HK1014834A - Chewing gum product with dental care benefits - Google Patents

Description

Chewing gum product with tooth protection function

Technical Field

There is considerable evidence in dentistry that tooth stains are the leading cause of periodontal disease and caries formation. Dental caries is a localized, progressive decay of teeth. It originates from the demineralisation of teeth by bacteria present in dental stains which ferment carbohydrate food present in the oral cavity to form acids.

Dental plaque is a deposit that accumulates on the teeth and their surrounding surfaces in the oral cavity. Bacterial growth, particularly food remaining in the mouth, is a major cause of tooth staining. Mucins and minerals in saliva and dead cells in the mouth also accelerate the formation of dental stains.

Tooth stains can be partially removed by effective cleaning of the teeth, but less accessible and more concealed areas of the mouth are particularly prone to tooth stain formation and eventual tartar growth. If left unchecked, the stain grew and adhered firmly to the teeth. The metabolism of bacteria in stains on the tooth surface can lead to the production of acids, toxins and enzymes that are harmful to the adjacent oral tissues. Evidence suggests that stains are a direct cause of caries due to the formation of acids in the stain structure.

To protect a normal tooth, a thin layer of tooth enamel forms a protective coating on the tooth. The coating mainly contains calcium ions, phosphate ions and other ions similar to hydroxyapatite structure. The enamel contains 2-5% carbonate which makes it easy to be acid-hydrolyzed.

It is believed that the interaction of three factors leads to the formation of dental caries: sensitive tooth surfaces; a microbial population; and substrates suitable for the microbial population. Although several acidogenic microorganisms exist in the oral cavity that can induce dental caries, streptococcus mutans is considered to be the major causative agent of dental caries.

Foods containing fermentable sugars are known to promote the formation of dental caries. Dental caries also begins to form when S.mutans, which predominantly inhabits the stains adhered to the tooth surface, metabolizes fermentable sugars that are predominantly consumed by the parasites. While metabolizing fermentable sugars, bacteria secrete lactic acid and other organic acid by-products. These acidic materials lower the pH of the environment surrounding the stain/tooth.

Hydroxyapatite (calcium hydroxide phosphate, Ca) as a key component in tooth enamel, decreases the pH of the stain/tooth environment to a critical value of 5.5 to 5.7₁₀(PO₄)₆(OH)₂) Dissolution begins. Typically this dissolution begins below the porous surface of the tooth.

As the bacteria further metabolize the fermentable sugars, the acidic material continually erodes the teeth and the lesions on the lower surface of the teeth gradually enlarge. If the lesion develops to the point where the enamel surface begins to break, a cavity forms in the tooth and the process cannot be retrieved.

The spontaneous mineralisation regeneration process of teeth in the oral cavity involves, in part, the flow of saliva over the stain. Saliva can raise the pH of the surrounding environment. In addition, calcium ions and phosphate ions in saliva precipitate out to replace hydroxyapatite decomposed by organic acids generated when bacteria metabolize fermentable sugars.

This mineralisation regeneration process generally only occurs effectively when the pH is above a critical value. If saliva cannot raise the pH to a sufficient level, an effective mineralization regeneration process will not occur. The inclusion of fluoride ions in the oral cavity promotes the mineralization regeneration process, since fluoride ions accelerate the growth of new crystals, precipitating on the surface of crystals deep inside the carious lesion to form a precipitate of fluorapatite-like material.

One of the most important causes of periodontal disease is the accumulation of plaque and tartar (e.g., salivary tartar) on the teeth. These deposits can inflame the surrounding gingival tissue and, as the severity increases, will also affect the supporting bone. These changes result in the destruction of the support structure and ultimately the massive loss of the normally undegraded teeth.

Although cleaning teeth with a toothbrush and toothpaste is a widely used means of maintaining dental health, the average american brushing is once a day, approximately one minute each. It is therefore highly desirable to find other ways to improve daily oral hygiene. Chewing gum has been advocated for many years as an optimal aid to clean teeth because people find chewing gum pleasant and chew gum for much longer periods of time than brushing their teeth. Chewing gum particularly shows its unique advantages when brushing is not possible or convenient, such as after lunch, while traveling or working.

