Patent Publication Number: US-9901522-B2

Title: Method of cleaning an oral appliance

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a Divisional Application of U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 14/271,174, filed in the United States on May 6, 2014, entitled, “Method of Cleaning an Oral Appliance,” which is a Non-Provisional Patent Application of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/820,393, filed on May 7, 2013, entitled, “Method of Cleaning an Oral Appliance,” the entirety of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Dental appliances, such as orthodontic retainers, dental aligners (such as Invisalign®, ClearCorrect™, and other brands), dentures, sleep apnea appliances, sports mouth guards, etc., are often worn anywhere from 30 minutes to 23 hours a day or longer and accumulate food particles, saliva, dead gingiva (skin), and other detritus. Over time (ranging from minutes to hours), the dental appliance begins to smell bad and discolor. Currently, oral appliance cleaners are designed for use outside the mouth and require the appliance dentures, retainers, mouth guards, etc.—to be soaked in the cleaning solution and sometimes cleaned in a sonic or ultrasonic cleaning device. Within 20 minute of being returned to the mouth, however, the appliance becomes dirty or contaminated again with food debris and microorganisms. A need exists for an oral appliance cleaner that can be used on the go, throughout the day if necessary, without requiring the appliance wearer to keep the appliance out of his or her mouth during the cleaning, process. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to a first aspect of the invention, a method of cleaning an oral appliance is provided that allows a dental patient or other oral appliance wearer to clean the appliance while the appliance is in the wearer&#39;s mouth. The appliance wearer simply dispenses a quantity of cleanser formulation into or onto the appliance and reinserts the appliance back into his or her mouth. If necessary, excess appliance cleanser is then expectorated. In an alternate embodiment, the oral appliance wearer applies the cleanser formulation to the appliance while the appliance is being worn; swishes cleanser formulation around in the mouth for a short time; and then expectorates any excess cleanser formulation. In another embodiment, the appliance wearer removes the appliance from his or her mouth; applies the cleanser formulation to the appliance; and places the appliance into a storage case. After allowing the appliance to dwell for 5 to 30 minutes, the appliance wearer retrieves the appliance from the storage case and reinserts it into his or her mouth, there being no need to rinse of any excess cleanser formulation. A primary benefit of the invention is its ease of use, as it offers the oral appliance wearer a quick way to clean the appliance while on the go, without having to clean the appliance in a separate vessel or under a stream of water. 
     The invention also provides a cleaning kit for an oral appliance that includes a foam-dispensing bottle filled with the cleanser formulation. In general, the cleanser formulation contains 70 to 98% water, 0.01 to 5% surfactant(s), and 0.01 to 30% hydrogen peroxide, and optionally one or more additional ingredients, with the amount of each ingredient being selected so that total ingredients sum to 100% by weight. Advantageously, the invention can be used without removing the oral appliance from the mouth, thereby ensuring that the beneficial use of the appliance is uninterrupted. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed descriptions of the various aspects of the invention in conjunction with reference to the following drawings, where: 
         FIG. 1  is a flowchart illustrating three embodiments of a method of cleaning an oral appliance according to one aspect of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic illustration of the application of a cleanser formulation according to one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic illustration of the application of a cleanser formulation according to another embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic illustration of an oral appliance with a foamed cleanser formulation thereon, seated in a storage case, according to one embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following description is presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention and to incorporate it in the context of particular applications. Various modifications, as well as a variety of uses, in different applications will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to a wide range of embodiments. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments presented, but is to be accorded with the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein. 
     In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without necessarily being limited to these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form, rather than in detail, in order to avoid obscuring the present invention. 
     The reader&#39;s attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with this specification and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference. All the features disclosed in this specification, (including any accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features. 
     Furthermore, any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means for” performing a specified function, or “step for” performing a specific function, is not to be interpreted as a “means” or “step” clause as specified in 35 U.S.C. Section 112, Paragraph 6. In particular, the use of “step of” or “act of” in the claims herein is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 USC. 112, Paragraph 6. 
     Please note, if used, the labels left, right, front, back, top, bottom, forward, reverse, clockwise and counter-clockwise have been used for convenience purposes only and are not intended to imply any particular fixed direction. Instead, they are used to reflect relative locations and/or directions between various portions of an object. As such, as the present invention is changed, the above labels may change their orientation. 
