Tablets having improved bioadhesion to mucous membranes

Claim 2

A tablet having improved bioadhesion to mucous membranes comprising: (a) a water-soluble natural biopolymer in an amount of from about 40 to about 80 weight percent of the tablet, selected from the group consisting of a xanthan gum, a pectin and mixtures thereof; and (b) a solid polyol in an amount of from about 20 to about 60 weight percent of the tablet and having a solubility at room temperature in water greater than about 20 grams of polyol per 100 g of solution.

Claim 3

A tablet having improved bioadhesion to mucous membranes comprising (a) a xanthan gum present in amounts of about 40 to about 80% by weight of the composition; (b) a sugar alcohol having a solubility at room temperature in water greater than about 20 g per 100 g solution selected from the group consisting of sorbitol, xylitol, and mixtures, said sugar alcohol being present in an amount of about 20 to about 60% by weight of the composition; wherein there is additionally included an effective amount of a lubricant; wherein there is additionally included an effective amount of an active ingredient selected from the group consisting of flavorings, local anesthetics, local antiseptics, anti-cariogenic compounds, anti-inflammatory agents, antifungal agents, antiplaque agents, tooth desensitizers and mixtures thereof; wherein there is optionally included an effective amount of a vehicle; and wherein there is included an effective amount of sweetener selected from the group consisting of artificial sweeteners, high intensity sweeteners, and mixtures; such that the total of all components equals 100%.

Claim 4

A tablet having improved bioadhesion to mucous membranes comprising (a) a xanthan gum present in amounts of about 40 to about 80% by weight of the composition; (b) a sugar alcohol having a solubility at room temperature in water greater than about 20 g per 100 g solution selected from the group consisting of sorbitol, xylitol, and mixtures, said sugar alcohol being present in an amount of about 20 to about 60% by weight of the composition; wherein there is additionally included an effective amount of a lubricant; wherein there is additionally included an effective amount of an active ingredient selected from the group consisting of flavorings, local anesthetics, local antiseptics, anti-cariogenic compounds, anti-inflammatory agents, antifungal agents, antiplaque agents, tooth desensitizers and mixtures thereof; wherein there is optionally included an effective amount of a vehicle; and wherein there is included an effective amount of sweetener selected from the group consisting of artificial sweeteners, high intensity sweeteners, and mixtures; such that the total of all components equals 100%.

Claim 5

The tablet of claim 2 wherein said active ingredient is a liquid flavoring and said vehicle is present.

Claim 6

The tablet of claim 1 wherein said biopolymer is present in amounts of about 50 to about 70% by weight of the composition and said polyol is present in amounts of about 30 to about 50% by weight of the composition.

Claim 7

The tablet of claim 1 wherein said polyol is a sugar alcohol.

Claim 8

The tablet of claim 1 wherein said polyol is a sugar alcohol selected from the group consisting of sorbitol, xylitol, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 9

The tablet of claim 6 wherein said sugar alcohol is present in an amount of about 20 to about 60% by weight of the tablet and the biopolymer is present in an amount of about 40 to about 80% by weight of the tablet.

Claim 10

The tablet of claim 7 wherein said sugar alcohol is present in an amount of about 30 to about 50% by weight and said biopolymer is present in an amount of about 50 to about 70% by weight.

Claim 11

The tablet of claim 2 wherein said biopolymer is a xanthan gum.

Claim 12

The tablet of claim 7 wherein said biopolymer is a xanthan gum.

Claim 13

The tablet of claim 8 wherein said biopolymer is a xanthan gum.

Claim 14

The tablet of claim 1 wherein there is additionally included an effective amount of a lubricant.

Claim 15

The tablet of claim 12 wherein said lubricant is selected from the group consisting of metallic stearates and mixtures thereof.

Claim 16

The tablet of claim 13 wherein said lubricant is calcium stearate.

Claim 17

The tablet of claim 1 wherein there is additionally included effective amounts of an active agent selected from the group consisting of: flavorings, local antiseptics, local anesthetics, anti-cariogenic compounds, anti-inflammatory agents, antifungal agents, antiplaque agents, tooth desensitizers, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 18

The tablet of claim 15 wherein said active agent is a liquid and said tablet additionally contains an effective amount of a vehicle.

Claim 19

The tablet of claim 16 wherein said vehicle is selected from the group consisting of colloidal silica particles, magnesium aluminum silicate, dextrose, magnesium trisilicate, modified maltodextrin, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 20

The tablet of claim 17 wherein the active agent is a flavoring.

Claim 21

The tablet of claim 18 wherein said flavoring is selected from the group consisting of spearmint oil, cinnamon oil, oil of wintergreen, peppermint oil, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 22

The tablet of claim 17 wherein said vehicle is comprised of colloidal silica particles sintered together in chain-like formations.

Claim 23

The tablet of claim 1 wherein there is additionally included an effective amount of a sweetener selected from the group consisting of artificial sweeteners, high intensity sweeteners, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 24

The tablet of claim 15 wherein said active agent is an anti-cariogenic material comprising an orally ingestible fluoride containing compound.

Claim 25

The tablet of claim 22 wherein said active ingredient is selected from the group consisting of sodium fluoride, sodium monofluorophosphate, stannous fluoride and mixtures thereof.

Claim 26

The tablet of claim 2 wherein said xanthan gum is present in an amount of about 50 to about 70% by weight of the composition and said sugar alcohol is present in an amount of about 30 to about 50% by weight of the composition.