Patent ID: 8292624

Claim:
An oral appliance comprising: two inverted channels dimensioned to receive upper and lower bites of dental arches of a user, the channels being integral with one another and comprising a molded gel material that is edible and is configured to be broken up and ingested after a period of mastication; protrusions integral with the channels and bearing inwardly against teeth and gums of the user, wherein the channels and protrusions are configured such that mastication produces relative brushing movement of the protrusions over the teeth and gums; further comprising at least one lateral brace connecting lateral sides of at least one of the channels, wherein the lateral brace is placed such that pressure from a tongue of the user in a direction toward one of the bites during said mastication holds the oral appliance in place against said one of the bites, while the protrusions brush over the other of the bites; and, wherein the gel material consists essentially of (a) a mixture of gelatin and polyethylene glycol (PEG), and (b) has more than 100 parts of gelatin for 100 parts of PEG.