     (1) Specific Details of the Invention 
     According to a first aspect of the invention, a method of cleaning an oral appliance is provided that allows a dental patient or other oral appliance wearer to clean the appliance while the appliance is in place in the user&#39;s mouth.  FIG. 1  illustrates three embodiments of the cleaning method. In embodiment A, after removing the appliance from his or her mouth, the appliance wearer dispenses a quantity of cleanser formulation into or onto the appliance (step one); reinserts the appliance back into his or her mouth (step two); and, if necessary, expectorates any excess cleanser formulation (step three). As described below in greater detail, the cleanser formulation can be dispensed from a foam-dispensing bottle and applied to the appliance as a foam. In embodiment B, the oral appliance wearer applies the cleanser formulation directly to the appliance while the appliance is being worn (step one); swishes cleanser formulation around in the mouth for a short time; and, if necessary, expectorates any excess cleanser formulation (step three). In embodiment C, after removing the appliance from his or her mouth, the appliance wearer applies the cleanser formulation to the appliance (step one); places the appliance into a storage case (step two); and, after allowing the appliance to dwell for 5 to 30 minutes, retrieves the appliance from the storage case and reinserts it into his or her mouth (step three), there being no need to rinse off any excess cleanser formulation. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates the application of a cleanser formulation to an oral appliance according to one embodiment of the invention. After removing the oral appliance—in this case, an orthodontic aligner  10 —from his or her mouth, the user dispenses a quantity of a cleanser formulation as a foam  12  from a foam-dispensing bottle  14 . The foamed cleanser formulation is directed onto the aligner. Thereafter, the person reinserts the aligner back into his or her mouth (embodiment A). Alternatively, the user stores the aligner for a period of time in an aligner storage case  16 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . After a short period of time, the user retrieves the clean aligner from the storage case and reinserts it into his or her mouth (embodiment C). 
     In embodiment B, shown in  FIG. 4 , the appliance wearer dispenses a quantity of foamed cleanser  12  from a foam-dispensing bottle  14 , directly onto the oral appliance  10 —in this case an orthodontic retainer. The user swishes the cleanser formulation around in his or her mouth and then expectorates any remaining cleanser formulation. 
     In one embodiment, the cleanser formulation contains, on a percent-by-weight basis, 70 to 98% water, 0.01 to 5% surfactant(s), and 0.01 to 30% hydrogen peroxide, with the amount of each ingredient selected so that total ingredients sum to 100% by weight. In a more preferred embodiment, the cleanser formulation also contains one or more additional ingredient 0.01 to 4% sweetener(s), 0.01 to 4% ethylenediaminetetraacenne (EDTA), 0.01 to 6% sodium citrate or citric acid, and/or 0.01 to 3% flavorant(s), the amount of each ingredient being, selected so that total ingredients sum to 100% by weight. 
     Hydrogen peroxide is a germicidal agent and a bleaching agent, and plays a primary role in cleaning the oral appliance. The surfactant(s) facilitate the formation of a foam, as described below, and have intrinsic cleaning properties. One or a combination of surfactants is employed, including anionic, non-ionic, zwitterionic, poloxamer, and/or polysorbate surfactants. Nonlimiting examples include sodium lauryl sulfate (anionic) sodium dodecyl sulfate (anionic), cocamidopropyl betaine (zwitterionic), poloxamer 188 poloxamer 338, poloxamer 407, polysorbate 20, and alkyl polyglucosides (non-ionic). 
     Without being bound by theory, it is believed that EDTA facilitates the removal of inorganic debris (e.g., calcified deposits) through its chelating properties, and also functions as a preservative. Sodium citrate and citric acid are pH regulators and antioxidants. Preferred sweetener(s), if present, are those that do not promote tooth decay. Nonlimiting examples include xylitol, aspartame, sucralose, sorbitol, and saccharine. Nonlimiting examples of flavorants include peppermint, spearmint, wintergreen (methyl salicylate), cinnamon, vanilla, orange, and bubblegum. 
     Optionally, the cleanser formulation includes one or more additional ingredient. Unless otherwise indicated, each ingredient is present in an amount of from 0.01 to 6.0% by weight, with the amount of each ingredient being selected so that total ingredients in the cleanser formulation sum to 100% by weight. Nonlimiting examples of such additional ingredients include other peroxides, e.g., carbamide peroxide, calcium peroxide, and magnesium peroxide; ethanol (0.001 to 50%); potassium hydroxide (0.001 to 10%); food coloring; sodium bicarbonate; fluorides, including acidulated, stannous, and sodium fluoride (0.0001 to 5%); remineralizing agents, calcium phosphate, amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP), and other calcium chemicals; cetyl pyridinium chloride and related quaternary ammonium chlorides (0.001 to 3%); triclosan (0.001 to 5%); desensitizing agents, e.g., potassium nitrate, potassium citrate, potassium chloride, stannous fluoride, and strontium chloride (0.001 to 11%); anti-halitosis agents, e.g., chlorine dioxide, essential oils, and zinc chloride; tartar control agents, e.g., pyrophosphate, hexametaphosphate, zinc, zinc chloride; sorbitol; propylene glycol (0.001 to 33%); disodium phosphate (0.001 to 29%); eucalyptol (0.001 to 3%); menthol (0.001 to 3%), and thymol (0.001 to 3%). In one embodiment, the cleanser formulation contains only ingredients that are classified as Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. 
