Novel Methods

Abstract

Provided herein are methods of treating one or more symptoms of a gastric disorder in the oral cavity of a subject in need thereof, wherein the method comprises applying to the subject's teeth an oral care composition comprising a basic amino acid in free or salt form, wherein the basic amino acid is arginine (e.g., free form arginine); zinc oxide and zinc citrate; and an orally acceptable carrier.

1 . A Method of treating one or more symptoms of a gastric disorder in the oral cavity of a subject in need thereof, wherein the method comprises applying to the subject's teeth an oral care composition comprising:
 a. Basic amino acid in free or salt form, wherein the basic amino acid is arginine;   b. zinc oxide and zinc citrate;   c. an orally acceptable carrier.   
     
     
         2 . A method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more symptoms the gastric disorder is dental erosion consequent to the presence of gastric acid in the oral cavity. 
     
     
         3 . A method of  claim 1 , wherein the dental erosion consequent to the presence of gastric acid comprises the erosion of the subject's tooth enamel due to loss of calcium. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the oral care composition inhibits or decreases the release of calcium from the subject's tooth enamel. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the in the inhibition or decrease of the release of calcium in the subject's tooth enamel is relative to a reference standard. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the oral care composition inhibits the release of calcium relative to one or more compositions that do not contain zinc. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the gastric disorder increases the amount of gastric acid in the oral cavity. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the gastric disorder that increases the amount of gastric acid in the oral cavity of the subject is selected from the group consisting of: duodenal ulcers, gastric ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), erosive esophagitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease weakly reactive (poorly responsive symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux disease), pathological gastrointestinal hypersecretory disease (pathological gastrointestinal hypersecretory disease), Zhuo-Ellison syndrome, heartburn, and acid indigestion. 
     
     
         9 . A method of  claim 8 , wherein the gastric disorder is gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more symptoms is that the subject is exposed to gastric acids in the oral cavity during sleep. 
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the subject is at risk for dental erosion. 
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the risk for dental erosion is selected from the group consisting of: xerostomia, tooth hypersensitivity, weakened tooth integrity, and tooth discoloration. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the oral care composition comprises:
 a. about 1.0% zinc oxide   b. about 0.5% zinc citrate   c. about 1.5% L-arginine   
     
     
         14 . A method to identify candidate oral care composition that are useful to treat one or more symptoms of a gastric disorder in the oral cavity of a subject in need thereof, wherein the method comprises the steps of providing a first sample and a second sample, wherein the first and second samples have the same initial calcium concentrations; contacting the first sample with a measured quantity of acidic substance, to form a solution; contacting the first sample with a candidate oral care composition; determining whether the amount of calcium which is released; contacting the second sample with the measured quantity of acidic substance to form a solution; contacting the second sample with the composition of  claim 1 ; determining whether the calcium released in the second sample solution has changed, wherein the amount of calcium released, in the first sample, being less than or equal to that of the second sample indicates that the candidate oral care composition are useful to treat one or more symptoms of a gastric disorder in the oral cavity of a subject in need thereof. 
     
     
         15 . An oral care composition comprising:
 a. Basic amino acid in free or salt form, wherein the basic amino acid is arginine;   b. zinc oxide and zinc citrate; and   c. an orally acceptable carrier.   
       Wherein the composition inhibits calcium release when measured against a reference standard, when challenged in an acid aqueous solution with citric acid in an amount of about 1% (w/w).