Patent Abstract:
the present invention relates to a method of remineralizing and desensitizing teeth utilizing the sequential steps of first applying to the teeth a first component that attaches to the teeth and secondly applying to the teeth treated with the first component a second component that attaches to the first component .

Detailed Description:
the approach of the present invention of sequential application utilizes advantages of the layer - by - layer deposition of material chemically or physically bound to one another . this methodology will create a robust desensitizing seal inside the dentin tubules . since the deposited materials can be imparted with additional desensitizing , antibacterial , remineralizing , and drug - delivering ( such as fluoride ) properties , the proposed technique is significant improvement versus existing dentifrice materials . in addition , the capability of multilayer films to deliver functional materials ( fluoride , calcium , potassium , eugenol , etc .) to the tooth surface and saliva in a time - controlled fashion is especially critical for the prolonged periods between meals when the natural saliva ( stationary saliva ) flow is the lowest , least alkaline , and minimally protective to the tooth . the employed components can be selected from a wide range of non - toxic natural materials such as chondroitin , calcium citrate , chitosan , and strawberry dna . a significant innovation of the new method is utilizing the synergistic effect of desensitization and remineralization due to the guided deposition of hydroxyapatite on the scaffolds formed by the desensitizing agents in the process of dentinal tubule occlusion . utilization of a food - grade alginate cross - linked by calcium ions , may allow for the use of culinary recipes instead of medicated compositions . the term “ dentifrice ” as used throughout this description , denotes a paste , gel , or liquid formulation . the dentifrice may be in any desired form , such as toothpaste ; ( including deep striped , surface striped , multi - layered , having a gel surround the paste ); powder ; beads ; mouthwash ; mouth rinses ; lozenge ; dental gel ; a periodontal gel ; a liquid suitable for painting a dental surface ; a chewing gum ; a dissolvable , partially dissolvable or non - dissolvable film or strip ; a wafer ; a wipe or towelette ; an implant ; a foam ; a troche ; a dental floss , liquid formulated for oral application in a small portable nebulizer ( spray bottle ), liquid formulated for oral application in a small portable drop - generating , bottle , a soft pliable tablet (“ chewie ”), or any combinations thereof . the invention will now be described with reference to the following non - limiting examples . application 1 : toothpaste containing potassium carboxylate - functionalized silica nanoparticles that , due to the presence of carboxy - groups , bind to the tooth surface occluding the tubules and additionally delivering the desensitizing material ( potassium cation ) to the tooth . see fig1 . application 2 : mouth rinse containing antibacterial chitosan nanoparticles ( positively charged ) that cover the already deposited silica nanoparticles ( negatively charged ) and seal the tubules enhancing the desensitizing effect . application 1 : mouth rinse containing antibacterial chitosan ( positively charged ) that electrostatically interacts with dentin . application 2 : mouth rinse containing alginate ( negatively charged ) that covers the already deposited chitosan ( positively charged ) and seals the tubules enhancing the desensitizing effect . the deposited chitosan provides a site for remineralization clue to its affinity to calcium ions . see fig2 . application 1 : toothpaste containing nanocrystals of hydroxyapatite coated with chondroitin sulfate that bind to the tooth surface due to the presence of carboxy - groups in chondroitin , and deliver the remineralizing material ( hydroxyapatite ) to the tooth . application 2 : mouth rinse containing antibacterial chitosan nanoparticles ( positively charged ) that cover the already deposited chondroitin ( negatively charged ) and seal the tubules enhancing the desensitizing effect . in addition , the chitosan - chondroitin scaffold will promote remineralization by hydroxyapatite and its components from saliva . application 3 : dental floss or toothpicks functionalized by hydroxyapatite or calcium citrate will provide additional material for remineralization . application 1 : toothpaste containing nanocrystals of hydroxyapatite coated with dna , including without limitation strawberry dna , that bind to the tooth surface due to the presence of phosphate - groups in the dna and deliver the remineralizing material ( hydroxyapatite ) to the tooth . application 2 : dental floss modified with eugenol - loaded antibacterial chitosan nanoparticles ( positively charged ) that cover the already deposited dna ( negatively charged ) and seal the tubules enhancing the desensitizing effect , which is additionally enforced by eugenol . application 1 : toothpaste containing nanocrystals of calcium citrate grown in the presence of chondroitin sulfate that bind to the tooth surface due to the presence of carboxy - groups in chondroitin , and deliver the remineralizing material ( calcium ) to the tooth . application 2 : mouth rinse containing antibacterial chitosan nanoparticles ( positively charged ) that cover the already deposited chondroitin ( negatively charged ) and seal the tubules enhancing the desensitizing effect . in addition , the chitosan - chondroitin scaffold will promote remineralization by hydroxyapatite and its components from saliva . application 3 : dental floss or toothpicks functionalized by hydroxyapatite or calcium citrate will provide additional material for remineralization . application 1 : mouth rinse containing potassium