     The cleanser formulation is readily prepared by combining the ingredients in a suitable vessel, with stirring or other agitation sufficient to form a substantially homogeneous mixture. In a preferred embodiment, the cleanser formulation is provided in a conventional foam-dispensing bottle (also known as a foaming bottle, foam pump, foam-dispensing pump, etc.). Activating the pump causes the cleanser formulation to mix with air as it passes through the pump nozzle, fine pores or mesh, and/or other mechanism. In combination, the air and surfactant(s) cause the cleanser formulation to foam as it is ejected from the bottle. The hydrogen peroxide may also facilitate foaming. While not bound by theory, it is believed that a foamed cleanser formulation has greater cleansing power than an unfoamed cleanser, and also has better “mouth feel.” 
     The method of cleansing is suitable for use with all types of oral appliances, including orthodontic retainers, dental aligners (such as Invisalign® and ClearCorrect™ brand aligners), dentures, athletic mouth guards, snoring guards, sleep apnea appliances, tongue studs for pierced tongues, and other appliances commonly used in the mouth. In addition, the bleaching action of the hydrogen peroxide causes teeth, dental implants, dental crowns and bridges, and other dental prostheses to be whitened as the foamed cleanser formulation is applied, and the cleanser is further adapted to neutralize odors and kill pathogens that cause bad breath. 
     In a second aspect of the invention, a cleaning kit for a dental or other oral appliance is provided and includes a cleanser formulation as described above, contained within a foam-dispensing bottle. In one embodiment, the foam-dispensing bottle is housed in a fitted “holster,” such as the type commonly used to hold a personal defense spray (mace). The holster can include a clasp, chain, and/or other fastener for attaching it to a keychain. This makes it very easy to carry the foam-dispensing bottle containing the cleanser formulation. Optionally, the cleaning kit also includes one or more oral appliance, of the type previously described. The kit can be distributed to a patient by a dentist or orthodontist at the time he or she provides the patient with an orthodontic retainer, aligner, or other dental appliance. It also can be distributed by stores that sell other types of oral appliances. This offers patients/consumers a convenient opportunity to purchase both a desired oral appliance and a cleanser formulation particularly adapted for use with the appliance. 
     Use of the method and cleaning kit permits the oral appliance wearer to enjoy the benefits of cleaning the appliance at regular intervals, or “as needed,” without having to remove the appliance. This is particularly beneficial to persons who wear orthodontic retainers and similar dental appliances, as they often experience decreased salivary flow around the teeth while wearing the appliance. Free-flowing saliva bathes the teeth and increases the pH in the mouth, which counteracts bacterial acids that cause tooth decay and gum disease. The cleaning method and kit described herein foster the oral appliance wearer&#39;s oral hygiene by making it easy to clean the appliance regularly. 
     The invention includes a number of features, embodiments, advantages, and variations (some of which are described above). These include: 
     An oral care formulation designed to clean an oral appliance, such as a dental appliance, especially while the appliance is worn in the mouth, rather than by merely soaking the appliance or using it outside of the mouth. 
     An oral care formulation which, when used in the mouth, does not interfere with the function of the appliance. For example, if the appliance is moving teeth the formulation will not interfere with the teeth moving. 
     An oral care formulation which, when used in the mouth, does not irritate hard or soft tissues of the mouth, including the teeth. 
     An oral care formulation that can be applied to dental appliances multiple times per day and at night, and before bedtime. 
     An oral care formulation that can be applied as a touch-up treatment to combat bad breath or appliance “funk” caused by the smell of saliva and other intraoral fluids. 
     An oral care formulation designed to kill bacterial flora that build up in or on the appliance while a person wears the appliance. 
     An oral care formulation that is easily applied to the entire inner surface area of the appliance that comes in contact with the teeth. 
     An oral care formulation that has adhesion properties that allow the formulation to adhere to the dental appliance, preventing it from falling out of the appliance prior to and when inserting the appliance in the mouth. 
     An oral care formulation that has properties that keep the formulation from sliding, or moving from the place where the formulation was applied. 
     An oral care formulation which, when applied, reacts with organic stains, odors, food, saliva, and blood particles on the teeth, between teeth, between teeth and gums, between teeth and appliance, and within the microscopic porosity of the dental appliance materials (which are often fabricated from plastics, resins, composite materials, etc.). 
     An oral care formulation that activates when inserted into the mouth, moving the oral care formulation from room temperature to body temperature. 
     An oral care formulation that is dispensed from a container and applied to all surfaces of the dental appliance that interfaces with the teeth and gums. 
