Chewable tooth cleaning composition

• US 4,828,820 A
• Filed: 01/15/1987
• Issued: 05/09/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Warner-Lambert Company (Pfizer Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Warner-Lambert Company (Pfizer Inc.)
• Inventors: Bilka, Kenneth P., Guzowski, Anthony, Glass, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Rose, Shep K.
• Application Number:
  US07/003,670
• Time in Patent Office: 845 Days
• Field of Search: 424/48, 424/49, 424/156, 426/34, 426/56
• US Class Current: 424/48
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 2800/412 Microsized, i.e. having sizes between 0.1 and 100 microns
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/19 containing inorganic ingredients
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 11/00 Preparations for care of the teeth, of the oral cavity or of dentures; Dentifrices, e.g. toothpastes; Mouth rinses

Abstract

A chewable tooth cleaning composition which removes dental plaque from the chewing surfaces of the teeth has incorporated into a chewing gum formulation about 20% to about 40% by weight, based on the weight of the total composition, of a calcium carbonate abrasive having a specific particle size distribution.

Claims

1. A chewable tooth cleaning composition which removes plaque from the chewing surfaces of the teeth comprising:

(a) about 19% to about 30% by weight, based on the weight of the total composition, of a gum base;

(b) about 2.15% to about 16.2% by weight of at least one plasticizing/softening agent;

(c) about 22.05% to about 65.3% by weight of at least one sweetening agent;

(d) about 0.6% to about 3% by weight of at least one flavoring agent; and

(e) about 20% to about 40% by weight of a calcium carbonate abrasive having the following particle size distribution;

(1) about 0.03% by weight, based on the total weight of the calcium carbonate, having a particle size larger than about 420 microns;

(2) about 10% by weight having a particle size larger than about 250 microns;

(3) about 34% by weight having a particle size of larger than about 149 microns;

(4) about 44% by weight having a particle size larger than about 74 microns; and

(5) about 11.97% by weight having a particle size smaller than about 74 microns.

2. The composition according to claim 1 wherein the gum base is present in an amount of about 24% to about 28% by weight, based on the weight of the total composition.

3. The composition according to claim 1 wherein the plasticizing/softening agent is present in an amount of about 7.5% to about 9.9% by weight, based on the weight of the total composition.

4. The composition according to claim 1 wherein the plasticizing/softening agent is a combination of acetylated monoglyceride, present in an amount of about 0.05% to about 0.5% by weight;

lecithin, present in a amount of about 0.1% to about 0.7% by weight; and

glycerin, present in an amount of about 2% to about 15% by weight, all percentages being based on the weight of the total composition.

5. The composition according to claim 1 wherein the sweetening agent is present in an amount of about 34.18% to about 48.22% by weight, based on the weight of the total composition.

6. The composition of claim 1 wherein the sweetening agent is a combination of mannitol, present in an amount of about 2% to about 15% by weight;

sorbitol, present in an amount of about 20% to about 50% by weight; and

an artificial sweetener, present in an amount of about 0.05% to about 0.3% by weight, all percentages being based on the weight of the total composition.

7. The composition according to claim 6 wherein the artificial sweetner is sodium saccharin.

8. The composition according to claim 1 wherein the flavoring agent is present in an amount of about 1.8% to about 2.2% by weight, based on the weight of the total composition.

9. The composition according to claim 1 wherein the calcium carbonate is present in an amount of about 20% to about 25% by weight, based on the weight of the total composition.

12. A method for removing plaque from the chewing surfaces of the teeth which comprises chewing, on a regular basis, the composition of claim 1.

17. The composition of claim 1 wherein said calcium carbonate abrasive was added to a melted gum base during prepared of said composition.

10. A chewable tooth cleaning composition which removes plaque from the chewing surfaces of the teeth comprising:

(a) about 19% to about 30% by weight, based on the weight of the total composition, of a gum base;

(b) about 0.05% to about 0.5% by weight of acetylated monoglyceride;

(c) about 0.1% to about 0.7% by weight of lecithin;

(d) about 2% to about 15% by weight of glycerin;

(e) about 2% to about 15% of a mannitol bulk sweetener;

(f) about 20% to about 50% by weight of a sorbitol bulk sweetener;

(g) about 0.05% to about 0.3% of sodium saccharin;

(h) about 0.6% to about 3% by weight of a flavoring agent; and

(i) about 20% to about 40% by weight of a calcium carbonate abrasive having the following particle size distribution;

(1) about 0.03% by weight, based on the total weight of the calcium carbonate, having a particle size larger than about 420 microns;

(2) about 10% by weight having a particle size larger than about 250 microns;

(3) about 34% by weight having a particle size of larger than about 149 microns;

(4) about 44% by weight having a particle size larger than about 74 microns; and

(5) about 11.97% by weight having a particle size smaller than about 74 microns.

13. A method for removing plaque from the chewing surfaces of the teeth which comprises chewing, on a regular basis, the composition of claim 10.

18. The compositon of claim 10 wherein said calcium carbonate abrasive was added to a melted gum base during preparation of said composition.

11. A chewable tooth cleaning composition which removes plaque from chewing surfaces of teeth comprising:

(a) about 24% to about 28% by weight, based on the weight of the total composition, of a gum base;

(b) about 0.1% to about 0.3% by weight of acetylated monoglyceride;

(c) about 0.4% to about 0.6% by weight of lecithin;

(d) about 7% to about 9% of glycerin;

(e) about 4% to about 8% of a mannitol bulk sweetener;

(f) about 30% to about 40% by weight of a sorbitol bulk sweetener;

(g) about 0.18% to about 0.22% by weight of sodium saccharin;

(h) about 1.8% to about 2.2% by weight of a flavoring agent; and

(i) about 20% to about 25% by weight of a calcium carbonate abrasive having the following particle size distribution;

(1) about 0.03% by weight, based on the total weight of the calcium carbonate, having a particle size larger than about 420 microns;

(2) about 10% by weight having a particle size larger than about 250 microns;

(3) about 34% by weight having a particle size of larger than about 149 microns;

(4) about 44% by weight having a particle size larger than about 74 microns; and

(5) about 11.97% by weight having a particle size smaller than about 74 microns.

14. A method for removing plaque from the chewing surfaces of the teeth which comprises chewing, on a regular basis, the composition of claim 11.

19. The composition of claim 11 wherein said calcium sarbonate abrasive was added to a melted gum base during preparation of said composition.

15. A method for preparing a chewable tooth cleaning composition which comprises:

1. melting a chewing gum base to a temperature of about 80°

C. to about 90°

C.;

2. adding to the melted chewing gum base, with mixing, calcium carbonate abrasive particles and at least one plasticizing/softening agent, said calcium carbonate abrasive having the following particle size distribution;

about 0.03% by weight of the calcium carbonate particles have a particle size larger than about 420 microns;

about 10% by weight have a particle size larger than about 250 microns;

about 34% by weight have a particle size larger than about 149 microns;

about 44% by weight have a particle size larger than about 74 microns; and

about 11.97% by weight have a particle size smaller than about 74 microns;

3. adding to the mixture of Step 2 at least one sweetener and at least one flavoring agent, and mixing until a homogeneous mixture is obtained; and

4. pressing the mixture of Step 3 into the form desired.

16. The method according to claim 15 wherein, in Step 2, there is additionally present an artificial sweetening agent.

20. A chewable tooth cleaning composition which removes plaque from the chewing surfaces of teeth prepared by the process of claim 15.