Natural tooth powder tablets

Abstract

Disclosed are compositions that include a combination of natural tooth powder ingredients pressed into tablet form, and methods of making the composition, and to methods of enhancing dental hygiene that includes administration of the composition. The compositions include natural ingredients such as xylitol and at least one tooth cleaning agent, and can be formed into a tablet suitable for cleaning the teeth without the use of a toothbrush or water.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of making a compressible powder composition comprising:
 (a) mixing from about 10% to about 40% by weight xylitol and from about 10% to about 40% by weight erythritol to form a uniform mixture;   (b) optionally grinding the uniform mixture so that the xylitol and erythritol each has a particle size within the range of from about 100 to about 800 μm;   (c) adding to the uniform mixture from about 0.01% to about 5% by weight of a first flavorant having a particle size within the range of from about 100 to about 800 μm to form a flavored uniform mixture;   (d) adding to the flavored uniform mixture from about 10% to about 40% by weight of at least one tooth cleaning agent, less than 5% by weight sodium bicarbonate, from about 1% to about 30% by weight of a natural calcium-containing compound, and at least one additive selected from the group consisting of a second flavorant, a colorant, a dye, a natural preservative, and mixtures thereof, to form a compressible mixture;   (e) blending the compressible mixture for a period of time sufficient to form a substantially uniformly blended compressible powder composition.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising compressing the compressible powder composition into a tablet. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one tooth cleaning agent is selected from the group consisting of abrasives, polishing agents, whitening agents, anti-bacterial agents, anti-fungal agents, anti-caries agents, etching agents, forming agents, surfactants, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the at least one tooth cleaning agent is at least one abrasive. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the at least one abrasive is dicalcium phosphate. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the natural calcium-containing compound is kaolin. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising adding in (d) from about 2% to about 4% by weight sodium bicarbonate.