Preparation and efficacy of tooth whitening tablet including SHMP
The present invention is directed to a confectionery capable of imparting tooth-whitening benefits to an end-user, the confectionery containing: sodium hexametaphosphate (SHMP), one or more sweeteners; and optionally a food-grade acid, such as citric acid. The present invention is also directed to a method of imparting tooth-whitening benefits to a consumer involving inserting the above-described confectionery into a consumer's mouth and allowing the confectionery to dissolve in the consumer's mouth, and repeating over a prolonged period of time.
1 . A confectionery product, comprising:
a compressed tablet, which comprises:
a stain removal ingredient having a general formula (I):
Na (n+2) P n O (3n+1) (I),
wherein n is 13 or 21;
at least one sweetener; and
citric acid within a range of approximately 0.1% to approximately 4.0% by weight of the confectionery product, and
wherein the stain removal ingredient does not include an oxidizing agent.
2 . The confectionery product of claim 1 , wherein the stain removal ingredient is sodium polyphosphate, and wherein the sodium polyphosphate comprises from >0 to about 10 percent by weight of the confectionery product.
3 . The confectionery product of claim 1 , wherein the stain removal ingredient is within the range of approximately 0.1% to approximately 10% by weight of the confectionery product.
4 . The confectionery product of claim 1 , further comprising sorbitol, wherein sorbitol is the balance by weight of the confectionery product.
5 . The confectionery product of claim 1 , further comprising magnesium stearate, wherein magnesium stearate is within the range of approximately 0.1% by weight to approximately 2.0% by weight of the confectionery product.
6 . The confectionery product of claim 1 , further comprising flavor and color components, wherein the flavor and color components are within the range of approximately 0.1% by weight to approximately 10.0% by weight of the confectionery product.
7 . The confectionery product of claim 1 , further comprising breath freshening components, wherein the breath freshening components are within the range of approximately 0.1% by weight to approximately 10.0% by weight of the confectionery product.
8 . The confectionery product of claim 1 , further comprising:
sorbitol, wherein sorbitol is the balance by weight of the confectionery product,
magnesium stearate, wherein magnesium stearate is within the range of approximately 0.1% by weight to approximately 2.0% by weight of the confectionery product,
flavor and color components, wherein the flavor and color components are within the range of approximately 0.1% by weight to approximately 10.0% by weight of the confectionery product,
breath freshening components, wherein the breath freshening components are within the range of approximately 0.1% by weight to approximately 10.0% by weight of the confectionery product, and
wherein the stain removal ingredient is within the range of approximately 0.1% to approximately 10% by weight of the confectionery product.
9 . A method for whitening tooth enamel of a mammal having stained tooth enamel, comprising:
a. dissolving in the mouth of the mammal, a confectionery product in compressed tablet form of claim 1 .
10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
b. repeating step (a) 2 or more times in a 24-hour period.
11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
C. repeating step (b) for 2 or more times in a 24-hour period.
12 . The confectionery product of claim 1 , wherein the citric acid is a food grade citric acid within the range of approximately 0.1% to approximately 2.0% by weight of the confectionery product.
13 . The confectionery product of claim 1 , wherein the citric acid is a food grade citric acid within the range of approximately 0.2% to approximately 1.5% by weight of the confectionery product.
14 . The confectionery product of claim 1 , wherein the citric acid is a food grade citric acid within the range of approximately 0.7% to approximately 1.01% by weight of the confectionery product.
15 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the citric acid is a food grade citric acid within the range of approximately 0.1% to approximately 2.0% by weight of the confectionery product.
16 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the citric acid is a food grade citric acid within the range of approximately 0.2% to approximately 1.5% by weight of the confectionery product.
17 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the citric acid is a food grade citric acid within the range of approximately 0.7% to approximately 1.01% by weight of the confectionery product.
18 . The confectionery product according to claim 2 , wherein the sodium polyphosphate comprises from 4.5%-9.0% by weight of the confectionery product.
19 . A confectionery product, comprising:
a compressed tablet consisting essentially of:
a stain removal ingredient having a general formula (I):
Na (n+2) P n O (3n+1) (I),
wherein n is 13 or 21;
at least one sweetener; and
a food grade citric acid,
wherein the stain removal ingredient of formula (I) is in an amount of 4-10% by weight, and does not include an oxidizing agent, and the food grade citric acid is in an amount of 0.1-1.5% by weight.