Complex calcium and fluoride containing mouth rinses, dentifrices, and chewable tablets

A method for fluoridating teeth comprising:

• (1) mixing in an aqueous environment a first component comprising a stable, non-toxic soluble calcium salt and a soluble calcium complexing agent having a dominant complex species at low pH which is a weaker calcium complexing agent than the dominant species at a high pH, and a buffer which is an acid or a salt of an acid that has a pK value from 5 to 14 and which acid does not form insoluble calcium salts or fluoride salts;
• with a second component comprising a stable, non-toxic soluble fluoride compound and a buffer which is an acid or salt of an acid that has a pK value of from 2 to 11 and which acid does not form insoluble calcium or fluoride salts;
• whereby when the two components are combined, the pH of the calcium component decreases sufficiently in the mixture so that the dominant complex species of the calcium complexing agent at the final pH is a weaker calcium complexing agent than the dominant species at the original pH, resulting in precipitation of calcium fluoride which removes free calcium ions from the solution leading to release of additional free calcium ions from the calcium complexing agent which, in turn, allows additional calcium fluoride to precipitate gradually and continuously over the course of about 10 seconds to about 4 minutes;
• and
• (2) promptly applying the mixture to tooth surfaces.

A substantially phosphate-free two component system for increased deposition of fluoride onto and into dental tissue, comprising:

• (a) a first component containing a soluble calcium source and a soluble calcium complexing agent having a dominant complex species at low pH which is a weaker calcium complexing agent than the dominant species at a high pH, and a buffer which is an acid or a salt of an acid that has a pK value from 5 to 14 and which acid does not form insoluble calcium salts or fluoride salts, in a first non-interfering carrier;
• and
• (b) a second component containing a fluoride compound and a buffer which is an acid or salt of an acid that has a pK value of from 2 to 11 and which acid does not form insoluble calcium or fluoride salts, in a second non-interfering carrier;
• whereby when the two components are combined, the pH of the calcium component decreases sufficiently in the mixture so that the dominant complex species of the calcium complexing agent at the final pH is a weaker calcium complexing agent than the dominant species at the original pH, resulting in precipitation of calcium fluoride which removes free calcium ions from the solution leading to release of additional free calcium ions from the calcium complexing agent which, in turn, allows additional calcium fluoride to precipitate gradually and continuously over the course of about 10 seconds to about 4 minutes.

A substantially phosphate-free two component system for increased deposition of fluoride onto and into dental tissue, comprising:

• (a) a first non-phosphate containing component containing a non-toxic soluble calcium salt, ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid, and a buffer which is an acid or a salt of an acid that has a pK value from 5 to 14 and which acid does not form insoluble calcium salts or fluoride salts, in a first non-interfering carrier;
• and
• (b) a second non-phosphate containing component containing a fluoride compound and a buffer which is an acid or salt of an acid that has a pK value of from 2 to 11 and which acid does not form insoluble calcium or fluoride salts, in a second non
• interfering carrier;
• whereby when the two components are combined, precipitation of calcium fluoride removes free calcium ions from the solution leading to the release of additional free calcium ions from the calcium complexing agent which, in turn, allows additional calcium fluoride to precipitate gradually and continuously over the course of about 10 seconds to about 4 minutes.