The present invention is directed to products that promote saliva generation in the mouth through the use of various food grade acceptable acids. The products that enhance saliva production are preferably foods that are consumed in the mouth over a period of time of a minute or longer such as chewing gums, breath films, toothpaste and lozenges.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to compositions and methods for treating dry mouth, xerostomia. One embodiment of the invention comprises a food grade composition containing a flavor package comprising at least about 8 weight percent acid or acid salts selected from the group consisting of citric, malic, adipic, tartaric, glutaric, succinic, and fumaric acids; wherein the food grade composition spends at least one minute in the mouth, also known as xerostomia. A method for treating dry mouth is also disclosed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The acids suitable for use in the present invention include but are not limited to citric, malic, adipic, tartaric, glutaric, succinic and fumaric acids. Those with skill in the art will also appreciate that the food grade acceptable salts of these acids can be used in the present invention. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the acids include the use of acid salts in combination with acids.

The total level of acid and acid salts used in the flavor package of the present invention is greater than about 8 weight percent of the flavor package. One embodiment of the present invention is to only employ acid salts without the inclusion of any intentionally added acids in the flavor package. In a preferred embodiment of the invention we have found that the weight ratio of acid to acid salt ranges from about 0.5 to 2; from about 2 to about 0.5, with a highly preferred embodiment with the weight ratio of acid salts to acid in the flavoring being about 1:1.

The acid level ranges from about 5 to about 15 weight percent of the flavor package, preferably from about 7 to about 12 and most preferably from about 8 to about 10 weight percent of the flavor package. In a highly preferred embodiment of the invention we have discovered that the use of citric acid, malic acid, succinic acid and tartaric acid used in substantially equal amounts of from about 1.5 to about 2.5 weight percent provides extremely advantageous relief of dry mouth, particularly when each of the above acids are employed at about 2 weight percent of the flavor package.

The flavor package also preferably contains disodium succinate and sodium citrate at levels of from about 5 to about 20 weight percent of the flavor package, preferably from about 7 to 15 and more preferably from about 9 to about 12 weight percent of the flavoring system.

The total level of acid and acid salt in the product is from about 0.2 to about 3 weight percent of the total product and preferably from about 0.4 to about 1.5 weight percent of the total product, such as the chewing gum or lozenge.

In another highly preferred embodiment of the present invention the acid and acid salts of the present invention are used in combination with flavoring agents derived from essential oils of peppermint, spearmint, anise, citrus or synthetic flavors of these. In addition other preferred flavor materials include 1-p-menthen-8-thiol and p-mentha-8-thiol-3-one. The level of the flavor materials can vary widely in the flavor package from about 0.3 to about 3.0 weight percent. As those with skill in the art appreciate some flavor materials, such as sulfur containing materials are used in the parts per billion level in flavoring articles.

The remainder of the composition is comprised of sugars, sweeteners, bases, buffers, antioxidants, water, suitable solvents, surfactants, emulsifiers and the like.

The acids and acid salts of the present invention are preferably incorporated in a confectionery product, a lozenge, cough drop or a chewing gum product. These products are well known to those in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,568,537 and 4,906,455 herein incorporated by reference, disclose chewing gums that treat xerostomia and increase saliva flow. U.S. Pat. No. 4,997,654, also incorporated by reference discloses chewing gum or candy that treat xerostomia through the use of xylitol.

Methods of making cough drops and for enhancing the flavor of these items is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,980,169 hereby incorporated by reference. A general discussion of the composition and preparation of hard confections, such as cough drops and lozenges may be found in H. A. Liberman, Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms: Tablets, Volume 1(1980); Marcel Dekker Inc., N.Y., N.Y. at pages 339-469.

The manufacture of toothpaste, oral cleaning and dentifrice is also very well known in the art. The literature is complete with descriptions of how to make these products. Examples of these disclosures include U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,885,028; 3,929,987; 3,980,767; 6,306,370; 6,419,902; 6,485,710; 6,500,409 and 6,506,366 hereby incorporated by reference.

Breath films are the now popular confectionery products that frequently are created to dissolve quickly in the mouth, particularly on the tongue. Breath films resemble small pieces of tape, some are substantially transparent that usually placed on the tongue and dissolve rapidly. Even when the breath film dissolves quickly, the flavor system, and more specifically the acids and acid salts of the invention remain in the mouth providing the desired saliva increase. Examples of breath films in the literature include PCT 2000/18365 and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,713,243; 5,354,551; 6,177,096 and 6,419,903 and U.S. Patent Application U.S. 2002/0035841, the contents of the US Patents and US Application are incorporated by reference.

In a preferred embodiment the flavor package of the present invention is incorporated in a chewing gum composition. These products are preferred because the consumer routinely holds them in the oral cavity, or mouth, for a period of time either chewing or sucking on the product before either swallowing the item or discarding it. For the present invention to create the desired saliva effects in the oral cavity, it is desirable for the item to be in the oral cavity for more than 1 minute, preferably for more than 2 minutes. In highly preferred situations such as occurs with chewing gum, the gum can be chewed for 5 minutes or longer before being swallowed or discarded.
 

Claim 1 of 1 Claim

1. A chewing gum consisting of:

a gum base; sweetener, buffer, antioxidant, water, emulsifier; and

a flavor package employed at a level of 0.7 weight percent in the gum, the flavor package consisting of the following ingredients at the weight percent levels

wherein said acid and acid salts content in the gum weighs about 0.75 grams.

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