Chewing gum product with dental care benefits

• US 5,618,517 A
• Filed: 10/03/1995
• Issued: 04/08/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Church & Dwight Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Church & Dwight Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Miskewitz, Regina M.
• Primary Examiner(s): HUNTER, JEANETTE M
• Application Number:
  US08/538,215
• Time in Patent Office: 553 Days
• Field of Search: 426/3-6, 426/96, 424/48
• US Class Current: 424/48
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 4/064 containing inorganic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 4/20 Composite products, e.g. centre-filled , multi-layer, laminated

Abstract

The present invention provides a chewing gum product which has a content of one or more active ingredients for improved dental health. In one embodiment a present invention chewing gum product has a content of ingredients which include a gum base, dispersed particles of organic-encapsulated sodium bicarbonate, a bulking sweetener, and a flavorant.

Claims

1. A chewing gum product comprising between about 15-80 weight percent of a gum base, and between about 1-30 weight percent of dispersed particles of an organic-encapsulated alkali metal bicarbonate ingredient.

2. A chewing gum product in accordance with claim 1 wherein the alkali metal bicarbonate ingredient has a content between about 0.1-20 weight percent of alkali metal carbonate, based on the weight of alkali metal bicarbonate.

3. A chewing gum product in accordance with claim 1 which additionally contains between about 5-70 weight percent of a water-soluble bulking ingredient.

4. A chewing gum product in accordance with claim 1 which additionally contains between about 0.02-5 weight percent of a flavorant ingredient which is encapsulated or unencapsulated or a mixture thereof.

5. A chewing gum product in accordance with claim 1 which additionally contains between about 0.001-0.2 weight percent of a colorant ingredient.

6. A chewing gum product in accordance with claim 1 which additionally contains between about 0.01-3 weight percent of an antioxidant ingredient.

7. A chewing gum product in accordance with claim 1 which additionally contains between about 0.5-25 weight percent of an alkali metal bicarbonate powder ingredient.

8. A chewing gum product in accordance with claim 1 which additionally contains between about 0.5-25 weight percent of an alkali metal bicarbonate powder ingredient, and between about 0.1-20 weight percent of alkali metal carbonate, based on the weight of additional alkali metal bicarbonate powder ingredient.

9. A chewing gum product in accordance with claim 1 which additionally contains between about 1-20 weight percent of an abrasive ingredient.

10. A chewing gum product in accordance with claim 1 which additionally contains between about 0.001-3 weight percent of a surfactant ingredient.

11. A chewing gum product in accordance with claim 1 which additionally contains between about 0.05-3 weight percent of a fluoridating ingredient.

12. A chewing gum product in accordance with claim 1 which additionally contains between about 0.1-15 weight percent of glycerin or lecithin or a mixture thereof.

13. A chewing gum product in accordance with claim 1 which additionally contains between about 5-70 weight percent of a bulking sweetener ingredient selected from the group consisting of sucrose, glucose, maltitol, xylitol, sorbitol and mannitol and mixtures thereof.

14. A chewing gum product in accordance with claim 1 which additionally contains between about 0.02-5 weight percent of a flavorant ingredient selected from the group consisting of encapsulated and unencapsulated menthol, peppermint oil, spearmint oil, wintergreen oil, cinnamon oil and anise and mixtures thereof.

15. A chewing gum product in accordance with claim 1 which additionally contains between about 0.5-25 weight percent of sodium bicarbonate or potassium bicarbonate having an average particle size between about 0.5-20 microns.

16. A chewing gum product in accordance with claim 1 which additionally contains between about 1-20 weight percent of an abrasive ingredient selected from the group consisting of calcium phosphate and silica compounds and mixtures thereof.

17. A chewing gum product in accordance with claim 1 which additionally contains between about 0.001-3 weight percent of a surfactant ingredient selected from the group consisting of alkali metal and ammonium C₈ -C₃₀ aliphatic-containing carboxylate, sulfonate, sulfate and phosphate salts and mixtures thereof.

18. A chewing gum product in accordance with claim 1 which additionally contains between about 0.05-3 weight percent of a fluoridating ingredient selected from the group consisting of alkali metal fluoride, ammonium fluoride, stannous fluoride, stannous chlorofluoride, potassium stannous fluoride, alkali metal monofluorophosphate, and ammonium monofluorophosphate and mixtures thereof.

