Chewing gum

• US 4,563,345 A
• Filed: 01/23/1984
• Issued: 01/07/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert A. Arrick
• Original Assignee: Robert A. Arrick
• Inventors: Arrick, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rose, Shep K.
• Application Number:
  US06/572,988
• Time in Patent Office: 715 Days
• Field of Search: 424/48, 424/52, 424/151, 426/3-6
• US Class Current: 424/48
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 4/064 containing inorganic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 4/126 containing vitamins, antibiotics
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 4/20 Composite products, e.g. centre-filled , multi-layer, laminated
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0058 Chewing gums non-medicinal aspects, preparing chewing gum A23G4/00; chewing gum for care of the teeth or oral cavity, e.g. with breath freshener A61Q11/00

Abstract

A piece of chewing gum having a first phase including a chewable material, and a second phase including a tooth decay inhibiting amount of an effective fluorine salt, the first phase enclosing the second phase and not being admixed therewith.

Claims

1. A piece of liquid center chewing gum comprising

a first phase comprising chewing gum, and a high viscosity viscous second phase comprising a tooth decay inhibiting amount of between 0.3 and 0.5 g. of sodium fluoride USP, toxic in large doses, as an effective fluorine salt and between 50 and 250 g. of a 5-25% solution of a thickening agent adapted to impart sufficiently high viscosity to adhere some of the fluoride ions to tooth enamel,

said first phase enclosing said second phase and not being admixed therewith,

said high-viscosity viscous, fluoride-containing second phase being released into the mouth immediately upon sufficient chewing to rupture said first phase whereby a portion of said viscous second phase adheres to the teeth, providing topical protection, while the remainder of the fluoride is ingested, in smaller than toxic doses, for additional protection.

2. The piece of claim 1 wherein said second phase is a liquid at room temperature.

3. The piece of claim 2 wherein said liquid second phase has a viscosity at room temperature sufficiently high to cause at least a portion of said second phase to adhere to tooth enamel.

4. The piece of claim 3 wherein said liquid second phase has a viscosity at room temperature between 10 and 120 times that of water, as defined by the length of time taken to travel down an inclined surface.

5. The piece of claim 3 wherein said second phase further comprises

a non-toxic, pharmaceutically acceptable liquid carrier substance, and

a non-toxic, pharmaceutically acceptable thickening agent in an amount sufficient to impart said sufficiently high viscosity.

6. The piece of claim 5 wherein said thickening agent comprises sodium carboxymethycellulose.

7. The piece of claim 1 wherein said second phase further comprises an effective amount of a flavoring agent.

8. The piece of claim 1 wherein said second phase further comprises an effective amount of a non-toxic preservative.

9. The piece of claim 5 wherein said second phase comprises between 0.25 and 0.75 ml of a solution comprising

between 0.3 and 0.5 g fluorine salt,

between 50 and 250 g of a 5-25% solution of a thickening agent,

between 50 and 150 mg of a 0.5%-0.2% solution of a perservative,

an effective amount of a flavoring agent, and

water to make 1 liter of solution.

10. The piece of claim 9 wherein

said fluorine salt comprises sodium fluoride,

said thickening agent comprises sodium carboxymethycellulose,

said preservative comprises methylparaben, and

said flavoring agent comprises aspartame.