comprises a soft pouch disposed adjacent the hard palate 
having two valves, one for filling the pouch and one for discharging 
liquid from the pouch in response to action of the tongue. In the latter 
case, the valve may be such as to be moved (opened) by the tongue or may 
be opened by pressure developed by the tongue pressing on the pouch. Thus, 
during eating or speaking or at other times selected by the user the 
appropriate use of the tongue permits escape of small quantities of liquid 
from the pouch into the mouth or more specifically, onto the tongue or 
into food. 
In a second embodiment of the appliance, the discharge valve is eliminated 
and the lower surface of the pouch is composed of a liquid permeable 
membrane having pores of a size such that the surface in effect, sweats. 
The pores are of such size as not to hold food and, thus, the appliance 
does not require removal while eating, so that by slight suction or 
movement of the tongue across the membrane, liquid is made available to 
the tongue and thus the mouth. 
The appliance thus provided is small, pliable and, thus, comfortable and 
permits controlled flow of liquid into the mouth and also of great 
importance, permits the appliance to be filled without removal from the 
mouth if necessary. This latter feature results from the fact that a small 
plunger operated liquid filled tube may be inserted into the fill valve, 
which may also be of the type used to inflate a football, and upon 
operation of the plunger inject liquid into the pouch. 
The liquid would normally constitute artificial saliva and may include 
small quantities of fluorine to reduce cavities. 
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
It is, thus, an object of the present invention to provide a comfortable 
appliance for insertion in the mouth of a patient suffering from 
Xerostomia from which appliance liquid flow is to a great extent under 
control of the user. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide a soft pouch for 
holding liquid which pouch may be secured in the mouth of an individual 
and provide controllable flow of liquid into the user's mouth. 
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a pouch 
insertable into an individual's mouth which may be filled with liquid in 
situ but may be readily removed for fitting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
Referring now specifically to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, a 
soft plastic pouch 2 is secured along its upper surface 4 to base 6 of a 
denture or a Hawley appliance. In the latter case, the tooth braces are 
omitted from the appliance. The pouch may be secured to the base by 
chemical bonding or other suitable means. 
The pouch 2 may be fabricated from methyl methocrylate and has disposed in 
its lower wall 8 two valves, an intake valve 10 for filling the pouch with 
liquid and an outlet valve 12 for permitting, when opened, flow of liquid 
into the mouth. 
The valve 10, see FIG. 3, may be a flap valve secured to the interior of 
the wall 8 of the pouch 2 and includes an opening 14 in the wall 8 and a 
stiff plastic flap 16 secured by bonding or chemically to the one side of 
and completely covering the opening 14. A spring biased valve may also be 
employed. 
The valve 12 may be similar to valve 10 and is illustrated in FIG. 4 of the 
accompanying drawings. The valve 12 cooperates with a hole 18 in the lower 
wall 8 of the pouch 2. Interiorly of the pouch the hole 18 is covered by a 
stiff piece of flat plastic 20 anchored on the inner surface of the lower 
wall 8 thereby sealing the hole. A small thin flat member 22 is located 
below the wall 8 generally parallel to the flat plastic member 20 and is 
connected thereto by a stem 24. Upward pressure on the member 22 unseated 
the flap 20 and permits liquid to flow by it into the mouth. 
Another form of outlet valve that may be employed is illustrated in FIG. 5. 
Essentially this valve, generally designed by reference numeral 15 
includes a piece of stiff plastic 17 closing a hole 19 in wall 8. Normal 
position for the plastic member 17 is tight against the wall 8 and it may 
have a pluglike member 21 extending into hole 19 to further help seal the 
opening. The valve is opened in this embodiment by pressing the tongue 
against the pouch 2 to pressurize the liquid and force the valve 15 open. 
The degree of pressure determines the quantity of liquid discharged. 
Obviously, other valve arrangements may be employed for both of the valves 
10 and 12, those illustrated indicating several that may be used. 
The appliance of FIGS. 1 and 2 is illustrated as applied to a denture which 
may be a full or partial denture. In the event that the user does not have 
a denture, the appliance may be secured to a Hawley appliance or snap-on 
clips or related devices may be used to attach the pouch 2 to the teeth of 
the wearer. Such latter devices are shown in the aforesaid U.S. Pat. No. 
3,991,471. 
In the device of FIG. 6, the valve 12 is eliminated and the lower wall 8 of 
the pouch 2 is a porous member of such porosity as to maintain the outer 
surface of the wall 8 wet in effect sweating so that as the tongue rubs 
against the wall it picks up moisture as does food as it contacts the 
surface. The pores, however, are small enough that food will not enter 
them and clog the appliance.