Kits comprising a beverage composition and information for use

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a method of treating dental erosion comprising orally administering to a mammal (preferably, a human) a beverage composition having a pH of less than about 5; wherein the beverage composition comprises a compound having the structure: ##STR00001##
wherein n is an integer averaging from about 7 to about 100 and M, M, and M are each, independently, selected from the group consisting of sodium and potassium. The present invention is further directed to kits comprising the foregoing beverage composition and information that use of the beverage composition provides treatment against dental erosion.

Claims

1. A method of treating dental erosion comprising: (a) a physician or dental professional directing a human, in need thereof due to loss or softening of tooth enamel and its demineralization caused by direct action of acid on the tooth, to orally administer an effective amount of a carbonated beverage composition comprising citric acid and having a pH from 3.3 to about 3.5 at least once daily for the purpose of treating dental erosion; (b) the human ingests the beverage composition based on such direction for the purpose of treating said dental erosion; wherein the beverage composition comprises sodium hexametaphosphate: ##STR00004## and wherein the beverage composition is substantially free of calcium, phosphate derived from one or more compounds other than the aforesaid hexametaphosphate and fluoride; and wherein the beverage composition further comprises a sweetener.

Description

EXAMPLES

(1) The following provides specific embodiments of beverage compositions (and processes for preparing them) which may be advantageously used in the methods and kits of the present invention. These specific embodiments are illustrative of the compositions used herein and are not intended to be limited.

(2) Components for each composition are typically admixed in the order in which they appear herein. Sodium hexametaphosphate for each composition is typically admixed under high sheer mixing to insure solubility.

Example 1

(3) TABLE-US-00002 Component Amount High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) - 55* 13% Fruit Juice Concentrate 0.7% Potassium Sorbate 0.065% Sodium Hexametaphosphate 0.1% Citric Acid Titrate to pH of 3.3 Water (Hardness < 30 ppm) quantum satis *High Fructose Corn Syrup containing 55% fructose

(4) The beverage composition containing the above components is ingested by a 7-year-old male human daily for a 12 week period. Prior to this period, the 7-year-old male human has average dental health relative to humans of similar age. During this period, the 7-year-old male human experiences reduced dental erosion, as measured by erosion of enamel, relative to humans of similar age which ingest typical low pH beverages not comprising a polyphosphate compound as described herein.

Example 2

(5) TABLE-US-00003 Component Amount High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) - 55 13% Tea Solids 0.1% Potassium Sorbate 0.065% Sodium Hexametaphosphate 0.1% Citric Acid Titrate to pH of 3.3 Water (Hardness < 30 ppm) quantum satis

(6) The beverage composition containing the above components is ingested by a 24-year-old human daily for a 2 week period. Prior to this period, the 24-year-old human has average dental health relative to humans of similar age. During this period, the 24-year-old human experiences reduced dental erosion, as measured by erosion of enamel, relative to humans of similar age which ingest low pH cola beverages not comprising a polyphosphate compound as described herein.

Example 3*

(7) TABLE-US-00004 Component Amount High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) - 55 14.7% Fruit Juice Concentrate 1.15% Natural Gums 0.01% Potassium Sorbate 0.035% Sodium Hexametaphosphate (n = 21) 0.1% Organic Acids 0.48% Vitamins 0.005% Coloring Agents 0.003% Water quantum satis *The pH of the composition is from about 2.9 to about 3.3.

Example 4

(8) TABLE-US-00005 Component Amount Sugar 9.5% Fruit Juices 5.5% Natural Gums 0.15% Carboxymethyl cellulose 0.05% Potassium Sorbate 0.035% Sodium Hexametaphosphate (n = 21) 0.1% Organic Acids 0.7% Beta-carotene, Vitamin B.sub.1, Vitamin B.sub.6, and based on desired nutrient Vitamin C level Coloring Agents 0.003% Water quantum satis

(9) A beverage composition of either the above Example 3 or Example 4, is ingested by a 5-year-old human child daily for a 3 week period. Prior to this period, the 5-year-old human has average dental health relative to humans of similar age. During this period, the 5-year-old human experiences reduced dental erosion, as measured by erosion of enamel, relative to humans of similar age which ingest low pH fruit juice beverages not comprising a polyphosphate compound as described herein.