Compositions having anti-dental caries function

1. A dietary composition which requires mastication having an anti-dental caries function, wherein the composition comprises:

(i) a buffering agent having a pH buffering action in the oral cavity at a concentration in the range from 0.01% by weight to 20% by weight, and

(ii) a calcium preparation,

wherein the buffering agent is a phosphorylated oligosaccharide in the form of a sodium salt or a calcium salt,

wherein the concentrations of the buffering agent and the calcium preparation in the composition are selected to provide a Ca/P ratio in the saliva after mastication that is substantially 1.0 to 1.67;

wherein the phosphorylated oligosaccharide of the phosphorylated oligosaccharide in the form of a sodium salt or a calcium salt is a glucan consisting of 3 to 5 glucoses with α-1,4 linkages, one phosphate group being linked to the glucan, or glucan consisting of 2 to 8 glucoses with α-1,4 linkages, two phosphate groups being linked to the glucan; and

wherein the calcium preparation is selected from the group consisting of calcium carbonate, calcium chloride, calcium lactate, calcium gluconate, whey calcium, organic acid calcium, colloidal calcium carbonate, casein phosphopeptide calcium, and calcium fluoride.

2. An oral composition having an anti-dental caries function, wherein the composition comprises:

(i) a buffering agent having a pH buffering action in the oral cavity at a concentration in the range from 0.01% by weight to 20% by weight, and

(ii) a calcium preparation,

wherein the buffering agent is a phosphorylated oligosaccharide in the form of a sodium salt or a calcium salt,

wherein the concentrations of the buffering agent and the calcium preparation in the composition are selected to provide a Ca/P ratio in the saliva of substantially 1.0 to 1.67;

wherein the phosphorylated oligosaccharide of the phosphorylated oligosaccharide in the form of a sodium salt or a calcium salt is a glucan consisting of 3 to 5 glucoses with α-1,4 linkages, one phosphate group being linked to the glucan, or glucan consisting of 2 to 8 glucoses with α-1,4 linkages, two phosphate groups being linked to the glucan; and

wherein the calcium preparation is selected from the group consisting of calcium carbonate, calcium chloride, calcium lactate, calcium gluconate, whey calcium, organic acid calcium, colloidal calcium carbonate, casein phosphopeptide calcium, and calcium fluoride,

wherein the oral composition is in the form of a troche or lozenge.

3. A dietary composition having an anti-dental caries function, wherein the composition comprises:

(i) a buffering agent having a pH buffering action in the oral cavity at a concentration in the range from 0.01% by weight to 20% by weight, and

(ii) a calcium preparation,

wherein the buffering agent is a phosphorylated oligosaccharide in the form of a sodium salt or a calcium salt;

wherein the concentrations of the buffering agent and the calcium preparation in the composition are selected to provide a Ca/P ratio in the saliva of substantially 1.0 to 1.67;

wherein the phosphorylated oligosaccharide of the phosphorylated oligosaccharide in the form of a sodium salt or a calcium salt is a glucan consisting of 3 to 5 glucoses with α-1,4 linkages, one phosphate group being linked to the glucan, or glucan consisting of 2 to 8 glucoses with α-1,4 linkages, two phosphate groups being linked to the glucan; and

wherein the calcium preparation is selected from the group consisting of calcium carbonate, calcium chloride, calcium lactate, calcium gluconate, whey calcium, organic acid calcium, colloidal calcium carbonate, casein phosphopeptide calcium, and calcium fluoride, wherein the dietary composition is in the form of candy, soft candy or chewing gum.

4. A dietary composition according to claim 1 , wherein the dietary composition is in the form of chewing gum.

5. A dietary composition according to claim 1 , wherein the buffering agent is a phosphorylated oligosaccharide in the form of a calcium salt.