Chewing gum generally comprises a neutral and flavorless saliva stimulating chewing gum base and one or more non-saliva stimulating active ingredients mixed into the base. By "active ingredient" is meant here a sweetener, a flavor that determines the odor and taste of chewing gum, a body health agent such as a medicine or medicament that is slowly released and absorbed during chewing, or a refreshing agent that ameliorates or reduces oral malodour. In addition, the chewing gum may contain water-soluble and often sweet non-saliva-stimulating fillers, colorants, or plasticizers to enhance the texture of the chewing gum.

In order to obtain a slow and controlled release of the ingredients during chewing, or to improve the stability of the ingredients in the chewing gum, the active ingredients of these chewing gums are preferably or are required to be present in the chewing gum in encapsulated form.

U.S. patent No.5,139,794 describes a chewing gum containing encapsulated sodium chloride ingredients. The coating of sodium chloride granules has a taste-modifying effect over a long period of time, so that the salty taste of the salt is not perceived by humans.

The disclosure of chewing gum products containing bicarbonate salts such as sodium bicarbonate is within the background of the present invention. Prior art includes U.S. patent nos. 4,148,872, 4,150,112, 4,156,715, 4,156,716, 4,157,385, 4,159,315, 4,160,054, 4,160,820, 4,170,633, 4,269,860, 4,639,368, 4,867,989, 4,952,407, 4,997,667, 5,077,051 and other similar patents.

There is a continuing need for the development of new chewing gum products that can be eaten routinely to provide dental health benefits.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a chewing gum product that can be used as a convenient supplement for enhancing dental health.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a chewing gum product for oral hygiene containing an encapsulated therapeutic agent component that is sustainably released over an extended period of time under conditions of chewing in the mouth.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a chewing gum product which counteracts bacteria-produced acids, enhances salivation and has antiplaque activity.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description and examples.

Description of the invention

One or more of the objects of the invention are achieved by providing a chewing gum product comprising dispersed particles of about 15 to 80% by weight of a gum base, and about 1 to 30% by weight of an alkali metal bicarbonate component encapsulated by organic matter.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a chewing gum product comprising: (1) from about 15 to 80% by weight of a gum base, (2) from about 1 to 30% by weight of dispersed particles of alkali metal bicarbonate encapsulated by organic matter, (3) from about 0 to 25% by weight of alkali metal bicarbonate powder, (4) from about 5 to 70% by weight of a water-soluble filler, (5) from about 0 to 5% by weight of a perfume, (6) from about 0 to 0.2% by weight of a pigment, (7) from about 0 to 20% by weight of an abrasive, (8) from about 0 to 3% by weight of a surfactant, (9) from about 0 to 3% by weight of a fluorinating agent, and (10) from about 0 to 15% by weight of glycerol or lecithin or mixtures thereof.

The chewing gum of the present invention may be any type of chewing gum including low moisture and high moisture, sugar or sugar free, wax or wax free, low calorie, and the like types of chewing gum, and may contain other health promoting ingredients.

Chewing gum products generally consist of a water-insoluble gum base, a water-soluble component and flavor. Under the action of saliva, the water soluble components dissipate from the gum base over a period of time, with the gum base portion remaining.

Conventional gum bases often contain an elastomer, an elastomer solvent, and other ingredients such as fillers, softeners, plasticizers, and emulsifiers. Raw materials for gum bases can be found in U.S. patent nos. 2,366,589, 3,821,417, 3,984,574, 4,041,179, 4,170,633, 4,400,372, 4,590,075 and 5,378,131. The history and development of Chewing Gum products is discussed in detail in the "Chewing Gum" book ("Chewing Gum", second edition, a.h. suck, Haarmann & Reimer).

Chewing gum base elastomers for stick and dragee gums include chicle, jelutong, balata, crown gum (crown gum), maleic latex, fenugreek gum, butadiene styrene copolymers, polyisobutylene, isobutylene-isoprene copolymers, polyethylene and the like, and mixtures thereof.

Chewing gum base elastomer solvents include pentaerythritol esters of wood rosin, glycerol esters of polymerized rosin, partially hydrogenated methyl esters of rosin, and the like.