19. A chewing gum product in accordance with claim 1 which additionally contains between about 0.025-2 weight percent of a high intensity sweetener selected from the group consisting of aspartame, saccharin, cyclamate, thaumatin, dihydrochalcones and acesulfame K compounds and mixtures thereof.

20. A chewing gum product in accordance with claim 1 which additionally contains between about 0.01-3 weight percent of an antioxidant ingredient selected from the group consisting of butylated hydroxytoluene, butylated hydroxyanisole and propyl gallate and mixtures thereof.

21. A chewing gum product in accordance with claim 1 wherein the organic encapsulant comprises between about 5-60 weight percent of the surface-coated bicarbonate particle dry weight.

22. A chewing gum product in accordance with claim 1 wherein the organic encapsulant on the surface-coated bicarbonate particles comprises a hydrophilic polymer or water-insoluble polymer or a mixture thereof.

23. A chewing gum product in accordance with claim 1 wherein the organic encapsulant on the surface-coated bicarbonate particles comprises a hydrophilic polymer having a content between about 5-80 weight percent of a water-insoluble polymer, based on the coating weight.

24. A chewing gum product in accordance with claim 1 wherein the organic encapsulant on the surface-coated bicarbonate particles comprises a polysaccharide.

25. A chewing gum product in accordance with claim 1 wherein the organic encapsulant on the surface-coated bicarbonate particles comprises a hydrocolloid.

26. A chewing gum product in accordance with claim 1 wherein the organic encapsulant on the surface-coated bicarbonate particles comprises a starch.

27. A chewing gum product in accordance with claim 1 wherein the organic encapsulant on the surface-coated bicarbonate particles comprises food grade shellac.

28. A chewing gum product in accordance with claim 1 wherein the organic encapsulant on the surface-coated bicarbonate particles comprises polyvinyl acetate.

29. A chewing gum product in accordance with claim 1 wherein the organic encapsulant on the surface-coated bicarbonate particles is selected from water-insoluble fats and waxes.

30. A chewing gum product comprising (1) between about 15-80 weight percent of a gum base;

(2) between about 1-30 weight percent of dispersed particles of an organic-encapsulated alkali metal bicarbonate ingredient;

(3) between about 0-25 weight percent of alkali metal bicarbonate powder ingredient;

(4) between about 5-70 weight percent of a water-soluble bulking ingredient;

(5) between about 0-5 weight percent of a flavorant ingredient;

(6) between about 0-0.2 weight percent of a colorant ingredient;

(7) between about 0-20 weight percent of an abrasive ingredient;

(8) between about 0-3 weight percent of a surfactant ingredient;

(9) between about 0-3 weight percent of a fluoridating ingredient; and

(10) between about 0-15 weight percent of glycerin or lecithin or a mixture thereof.

31. A chewing gum product in accordance with claim 30 wherein the bulking ingredient is a sweetener selected from the group consisting of sucrose, glucose, maltitol, xylitol, sorbitol and mannitol and mixtures thereof.

32. A chewing gum product in accordance with claim 30 which contains between about 0.02-5 weight percent of a flavorant ingredient which is encapsulated or unencapsulated or a mixture thereof.

33. A chewing gum product in accordance with claim 30 which contains between about 0.001-0.2 weight percent of a colorant ingredient.

34. A chewing gum product in accordance with claim 30 which contains between about 1-20 weight percent of an abrasive ingredient.

35. A chewing gum product in accordance with claim 30 which contains between about 0.001-3 weight percent of a surfactant ingredient.

36. A chewing gum product in accordance with claim 30 which contains between about 0.05-3 weight percent of a fluoridating ingredient.

37. A chewing gum product in accordance with claim 30 which additionally contains between about 0.5-25 weight percent of an alkali metal bicarbonate powder ingredient.

38. A chewing gum product in accordance with claim 30 which contains between about 0.1-15 weight percent of glycerin or lecithin or a mixture thereof.

39. A chewing gum product in accordance with claim 30 wherein the organic encapsulant on the surface-coated bicarbonate particles comprises a mixture of starch and polyvinyl acetate.

40. A method of oral hygiene which comprises orally masticating a claim 30 chewing gum product in accordance with a regimen which satisfies personal need and convenience.