     An oral care formulation composed of either a one-chamber or a two-chamber system, and which, when dispensed, mixes. 
     A two-chamber system that combines an “a” and a “b” chemistry, which when combined activates the oral care formulation. 
     An oral care formulation that is activated under the pressure created by the sandwich formed between the dental appliance, oral care formulation, and the teeth and gums. 
     An oral care formulation containing a peroxide compound that releases oxygen as it decomposes, which agitates the formula&#39;s cleaning solvents and surfactants thereby enhancing the cleaning effects or action. 
     An oral care formulation containing a peroxide that releases free radicals as it decomposes, which whiten organic stain molecules found on the appliance and in the teeth enamel rods. 
     An oral care formulation containing a peroxide that releases free radicals and oxygen as it decomposes, which kills bacteria and biofilms located around the teeth, gums, and appliance. 
     An oral care formulation containing a peroxide that creates pressure as it decomposes, and moves some of the oral care formula into the mouth, which will kill bacteria that cause bad breath. 
     An oral care formulation packaged in containers that are portable or table top size. 
     An oral care formulation which, when dispensed, is a liquid, foam, gel, or powder. 
     An oral care formulation that whitens teeth. 
     An oral care formulation that kills intraoral bacteria that cause bad breath, tooth decay, and gum disease. 
     An oral care formulation that has a viscosity below 1000 centipoise, and ideally between 1 and 500 centipoise. 
     An oral care formulation containing one or more oxidizing agents from the following categories: hydrogen peroxide, carbamide peroxide, calcium peroxide, and magnesium peroxide. 
     An oral care formulation containing water over 20% of the total composition. 
     An oral care formulation containing alcohol ranging from 0.001% to 50%. 
     An oral care formulation containing one or more orally safe anionic surfactants, such as sodium lauryl sulphate, dodecyl sulfate, or sodium lauril sulphate, ranging from 0.001-30%. 
     An oral care formulation containing one or more surfactants from the class called zwitterionic surfactants, such as cocamidopropyl betaine, ranging from 0.001-30%. 
     An oral care formulation containing one or more surfactants from the class called poloxamers, such as poloxamer 407 and 338, and/or polysorbates, such as polysorbate 20, ranging from 0.001-30%. 
     An oral care formulation containing one or more non-ionic surfactants, such as alkyl polyglucosides, ranging from 0.001-40%. 
     An oral care formulation containing potassium hydroxide ranging from 0.001-10%. 
     An oral care formulation containing one or more cheating agents, such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), ranging from 0.001-10%. 
     An oral care formulation containing one or more flavorings such as mint, peppermint, cinnamon, spearmint, vanilla, orange, bubble gum, or wintergreen (methyl salicylate) ranging from 0.001-9%. 
     An oral care formulation containing citric acid ranging from 0.001-22%. 
     An oral care formulation containing food coloring. 
     An oral care formulation containing sodium bicarbonate. 
     An oral care formulation containing one or more sweeteners such as xylitol, aspartame, sucralose, sorbitol, or saccharine ranging from 0.001-30%. 
     An oral care formulation containing one or more fluorides in the form of acidulated, stannous, or sodium fluoride, ranging from 0.0001-5%. 
     An oral care formulation containing one or more compounds that remineralize teeth, such as ACP, calcium phosphate or other calcium chemicals. 
     An oral care formulation containing one or more cationic quaternary ammonium compounds, such as cetylpyridinium chloride, ranging from 0.001-3%. 
     An oral care formulation containing triclosan ranging from ranging from 0.001-5%. 
     An oral care formulation containing one or more ingredients to combat sensitive teeth, including potassium nitrate, potassium citrate, potassium chloride, stannous fluoride, and strontium chloride, ranging from 0.001-11%. 
     An oral care formulation containing one or more compounds or components to combat bad breath, such as chlorine dioxide, essential oils, and zinc chloride. 
     An oral care formulation containing one or more compounds or components to prevent tartar build-up on or in the appliance, such as pyrophosphate, hexametaphosphate, or zinc or zinc citrate. 
     An oral care formulation containing sorbatol ranging from ranging from 0.001-6%. 
     An oral care formulation containing propylene glycol, which is a solvent and/or humectant, ranging from ranging from 0.001-33%. 
     An oral care formulation containing disodium phosphate, which is a solvent and or humectant, ranging from ranging from 0.001-29% 
     An oral care formulation containing eucalyptol ranging from ranging from 0.001-3%. 
     An oral care formulation containing menthol ranging from ranging from 0.001-3%. 
     An oral care formulation containing thymol ranging from 0.001-3%. 
     Other modifications and variations may readily occur to those skilled in the art upon reading the present disclosure or seeing the invention in practice. It is intended that all such modifications and variations are included within the scope of the invention, which is limited only by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.