Chewing gum base waxes include natural waxes, polyethylene waxes, paraffin waxes, beeswax, carnauba wax, microcrystalline waxes, and the like.

Chewing gum base compositions for stick chewing gum and sugar coated chewing gum are commercially available, for example under the trade names Paloja T, Frm Paloja T and Nova T (l.a. dreyfus). Commercially available Bubble gum bases are Paloja Bubble T, Ladco Bubble T and Grande Bubble T (L.A. Dreyfus Corp.).

An essential component of the chewing gum composition of the present invention is a dispersed particulate phase of about 1 to 30% by weight of an organic encapsulated alkali metal bicarbonate.

The alkali metal bicarbonate core matrix encapsulating the particles is sodium bicarbonate or potassium bicarbonate or a mixture thereof. Alternatively, the alkali metal bicarbonate core matrix encapsulating the particles may contain from about 0.1 to about 20 wt% alkali metal carbonate based on the amount of alkali metal bicarbonate core matrix. The alkali metal carbonate may be a sodium or potassium salt or a mixture thereof.

The average particle size of the encapsulated alkali metal bicarbonate component can be between about 20-200 microns. The organic encapsulate of the encapsulated particles typically contains about 5 to 60 weight percent encapsulated alkali metal bicarbonate particles.

The organic encapsulate encapsulating the particle is selected from hydrophilic film formers and hydrophobic (water insoluble) film formers, and mixtures thereof, such as hydrocolloids and polysaccharides.

As used herein, "hydrophilic" refers to an encapsulating film-forming agent that is soluble in water at a solubility of at least about 2 grams per 100 grams of water at 25℃.

The organic encapsulant may contain 100% hydrophilic encapsulant, or 100% water-insoluble encapsulant, or any mixture thereof. The rate of release of alkali metal bicarbonate upon saliva action on a chewing gum product is directly related to the hydrophilicity of the encapsulating layer of alkali metal bicarbonate particles. The hydrophilic encapsulating layer releases the internal alkali metal bicarbonate continuously over a period of about 20 minutes. The water-insoluble encapsulating layer continuously releases the internal alkali metal bicarbonate over a period of about 35 minutes. The organic encapsulant may be comprised of a hydrophilic polymer containing about 5-80 wt% of a water-insoluble polymer.

Hydrophilic encapsulating agents suitable for encapsulating alkali metal bicarbonate particles include gum arabic, gum karaya, gum tragacanth, guar gum, locust bean gum, xanthan gum, carrageenan, alginates, casein, dextran, pectin, agar, sorbitol, 2-hydroxyethyl starch, 2-aminoethyl starch, maltodextrin, amylodextrin, 2-hydroxyethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose salts, cellulose sulfate, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyethylene oxide, polyvinyl alcohol/vinyl acetate, and the like. Polyvinyl acetate is an example of a water-insoluble polymer that can be classified as an additional encapsulating layer component that can modulate the hydrophilicity of a hydrophilic polymeric encapsulating layer.

Suitable water-insoluble encapsulants include polyvinyl acetate, polyacrylamide, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polyethylene, polyurethane, polymethacrylate, paraffin, carnauba wax, beeswax, stearyl alcohol, zein, shellac, edible fats and the like. U.S. patent nos. 4,673,577, 5,139,794 and 4,933,190 disclose encapsulants for use in chewing gum products.

The encapsulant can be coated onto the alkali metal bicarbonate particles using conventional coating methods, such as a rotating disk method, a fluidized bed method, a spray drying method, a freeze drying method, a drum method, a coacervation method, and the like.

In another embodiment, the chewing gum product of the present invention comprises from about 0.5 to about 25% by weight of unencapsulated particulate alkali metal bicarbonate. The unencapsulated alkali metal bicarbonate can contain from about 0.1 to about 20 weight percent alkali metal carbonate based on the weight of the unencapsulated alkali metal bicarbonate.

The unencapsulated alkali metal bicarbonate component typically has an average particle size of between about 10 and 250 microns. In a preferred embodiment, the alkali metal bicarbonate is on the order of microns in size, with an average particle size of between about 0.5 and 20 microns.

