Patent ID: 8252269

Claim:
A method for reducing dental caries formation in a mammal, comprising the steps of: (a) applying a chewing gum product into the oral cavity of the mammal, wherein the chewing gum product comprises: (i) a gum base present in amounts of about 20% to about 60% by weight of said product; (ii) at least one sweetening agent present in amounts of about 40% to about 90% by weight of said product; and (iii) casein phosphopeptide-calcium phosphate present in amounts of at least 3% by weight of the chewing gum product, wherein a portion of said casein phosphopeptide-calcium phosphate is encapsulated and a portion of said casein phosphopeptide-calcium phosphate is unencapsulated; and (b) chewing the chewing gum product for a time sufficient to reduce caries formation by about 16.9% over a chewing gum that is free of casein phosphopeptide-calcium phosphate as measured by standardized digital radiographs, wherein said chewing gum product is chewed three times a day for ten minutes per session.