Breath freshening confectionery products and methods of making and using same

Abstract

A confectionery product comprises a first side and a second side generally opposite to the first side; the second side comprising an abrasive surface that is suitable for scrubbing the top surface of a tongue within the oral cavity. In preferred embodiments the first side is smooth, and may be domed shaped and generally fit the roof of the mouth. The abrasive surface may be provided by 1) a formed, uneven surface, 2) by including abrasive inclusions in the composition making up the second surface, or 3) a combination of a formed, uneven surface and abrasive inclusions. The confectionery product is preferably a hard confectionery, but may also be a chewing gum product. A preferred confectionery product comprises a second side with a width and a length, the smallest of which is at least 1.6 times the product thickness. Preferred pressed tablets are made from a compressible composition and have at least one abrasive surface suitable for cleaning the surface of a human tongue in an oral cavity and have a hardness of between about 18 Kp and about 35 Kp.

1 . A hard confectionery product comprising:
 a) a first side and a second side generally opposite to said first side;   b) the first side comprising a domed, non-abrasive surface; and   c) the second side comprising an abrasive surface that is suitable for scrubbing the top surface of a tongue within an oral cavity;   d) wherein the product does not include a handle.   
     
     
         2 . The hard confectionery product of  claim 1  comprising a pressed tablet. 
     
     
         3 . The hard confectionery product of  claim 1  comprising a deposited hard candy. 
     
     
         4 . The hard confectionery product of  claim 1  wherein the abrasive scrubbing surface is provided by abrasive inclusions in the hard confectionery. 
     
     
         5 . The hard confectionery product of  claim 4  wherein the abrasive inclusions are embedded in only the surface layer of the abrasive surface. 
     
     
         6 . The hard confectionery product of  claim 1  wherein the domed surface and abrasive surface are made from different compositions. 
     
     
         7 . A hard confectionery product comprising:
 a) a first hard confectionery composition; and   b) a second hard confectionery composition different than said first composition, the second composition comprising an abrasive surface that is suitable for scrubbing the top surface of a tongue.   
     
     
         8 . The hard confectionery product of  claim 7  wherein the abrasive scrubbing surface is provided by abrasive inclusions in the second composition. 
     
     
         9 . The hard confectionery product of  claim 7  wherein said first composition provides a non-abrasive surface generally opposite said abrasive surface. 
     
     
         10 . The hard confectionery product of  claim 7  wherein the first and second compositions are different in color form one another. 
     
     
         11 . The hard confectionery product of  claim 10  wherein the first composition is a generally white color and the second composition is a generally blue color. 
     
     
         12 . The hard confectionery product of  claim 7  wherein the product has at least two distinct layers, a first layer comprising said first composition and a second layer comprising said second composition. 
     
     
         13 . The hard confectionery product of  claim 12  wherein the distinct layers form an interface generally parallel to the abrasive surface. 
     
     
         14 . The hard confectionery product of  claim 13  wherein the product is generally cylindrical in shape and the diameter of one of the layers is larger than the diameter of another one the other layers. 
     
     
         15 . The hard confectionery product of  claim 1  wherein the product is generally cylindrical in shape with a height less than the diameter of the cylinder, and the abrasive surface comprises at least one of the ends of the cylinder. 
     
     
         16 . The hard confectionery product of  claim 12  wherein the first layer forms a domed shape. 
     
     
         17 . The hard confectionery product of  claim 12  wherein the first layer has a beveled corner on its end opposite the abrasive surface. 
     
     
         18 . A hard confectionery product comprising:
 a) a first side and a second side generally opposite to said first side;   b) the first side comprising a concave surface; and   c) the second side comprising an abrasive surface that is suitable for scrubbing the top surface of a tongue within an oral cavity.   
     
     
         19 . The hard confectionery product of  claim 18  wherein the concave surface is sized and shaped so that a person using the product can create a partial vacuum between the product and the top of the oral cavity to help hold the product while the top surface of the tongue is scrubbed across the abrasive surface. 
     
     
         20 - 109 . (canceled)