The product provides immediate oral hygiene during chewing of a chewing gum product containing both encapsulated and unencapsulated alkali metal bicarbonate ingredients, and maintains this hygiene for a prolonged period of time. The product has refreshing taste and smell, and can reduce oral odor for a long time.

In another embodiment, the chewing gum product of the present invention contains about 5 to 70% by weight water soluble filler.

As used herein, "water-soluble" refers to a chewing gum composition having a solubility in water of at least about 5 grams per 100 grams of water at 25℃.

Water-soluble fillers in chewing gum products generally include bulk sweeteners, high-potency sweeteners, flavorants, softeners, emulsifiers, colorants, fillers, antioxidants, and other components that provide desired attributes.

To enhance the chewing performance and mouth feel of the chewing gum, about 0.1-15 wt% of a softener ingredient may be added thereto. The softener ingredient may contain glycerin or lecithin or mixtures thereof, which also have the effect of a humectant.

The filler component may contain about 5-70 wt% bulk sweetener. The bulk sweetener may consist of sugar-containing and/or sugar-free components. Examples of sugar sweeteners are sucrose, glucose, maltose, dextrin, dried invert sugar, fructose, levulose, galactose, solid corn syrup, and the like.

Examples of sugar-free sweeteners are sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, hydrogenated starch hydrolysates, maltitol and like polyols.

About 0.025-2 wt% of the high-potency sweetener ingredient may be used alone or in combination with a bulking sweetener. Examples of high potency sweeteners are aspartame, saccharin, cyclamate, thaumatin, dihydrochalcones, acesulfame K compounds, and the like. A long-lasting sweetener is obtained by encapsulating a portion or all of the high-potency sweetener component. The high potency sweetener may be used in higher amounts when encapsulated. The encapsulant and encapsulation techniques may employ those similar to the encapsulation of alkali metal bicarbonate described herein.

Flavor ingredients are often added to the chewing gum products of the present invention in amounts of about 0.02 to 5% by weight. Suitable flavorants include menthol, peppermint oil (peppermint oil), peppermint oil (spearmint oil), oil of wintergreen, cinnamon, anise, and the like. The perfume can be encapsulated as described in the references U.S. patent nos. 3,826,847, 5,128,155 and 5,266,335.

The chewing gum products of the present invention optionally contain about 0.001 to 0.2 wt% of a color component such as FD & C type dyes and lakes. The pigment may be present in the form of particles, giving the gum base a speckled appearance. This mottled effect may also be used on the surface layer, for example the surface of a sugar-coated chewing gum product. A spotted gum chewing gum product can be seen in U.S. patent No.4,744,991.

The chewing gum product may also contain about 0.01-3 wt% of an antioxidant ingredient such as butylated cresol, butylated methoxyphenol, propyl gallate and the like.

In addition to the abrasive action of the alkali metal bicarbonate salt, the chewing gum product of the present invention may also include from about 1 to about 20% by weight of an abrasive component for dentifrice cleaning. Suitable abrasives include powdered phosphate salts and silica compounds, such as calcium phosphate, silica xerogels, and the like. Other types of suitable abrasives are found in U.S. patent nos. 4,170,633 and 4,891,211.

Compatibility of the various ingredients in the chewing gum product and flavor enhancement effects can be achieved by adding from about 0.001 to about 3 wt% of a surfactant component to the chewing gum product.

Suitable anionic surfactants include alkali metal and ammonium C₈-C₃₀Aliphatic carboxylates, sulfonates, sulfates and phosphates, such as dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate, sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate, ammonium lignosulfonate and the like.

Suitable nonionic surfactants include the condensation products of alkylene oxides with fatty alcohols, amines with alkyl phenols, such as ethoxylated sorbitan monostearate, ethoxylated glycerol monostearate and the like.

Suitable cationic surfactants include cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, cetylpyridinium chloride, benzyldimethyloctadecyl ammonium chloride, and the like. This type of surfactant may also impart antimicrobial activity to the chewing gum product.

Other surfactants that may be used in chewing gum products can be found in U.S. patent No.3,930,026.

