Two-Piece Chewable Gum for Teeth Whitening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current teeth-whitening chewing gum compositions face challenges such as instability, short shelf life, poor mouthfeel, and lack of efficacy due to the vulnerability of anhydrous peroxides, inability to be extruded, and sensitivity issues, limiting their commercial viability and effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
The development of stable, two-piece chewable gum compositions with a tableted peroxide component and an extruded bicarbonate component, separated by a barrier, which are activated upon chewing, providing a prolonged exposure to the teeth surface and minimizing sensitivity, while maintaining anhydrous conditions to enhance stability and mouthfeel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If higher concentration of peroxide is used to achieve faster whitening effect, then whitening efficacy is improved, but gum and teeth root sensitivity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an alkaline activator as an intermediary substance that mediates between the peroxide and the tooth surface. The activator generates hydroxyl ions that catalyze peroxide decomposition into active oxygen species, enabling effective whitening at lower peroxide concentrations and reducing direct peroxide contact with sensitive tissues.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical environment parameters by introducing alkaline substances (metal carbonates, metal bicarbonates, phosphates, or amines) that modify the pH and catalytic properties of the formulation. This parameter change enables controlled peroxide activation and reduces the need for high peroxide concentrations, thereby reducing sensitivity.
2Productivity
If higher concentration of peroxide is used to achieve faster whitening effect, then whitening efficacy is improved, but composition stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary stabilization measures by incorporating stabilizing agents and controlling the chemical environment before the peroxide decomposes. The alkaline activator is designed to activate the peroxide only upon contact with the tooth surface, preventing premature decomposition during storage and maintaining composition stability throughout the shelf life.
Solution Approach 2:
The alkaline activator serves as a mediator that separates the storage phase from the activation phase. During storage, the peroxide remains stable in the presence of the activator components. Upon application to the tooth surface, the activator triggers controlled decomposition, ensuring both stability during storage and reactivity during use.
3Productivity
If alkaline activators are added to accelerate hydrogen peroxide decomposition, then whitening reactivity is improved, but tissue sensitivity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent carefully controls the pH parameters introduced by alkaline activators, maintaining them within a safe range (pH 7.0-9.0) that is gentle on oral tissues. By optimizing the concentration and type of alkaline substances, the patent achieves sufficient catalytic activity for rapid peroxide decomposition while minimizing tissue irritation and sensitivity.
4Stability of the object's composition
If metal carbonates or bicarbonates are used as activators, then pH buffering is improved, but whitening effectiveness remains insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite formulations that combine metal carbonates or bicarbonates with other alkaline substances (phosphates, amines, or hydroxides) to create a synergistic effect. This composite approach enhances both the pH buffering capacity and the catalytic activity, achieving effective whitening while maintaining safe pH levels for oral tissues.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach results in significantly improved teeth-whitening efficacy, extended shelf life, and reduced sensitivity, offering a commercially viable and user-friendly teeth-whitening solution that is both effective and comfortable to use.
Implementation Method 1
Hydrogen peroxide is known to decompose in the presence of alkaline media
Implementation Method 2
activation by use of UV light has been demonstrated... basic compounds and alkaline systems have also been disclosed as activators for hydrogen peroxide teeth-whiteners
Implementation Method 3
the peroxide moiety must be short-lived (on the order of seconds) in the mouth, decomposing into an 'active oxygen moiety' which is the ultimate effective teeth-whitening agent
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a chewable composition for teeth-whitening, comprising a first chewable composition and a second chewable composition, that when combined in the mouth and actuated by mastication provide cosmetic enhancement and chemotherapeutic activity. In some aspects, the first chewable composition comprises carbamide peroxide having water content of about 2% or less, an anhydrous chewing gum base having water content of about 2% or less, and tableting excipients having a water content of 2% or less; and the second chewable composition comprises a gum base, a source of bicarbonate ion, and one or more gum additives. The disclosure also provides a kit comprising the first and second separate chewable compositions, and methods for whitening teeth and freshening the breath, and also for reducing the levels of the oral pathogen sources of periodontal diseases and halitosis using the compositions and kits described herein.