chondroitin sulfate that binds to the tooth surface due to the presence of carboxy - groups in chondroitin , and delivers the desensitizing material ( potassium ) to the tooth . application 2 : mouth rinse containing antibacterial chitosan fluoride nanoparticles ( positively charged ) that cover the already deposited chondroitin ( negatively charged ), seal the tubules enhancing the desensitizing effect , and deliver fluoride strengthening the tooth . in addition , the chitosan - chondroitin scaffold will promote remineralization by hydroxyapatite and its components from saliva . application 3 : dental floss or toothpicks functionalized by hydroxyapatite or calcium citrate will provide additional material for remineralization . application 1 : mouth rinse containing potassium chondroitin sulfate that binds to the tooth surface due to the presence of carboxy - groups in chondroitin , and delivers the desensitizing material ( potassium ) to the tooth . application 2 : an existing toothpaste containing titanium dioxide particles ( such as crest ®), that bind to the chondroitin layer due to the complexation of carboxy - groups with titanium , seal the tubules , and thus deliver the desensitizing effect to the tooth . compare fig3 to fig4 . the adhesion achieved by this method is resistant toward 30 seconds of ultrasound challenge . we have found that the occlusion induced by sensodyne ® does not withstand the ultrasound challenge . application 1 : mouth rinse containing potassium alginate that binds to the tooth surface due to the presence of carboxy - groups in alginate . application 2 : mouth rinse containing calcium ions that cross - links the alginate polymer due to its affinity to calcium - ions , and delivers desensitizing effect to the tooth . compare fig5 to fig6 . application 1 : mouth rinse containing potassium alginate that binds to the tooth surface due to the presence of carboxy - groups in alginate and delivers the desensitizing material ( potassium ) to the tooth . application 2 is not necessary ; the calcium - ions naturally present in saliva cross - link the alginate polymer due to its affinity to calcium ions . application 1 : consumption of a food containing potassium alginate that binds to the tooth surface due to the presence of carboxy - groups in alginate , and delivers the desensitizing material ( potassium ) to the tooth . application 2 : consumption of a calcium - rich food such as milk . calcium cations cross - link the alginate inside the dentinal tubules , forming an occlusion matrix loaded with a remineralizing component . application 1 : wearing dentures , athletic mouth guards , or overnight retainers or mouth guards charged with alginate nanoparticles that bind to the tooth surface due to the presence of carboxy - groups in alginate , and deliver the desensitizing material ( potassium ) to the tooth . application 2 : consumption of a calcium - rich food such as milk . calcium cations cross - link the alginate inside the dentin tubules , forming an occlusion matrix loaded with a remineralizing component . application 1 : mouth rinse containing antibacterial chitosan ( positively charged ) that electrostatically interacts with dentin . application 2 : mouth rinse containing citrate - ions that cross - link the already deposited chitosan and seal the tubules delivering the desensitizing effect . additionally , presence of citrate ion strengthens the bone and provides a site for remineralization due to its affinity to calcium ions . see fig7 . application 1 : chewing gum containing layers of potassium alginate that binds to the tooth surface due to the presence of carboxy - groups in alginate and delivers the desensitizing material ( potassium ) to the tooth . application 2 : additional layers of the same chewing gum containing calcium chondroitinate that is mixed with the alginate by the energy of chewing and cross - linked . the tubules are occluded , and the desensitizing material ( potassium ) is delivered to the tooth . application 1 : chewing gum containing microcapsules of potassium alginate that binds to the tooth surface due to the presence of carboxy - groups in alginate and delivers the desensitizing material ( potassium ) to the tooth . application 2 : additional layers of the same chewing gum containing microcapsules of calcium chondroitinate that is mixed with the alginate by the energy of chewing and cross - linked . the tubules are occluded , and the desensitizing material ( potassium ) is delivered to the tooth . application 1 : mouth rinse containing calcium ions that are adsorbed on the tooth surface . application 2 : a toothpaste containing particles of bentonite that bind to the deposited calcium clue to the complexation of negatively charged groups of bentonite with calcium , occlude the tubules , and thus deliver the desensitizing effect to the tooth . compare fig8 to fig9 . the foregoing description and drawings comprise illustrative embodiments of the present inventions . the foregoing embodiments and the methods described herein may vary based on the ability , experience , and preference of those skilled in the art . merely listing the steps of the method in a certain order does not constitute any limitation on the order of the steps of the method . the foregoing description and drawings merely explain and illustrate the invention , and the invention is not limited thereto , except insofar as the claims are so limited . those skilled in the art who have the disclosure before them will be able to make modifications and variations therein without departing from the scope of the invention . e 1 . reynolds , e . stabilized calcium phosphate complexes . u . s . pat . no . 8 , 609 , 071 b1 . 2 . zhang , q . ; zou , j . ; yang , r . ; zhou , x . remineralization effects of casein phosphopeptide - 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