The chewing gum products of the present invention may also contain about 0.05 to 3% by weight of a fluoridating agent component to prevent dental caries. Examples of fluorinating agents are alkali metal fluorides, ammonium fluoride, stannous chlorofluoride, stannous potassium fluoride, alkali metal monofluorophosphates, ammonium monofluorophosphate, and the like.

The chewing gum products of the present invention may be prepared according to conventional manufacturing methods, such as those described in U.S. patent No.4329,369, and the methods described in the examples below.

The chewing gum products of the present invention provide a novel combination of properties as a convenient supplement to other oral hygiene implements such as toothpastes and mouthwashes.

In a further embodiment, the present invention provides a method of oral hygiene, i.e., oral chewing of the chewing gum product of the present invention according to the laws of personal need and convenience.

The encapsulated alkali metal bicarbonate component of the chewing gum product of the present invention is released continuously over an extended period of time under conditions of chewing the gum.

The chewing gum product of the present invention is capable of cleaning teeth, counteracting acids produced by bacteria, promoting salivary secretion, and has dental stain preventing and tartar control effects.

The alkali metal bicarbonate component of the chewing gum product of the present invention has oral care benefits such as cleaning and whitening of teeth, and reduction of oral malodor for extended periods of time. Other advantages are a fresh breath and a pleasant mouth feel when chewing the gum.

The invention is further illustrated by the following examples. Given the representative components and specific ingredients herein, various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention in light of the foregoing disclosure.

Example 1

This example illustrates the distribution of sodium bicarbonate particle size before and after air jet milling.

Commercial grade sodium bicarbonate (trade name 3DF, available from Church & Dlight) was processed through an air jet mill (Particle Size Technology) and the Particle Size distribution of the milled sample was compared to the non-milled sample using a Microtrac laser scattering Particle Size analyser.

The average particle size of the 3DF sodium bicarbonate was 31.4 microns and the average particle size of the micronized processed 3DF sodium bicarbonate was 9.8 microns.

The 80% particle size distribution of 3DF sodium bicarbonate is between 15.4 and 55.8 microns, and after micronization processing is between 4.3 and 21.5 microns.

Example 2

This example illustrates a fluidized bed process for encapsulating bicarbonate compound particles with an organic encapsulating layer in accordance with the present invention.

The fluidized bed vessel employed was equipped in a Wurster air suspension coating system (WARF) as described in U.S. patent nos. 4,568,559 and 4,877,621.

Encapsulation solutions were prepared by dissolving polyethylene glycol (45 grams, Poly-G2000, Olin Corp.) and propylene glycol butyl ether (10 grams, PPG 14, americal) in ethanol (500 grams)/water (75 grams).

Sodium bicarbonate is crystalline as the core matrix. The average Particle size and Particle size distribution of sodium bicarbonate (Particle size technology) was consistent with the micronized powder of example 1.

Sodium bicarbonate powder was added to the coating chamber of the encapsulation system.

Pressurized air was introduced into the coating chamber and the organic encapsulating solution was sprayed onto the air-suspended bicarbonate core matrix crystals until the weight of the encapsulating layer was 30% of the total dry weight of the encapsulated particles.

The above procedure was repeated except that hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (Methocel 60 HG, Dow chemical Co.) was used as the film-forming encapsulation medium.

The above procedure was repeated except that maltodextrin (Lodex 10; Durkee Foods Co.) or amylodextrin was used as the film forming encapsulation medium, or the encapsulation solution (polyoxyethylene monolaurate sorbitan ester; Tween 20; ICI America Co.) contained 0.5 g of surfactant.

The encapsulated particles have a continuous film encapsulation over an inner core containing crystals of about 2 to 10 sodium bicarbonate. The average particle size of the encapsulated particles was about 40 microns.

The above procedure was repeated except that polyvinyl acetate (molecular weight 40,000) was used as the polymer medium encapsulating the sodium bicarbonate particles.

Example 3

This example illustrates the preparation of a chewing gum product according to the present invention.

