Chewing gum and confectionery compositions with encapsulated stain removing agent compositions, and methods of making and using the same

Abstract

A composition in the form of a chewing gum composition or a confectionery composition containing an encapsulated stain removing agent selected from anionic and non-ionic surfactants and methods of preparing and using the same to remove stains from dental material including teeth.

1 - 43 . (canceled)  
   
   
       44 . A stain removing gum composition comprising at least one stain-removing agent selected from the group consisting of medium and long chain fatty acid esters and salts, wherein the stain-removing agent is encapsulated within a hydrophilic encapsulating material and is present in an amount from about 0.2 to 2.0% by weight based on the total weight of the gum composition.  
   
   
       45 . The stain removing gum composition of  claim 44 , wherein the medium and long chain fatty acid esters and salts contain 8-24 carbon atoms.  
   
   
       46 . The stain removing gum composition of  claim 44 , wherein the medium and long chain fatty acid esters and salts contain 14-20 carbon atoms.  
   
   
       47 . The stain removing gum composition of  claim 44 , wherein the medium and long chain fatty acid esters and salts are selected from the group consisting of sodium salts of stearate, potassium salts of stearate, methyl esters of stearate, ethyl esters of stearate, sodium salts of palmitate, potassium salts of palmitate, methyl esters of palmitate, ethyl esters of palmitate, sodium oleate and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       48 . The stain removing gum composition of  claim 44 , wherein the stain removing agent is present in the encapsulated stain removing agent in an amount from about 60 to 80% by weight based on the weight of the encapsulated stain removing agent.  
   
   
       49 . The stain removing gum composition of  claim 44 , wherein the stain removing agent is present in an amount from about 0.4 to 1.2% by weight based on the total weight of the gum composition.  
   
   
       50 . The stain removing gum composition of  claim 44 , wherein the hydrophilic encapsulating material is selected from the group consisting of carbohydrates, sugars, sugar alcohols, gums, cellulosic materials, proteins, wheat protein, water soluble polymers and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       51 . The stain removing gum composition of  claim 50 , wherein the carbohydrate is selected from the group consisting of starches, pectin, dextran, dextrin, maltodextrin, polydextrose, xanthan, agar, alginates and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       52 . The stain removing gum composition of  claim 50 , wherein the sugar is selected from the group consisting of sucrose, glucose, lactose and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       53 . The stain removing gum composition of  claim 50 , wherein the sugar alcohol is selected from the group consisting of maltitol, sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       54 . The stain removing gum composition of  claim 50 , wherein the gum is selected from the group consisting of gum arabic, carrageenan, locust bean gum, acacia gum, tragacanth, guar gum, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       55 . The stain removing gum composition of  claim 50 , wherein the cellulosic material is selected from the group consisting of carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxymethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       56 . The stain removing gum composition of  claim 50 , wherein the water soluble polymer is selected from the group consisting of ethylene acrylic acid polymers, polyvinyl alcohol block polymers, starch loaded polyethylene polymers, polylactates, starch based polymers, methyl methacrylate polymers, ethyl methacrylate polymers, copolymers of ethylene and carbon monoxide, hydroxypropylated starch (70% amylose), methylcellulose, ethylcellulose, cellulose diacetate, modified natural polymers, extruded potato starch, caprolactone polyester, acrylamide block polymers, ethylene oxide polymers, poly (acrylonitrile) polymers, poly (acrylamide) polymers and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       57 . The stain removing gum composition of  claim 50 , wherein the protein is selected from the group consisting of casein, gelatin, egg albumim, whey protein and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       58 . The stain removing gum composition of  claim 44 , wherein the encapsulated stain removing agent is in the form of particles having an average particle size of from about 0.02 to 3.0 mm.  
   
   
       59 . The stain removing gum composition of  claim 44 , wherein the gum composition is a centerfill gum composition having a centerfill and a gum portion, the encapsulated stain removing agent being present in the centerfill, the gum portion or both.  
   
   
       60 . The stain removing gum composition of  claim 44 , wherein the gum composition is in the form of a coated gum composition having a gum coating and a gum core, the encapsulated stain removing agent being present in the gum coating, the gum core, or both.  
   
   
       61 . The stain removing gum composition of  claim 44 , wherein the gum composition is in the form of a coated gum composition having a gum coating and a gum core, the encapsulated stain removing agent being present in at least the gum coating.  
   
   
       62 . A method of removing stains from teeth comprising chewing the encapsulated stain removing gum composition of  claim 44 .  
   
   
       63 . A method of producing the stain removing gum composition of  claim 44 , comprising adding the encapsulated stain removing agent in one of the last steps of forming the gum composition.  
   
   
       64 . A method of producing a stain removing gum composition, comprising: 
 heating a gum base to soften the base;    mixing the softened gum base with at least one stain-removing agent selected from the group consisting of medium and long chain fatty acid esters and salts to obtain a mixture, wherein the stain-removing agent is encapsulated within a hydrophilic encapsulating material and is present in an amount from about 0.2 to 2.0% by weight based on the total weight of the gum composition; and    forming the mixture into gum pieces.    
   
   
       65 . The method of  claim 64 , further comprising mixing the softened gum base with at least one of the group consisting of fillers, flavorants, sweeteners and softeners.  
   
   
       66 . The method of  claim 64 , further comprising coating the gum pieces with a coating solution comprising the stain removing agent.  
   
   
       67 . A method of preparing a stain removing gum composition, comprising: 
 providing a gum base composition;    preparing gum cores from the gum base composition; and    coating the gum cores with a coating solution comprising at least one stain-removing agent selected from the group consisting of medium and long chain fatty acid esters and salts, wherein the stain-removing agent is encapsulated within a hydrophilic encapsulating material and is present in an amount from about 0.2 to 2.0% by weight based on the total weight of the gum composition.    
   
   
       68 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein the gum base composition further includes the stain removing agent.  
   
   
       69 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein the gum base composition further includes at least one of the group consisting of fillers, flavorants, sweeteners and softeners.