Formulations of calcium and phosphate for oral inflammation

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to liquid compositions and methods for treating oral inflammation by administering a liquid composition to the oral cavity. The liquid composition is prepared from a powder containing calcium glycerophosphate, one or more sodium phosphate salts, sodium chloride, and optionally sodium bicarbonate and silica. The powder is mixed with a quality of water to form a liquid that is supersaturated with calcium ions and phosphate ions and is essentially free of visible particles and precipitate.

What we claim is: 
     
         1 . A powder adapted for producing a liquid composition for preventing or treating oral injury, oral inflammation, oral pain, chronic hyposalivation or complications therefrom, the powder comprising:
 calcium glycerophosphate or calcium lactate gluconate;   a sodium phosphate; and   sodium chloride.   
     
     
         2 . The powder of  claim 1 , wherein the powder comprises calcium glycerophosphate in an amount at least about 5% w/w and at most 25% w/w of the powder. 
     
     
         3 . The powder of  claim 1 , wherein the sodium phosphate comprises dibasic sodium phosphate anhydrous, present in an amount at least about 0.5% w/w and at most about 10% w/w of the powder, and monobasic sodium phosphate anhydrous, present in an amount at least about 0.3% w/w and at most about 6% w/w of the powder. 
     
     
         4 . The powder of  claim 3 , wherein the dibasic sodium phosphate anhydrous is present in an amount at most about 4.5% w/w of the powder, and the monobasic sodium phosphate anhydrous is present in an amount at most about 2.5% w/w of the powder. 
     
     
         5 . The powder of  claim 1 , further comprising a pH buffering agent. 
     
     
         6 . The powder of  claim 5 , wherein the pH buffering agent is sodium bicarbonate, present in an amount at least about 1% w/w and at most about 7.5% w/w of the powder. 
     
     
         7 . The powder of  claim 6 , wherein the liquid composition has a pH between about 6.5 and about 7.5. 
     
     
         8 . The powder of  claim 1 , further comprising silica. 
     
     
         9 . The powder of  claim 1 , wherein the powder comprises a concentration of calcium that is at least about 20,000 ppm, calculated based on weight percentages of solid components in the powder. 
     
     
         10 . The powder of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises a concentration of phosphate that is at least about 60,000 ppm, calculated based on weight percentages of solid components in the powder. 
     
     
         11 . The powder of  claim 1 , wherein the powder further comprises one or more of a fluoride salt, an analgesic, an antihistamine, a corticosteroid, an anti-microbial agent, an anti-fungal agent, a flavoring or a preservative. 
     
     
         12 . A method for treating a subject having an oral cavity, the method comprising:
 mixing a powder to form a liquid composition, the powder comprising: calcium glycerophosphate or calcium lactate gluconate, a sodium phosphate, and sodium chloride;   admitting the liquid composition into the oral cavity of the subject, wherein the subject is in need of treatment for one or more of oral injury, oral inflammation, oral pain, xerostomia, chronic hyposalivation or complications therefrom;   moving the composition within the oral cavity;   expelling the composition from the oral cavity of the subject.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the subject is in need of treatment for xerostomia or chronic hyposalivation. 
     
     
         14 . A liquid composition supersaturated in calcium ions and phosphate ions, the liquid composition being the product of mixing a powder with water, in a weight ratio of powder to water from about 0.005:1 about 0.1:1, wherein the powder comprises: calcium glycerophosphate or calcium lactate gluconate, a sodium phosphate, and sodium chloride. 
     
     
         15 . The liquid composition of  claim 14 , wherein the liquid composition is essentially free of visible particles or precipitates.