Effervescent chewing gum

Details Effervescent chewing gum Effervescent chewing gum

1999-01-21

2001-05-22

Corbin, Arthur L. (Department: 1761)

Food or edible material: processes, compositions, and products

Normally noningestible chewable material or process of...

C424S048000, C424S440000, C426S005000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06235318

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a novel chewing gum which, when chewed, fights plaque, invigorates the tissue surrounding the necks of the teeth, reduces cavities in teeth, whitens and polishes teeth, and freshens breath. The inventive chewing gum, in a preferred embodiment, comprises a sodium bicarbonate gum base encapsulated with a citric acid coating.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Adhesion of oral bacteria to hard surfaces in the oral cavity (restorations, enamel and cement) is one of the main events leading to the development of oral diseases. Adhesion of bacteria to tooth surfaces results in the formation of dental plaque. Dental plaque leads to tooth decay, calculus, gingivitis and periodontitis. Bacterial adherence to dental surfaces can be facilitated by several mechanisms. It is clear that eliminating bacterial deposition on hard surfaces in the oral cavity is a major step in combating oral diseases. The ability of chemical agents to remove plaque is limited. To date, there has been no good alternative to the mechanical removal of plaque through brushing and flossing.
Conventional chewing gum is a mixture of natural or synthetic gums and resins, sweetened with sugar, corn syrup, artificial sweeteners and may also contain coloring agents and flavor. It is a uniquely U.S. product, discovered during the search for rubber materials in the 1860's. The first manufacturing patent for chewing gum was issued in 1869.
The basic raw material for all chewing gum is the natural gum chicle, obtained from the sapodilla tree indigenous to Central America. Because chicle is relatively expensive and often difficult to procure, other natural gums are also used. Recently, synthetic materials such as polyvinylacetate and similar polymers have come into widespread use.
The chewing gum manufacturer melts, washes and filters the crude gum to remove all foreign materials. The gum is then blended with other natural and synthetic resins, waxes and plasticizers, which are added to control the stickiness and chewing characteristics, and the compound is heated, mixed until uniform, cooled and blocked. The blocked gum base is then stored until needed.
The manufacturer of chewing gum starts with a mix of about 22-25% gum base, about 50-60% powdered sugar, about 12-20% corn syrup and about 1-2% color and flavors. This mixture is heated to about 80° C., thoroughly blended, cooled, extruded onto a belt, rolled to proper thickness, then cut, wrapped and packaged. Bubble gum differs from ordinary gum only in that its base is formulated with rubber latex for greater strength.
Sugarcoated gum is made by whirling small cubes of gum in copper pans with sugar syrup, powdered sugar, color and flavor. This mixture builds the colorful, polished, crystallized sugar shell. Sugarless gums are made by substituting sugar alcohols (xylitol, mannitol or sorbitol) for ordinary sugar.
The chewing of gum is very common among both adults and young people. Chewing gum can serve as a drug delivery system, may contain sugar substitutes which are not cariogenic, and may even serve as an anti-bacterial agent. Chewing gum also induces salivary flow which aids in the cleansing of bacteria from the oral cavity. The present invention proposes using a unique form of chewing gum wherein the inventive effervescent gum possesses unique properties that will reduce plaque and freshen the breath.
BACKGROUND ART
Liquid or gel center-filled products, such as Freshen-up Gum (sugar) and Chewels (sugar-free), both manufactured by Warner-Lambert, are currently on the market and are related to the present invention in texture and mouthfeel. However, these gums do not have decay preventive properties, plaque fighting ability or effervescence as found in the present invention. Another product presently on the market is “Yow!” produced by Yow! Laboratories of Fountain Valley, Calif. It is described as a sugar free, bubbling formula that helps reduce plaque and eliminate bad breath. This product is not a chewing gum oral hygiene product.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,470,906 to Taylor discloses a dentifrice containing ascorbic acid and acid analogues of ascorbic acid. The patent describes the use of ascorbic acid to transform mucinous coatings in the oral cavity into easily removable forms. The Taylor dentifrice is also disclosed as containing calcium diphosphate, potassium-aluminum silicate, and flavors. There is no suggestion of a chewing gum dentifrice nor of effervescence.
U.S. Pat. No. No. 3,431,339 to Gyarmathy et al. discloses a chewable dental tablet to be used in conjunction with a toothbrush. The tablet is disclosed as containing a polishing agent, flourine—containing agents, a foaming agent and a waxy releasable matrix.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,962,417 to Howell discloses an effervescent dentifrice in chewable tablet form that is effective against
Bacillus acidophilios
. The Howell dentifrice tablet was prepared by dry-mixing sodium lauryl sulphate, saccharin, chlorophyllin, magnesium carbonate, citric acid, calcium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, flavors, magnesium stearate, acacia powder and stannous fluoride. This patent does not disclose nor suggest an oral hygiene chewing gum that comprises a gum stock and a coating containing an edible acid.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,127,645 to Witzel et al. discloses an effervescent tablet that comprises a core portion containing an effervescent couple, and an outer portion which coats or surrounds the core portion. The outer portion is taught to contain a sugar alcohol, such as sorbitol. There is no suggestion of an effervescent chewing gum wherein the base containing gum stock is covered with an acid containing coating.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,169,885 to Raaf et al. discloses a dental hygiene product in the form of a capsule or a filled sweet comprising an outer shell of a hydrophilic substance containing a therapeutic substance such as a fluoride compound and an inner filling material comprising a hydrophobic material such as fats and waxes. This patent teaches that the therapeutic compound is released while the outer shell is dissolved in the mouth. Upon reaching the inner core, the wax or fat coats the teeth thereby retaining the therapeutic in contract with the teeth and gums. This patent makes no mention or suggestion of an effervescent chewing gum.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,563,345 to Arrick discloses a chewing gum having a first phase comprising a chewable material, and a second viscous phase including a fluoride compound.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,753,792 to Aberg discloses a water free, non-oil based, tooth cleaning tablet. The tablet is disclosed as being self-foaming when chewed in the mouth. The tablet is disclosed to comprise less than 50% by weight of a self foaming effervescent couple (i.e. sodium bicarbonate and acid), greater than 35% by weight of an insoluble filling and polishing composition, and an effective amount of a fluoride tooth protecting agent. The Aberg tablet, upon chewing, forms a paste. There is no suggestion of using a chewing gum or separating the effervescent base from the acid.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,380,530 to Hill discloses a therapeutic chewing gum wherein the chewing gum is coated with an emulsion comprising an ingestible surfactant—emulsifier and a polydimethyl siloxane insoluble in said surfactant emulsifier. The coating is taught to contain anti-microbials, stannous fluoride, antioxidants, enzymes, antibiotics, analgesics and others. There is no suggestion in this patent to place an encapsulated edible acid in the coating which surrounds a gum stock that comprises a base, so that upon mastication, an effervescent reaction occurs.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,698,215 to Kalili et al. describes a chewing gum composition with fluoride and citric acid. The patentees propose that their chewing gum utilizes a biochemical reaction which takes place when dental enamel is exposed to citric acid. It is suggested that citric acid opens pores in the dental enamel which allows fluoride to penetrate the prismatic layers of the tooth structure. This patent makes no reference to an effervescent chewing gum wherein the

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