The chewing gum product is prepared from the following components:

wt.％

cafosa Luxor 225-01 gum base⁽¹⁾ 23.92

Sorbitol liquid (70% solution) 2.39

Sorbitol powder 31.48

Mannitol powder 14.35

Maltitol powder 9.57

Sodium bicarbonate, micronizing⁽²⁾ 4.78

Sodium bicarbonate, encapsulated⁽³⁾ 4.78

Peppermint oil 1.44

Glycerol (96%) 7.18

Saccharin sodium 0.10

Blue #2 lake 0.006

⁽¹⁾Cafosa Corp

⁽²⁾Average particle size 12 microns (example 1)

⁽³⁾Polyvinyl acetate encapsulating layer (example 2)

Sorbitol, mannitol, maltitol, micronized processed sodium bicarbonate and encapsulated sodium bicarbonate powder were blended. About one third of the blend was added to the preheated gum base (122 ° F) in a mixer and the mixture was mixed for about 3 minutes.

Liquid sorbitol and glycerin were mixed to form a solution. About half of this solution was slowly added to the mixture and the resulting mixture was mixed for about 3 minutes.

The remaining dry blend and liquid solution were added under a continuous mixing operation. Adding saccharin sodium and pigment while mixing, and adding perfume. The ingredients were mixed until homogeneous. The resulting chewing gum complex is rolled, tableted, cut and packaged into stick gum products.

Claims (40)

1. A chewing gum product comprising from about 15 to about 80% by weight of a gum base and from about 1 to about 30% by weight of dispersed particles of an alkali metal bicarbonate encapsulated by organic matter.

2. A chewing gum product according to claim 1 wherein the alkali metal bicarbonate component comprises about 0.1-20% by weight of alkali metal carbonate, based on the weight of alkali metal bicarbonate.

3. The chewing gum product of claim 1 further comprising about 5 to 70% by weight of a water soluble filler.

4. Chewing gum product according to claim 1, further comprising about 0.02-5 wt% of encapsulated or unencapsulated or a mixture of both forms of flavor ingredients.

5. A chewing gum product according to claim 1 further comprising about 0.001 to 0.2% by weight of a color component.

6. A chewing gum product according to claim 1 further comprising about 0.01 to 3% by weight of an antioxidant component.

7. A chewing gum product according to claim 1 further comprising about 0.5-25% by weight of an alkali metal bicarbonate powder component.

8. A chewing gum product according to claim 1 further comprising from about 0.5 to 25% by weight of an alkali metal bicarbonate powder component, and from about 0.1 to 20% by weight of an alkali metal carbonate, based on the weight of the additional alkali metal bicarbonate powder component.

9. Chewing gum product according to claim 1, further comprising about 1-20 wt% of an abrasive component.

10. A chewing gum product according to claim 1 further comprising about 0.001 to 3% by weight of a surfactant component.

11. The chewing gum product of claim 1 further comprising about 0.05 to 3% by weight of a fluorinating agent component.

12. A chewing gum product according to claim 1 further comprising about 0.1-15% by weight of glycerin or lecithin or mixtures thereof.

13. The chewing gum product of claim 1 further comprising about 5-70% by weight of a body enhancing sweetener ingredient selected from the group consisting of sucrose, dextrose, maltitol, xylitol, sorbitol, mannitol, and mixtures thereof.

14. A chewing gum product according to claim 1 further comprising about 0.02-5% by weight of a flavor ingredient selected from the group consisting of encapsulated or unencapsulated menthol, peppermint oil, oil of wintergreen, cinnamon oil, anise oil and mixtures thereof.

15. A chewing gum product according to claim 1 further comprising about 0.5 to 25% by weight of sodium or potassium bicarbonate having an average particle size of 0.5 to 20 microns.

16. Chewing gum product according to claim 1, further comprising about 1-20 wt% of an abrasive ingredient selected from the group consisting of calcium phosphate and silica compounds and mixtures thereof.

17. A chewing gum product according to claim 1 further comprising about 0.001 to 3% by weight of C selected from the group consisting of alkali metals and ammonium₈-C₃₀Aliphatic carboxylates, sulfonates, sulfates, and phosphates, and mixtures thereof.

