Products and methods for the remineralization and prevention of demineralization of teeth

A mixed aqueous composition for remineralizing subsurface lesions and/or for mineralizing exposed dentin tubules in teeth, comprising:

• (a) a concentration of dissolved calcium cations released by at least one partially water-soluble calcium salt;
• (b) a concentration of undissolved calcium salt, said undissolved calcium salt being an undissolved form of said partially water-soluble calcium salt;
• (c) a concentration of dissolved phosphate anions;
• and
• (d) a concentration of dissolved fluoride anions;
• wherein said mixed aqueous composition has a pH of from about 4.0 to about 10.0.

A two-part packaged product comprising:

• (i) a first discrete part comprising a cationic liquid component containing at least one partially water-soluble calcium salt;
• (ii) a second discrete part containing an anionic liquid component containing at least one water-soluble phosphate salt and at least one water-soluble fluoride salt;
• wherein said cationic and anionic liquid components have a pH in water such that a mixed aqueous composition formed by mixing said cationic and anionic components with water and/or saliva has a pH of from about 4.0 to about 10.0;
• further wherein said product contains an amount of said calcium salt such that in said mixed aqueous composition a first portion of said calcium salt exists as dissolved calcium cations and a second portion of said calcium salt exists as undissolved calcium salt, said aqueous composition further comprising phosphate anions released by said phosphate salt and fluoride anions released by said fluoride salt;
• (iii) a dispensing container containing a first discrete compartment and a second discrete compartment each with an outlet end, wherein the first compartment stores the first discrete part and the second compartment stores the second discrete part;
• (iv) a closure mechanism for closing the first compartment and the second compartment;
• and
• (v) a dispensing means for simultaneously dispensing the cationic liquid component and the anionic liquid component from the product.

A method of remineralizing at least one lesion formed in a subsurface of at least one tooth and/or mineralizing at least one exposed tubule in a dentin portion of at least one tooth, comprising the steps of:

• (1) providing an mixed aqueous composition having a pH of from about 4.0 to about 10.0 and comprising:
• (a) a concentration of dissolved calcium cations released by at least one partially water-soluble calcium salt;
• (b) a concentration of undissolved calcium salt, said undissolved calcium salt being an undissolved form of said partially water-soluble calcium salt;
• (c) a concentration of dissolved phosphate anions;
• and
• (d) a concentration of dissolved fluoride anions;
• and
• (2) applying said mixed aqueous composition to said at least one tooth for a period of time sufficient to allow diffusion of said calcium cations, said phosphate anions and said fluoride anions through a surface of said tooth to said subsurface and/or to said dentin portion, said cations and anions precipitating at said subsurface to form an insoluble salt on said lesion so as to remineralize said lesion, and/or precipitating at said dentin portion to form an insoluble salt on said exposed tubule so as to mineralize said tubule.