18. A chewing gum product according to claim 1 further comprising from about 0.05 to about 3% by weight of a fluorinating agent component selected from the group consisting of alkali metal fluorides, ammonium fluorides, stannous chlorofluorides, stannous fluoride, alkali metal monofluorophosphates and ammonium monofluorophosphates, and mixtures thereof.

19. The chewing gum product of claim 1 further comprising about 0.025 to 2% by weight of a high potency sweetener ingredient selected from the group consisting of aspartame, saccharin, cyclamate, thaumatin, dihydrochalcone and acesulfame K compounds, and mixtures thereof.

20. The chewing gum product of claim 1 further comprising about 0.01 to 3% by weight of an antioxidant ingredient selected from the group consisting of butylated cresol, butylated methoxyphenol and propyl gallate and mixtures thereof.

21. A chewing gum product according to claim 1 wherein the organic encapsulate comprises about 5-60% by weight (dry weight) of surface encapsulated bicarbonate particles.

22. Chewing gum product according to claim 1, wherein the organic encapsulate encapsulated on the surface of the bicarbonate particles comprises a hydrophilic polymer or a water-insoluble polymer or a mixture thereof.

23. A chewing gum product according to claim 1 wherein the organic encapsulates, surface encapsulated by bicarbonate particles, comprise a hydrophilic polymer comprising from about 5 to 80% by weight of water insoluble polymer based on the weight of the encapsulating layer.

24. A chewing gum product according to claim 1 wherein the organic encapsulate surface-encapsulated bicarbonate particles comprises a polysaccharide.

25. A chewing gum product according to claim 1 wherein the organic encapsulate surface-encapsulated the bicarbonate particles comprises a hydrocolloid.

26. A chewing gum product according to claim 1 wherein the organic encapsulate surface-encapsulated bicarbonate particles comprises starch.

27. A chewing gum product according to claim 1 wherein the organic encapsulate surface-encapsulated bicarbonate particles comprises a food grade shellac.

28. A chewing gum product according to claim 1 wherein the organic encapsulate surface-encapsulated bicarbonate particles comprises polyvinyl acetate.

29. A chewing gum product according to claim 1 wherein the organic encapsulate surface-encapsulated the bicarbonate particles is selected from the group consisting of water-insoluble fats and waxes.

30. A chewing gum product comprising: (1) from about 15 to 80% by weight of a gum base, (2) from about 1 to 30% by weight of dispersed particles of alkali metal bicarbonate encapsulated by organic matter, (3) from about 0 to 25% by weight of alkali metal bicarbonate powder, (4) from about 5 to 70% by weight of a water-soluble filler, (5) from about 0 to 5% by weight of a perfume, (6) from about 0 to 0.2% by weight of a pigment, (7) from about 0 to 20% by weight of an abrasive, (8) from about 0 to 3% by weight of a surfactant, (9) from about 0 to 3% by weight of a fluorinating agent, and (10) from about 0 to 15% by weight of glycerol or lecithin or mixtures thereof.

31. The chewing gum product of claim 30 wherein the filler is a sweetener selected from the group consisting of sucrose, dextrose, maltitol, xylitol, sorbitol, mannitol and mixtures thereof.

32. Chewing gum product according to claim 30, comprising about 0.02-5% by weight of encapsulated or unencapsulated or a mixture of both forms of flavor ingredients.

33. A chewing gum product according to claim 30 containing about 0.001-0.2% by weight of a color component.

34. A chewing gum product according to claim 30, containing about 1-20% by weight of abrasive ingredients.

35. A chewing gum product according to claim 30 containing about 0.001-3 wt% surfactant component.

36. A chewing gum product according to claim 30 containing about 0.05 to 3% by weight of a fluorinating agent component.

37. A chewing gum product according to claim 30 further comprising about 0.5-25% by weight of an alkali metal bicarbonate powder component.

38. A chewing gum product according to claim 30 containing about 0.1-15% by weight of glycerin or lecithin or mixtures thereof.

39. A chewing gum product according to claim 30 wherein the organic encapsulate surface-encapsulated the bicarbonate particles comprises a mixture of starch and polyvinyl acetate.

40. A method of oral hygiene whereby the chewing gum product of claim 30 is orally chewed according to the rules of personal need and convenience.