Abstract: The invention is directed to methods of extracting nucleic acids from microorganisms or mammalian cells adhered to polymers that are malleable within a living organism and particularly malleable in the oral cavity of the living organism. The invention also provides for method of detecting and quantitating microorganisms that adhere to malleable polymers, such as chewing gum.

Abstract: A chewing gum product containing a cross-linked gelatin matrix gum base and a bulking agent of erythritol, mannitol, or mixtures thereof. The cross-linked gelatin matrix can make up all or a portion of the gum base and still be comparable to that of a traditional elastomeric chewing gum product in its elasticity, cohesiveness, and feel in the mouth. The chewing gum of the present invention is also more environmentally friendly because it can be digestible and partially replace the need for petroleum-derived elastomers.

Abstract: Chewing gums and chewing gum bases which are cud-forming and chewable at mouth temperature contains a multi-block copolymer having at least two repeating sequences of at least two different polymeric blocks having at least three monomer units each. The multi-block copolymer optionally includes linking units and may be formulated to have non-covalent crosslinking between the copolymer chains. The multi-block copolymer is optionally plasticized with a compatible di-block copolymer to function as an elastomer system in the gum base. Characteristics of the multi-block copolymers can be selected to produce gum bases and chewing gums having desired properties. In some cases, chewed cuds formed from the gum bases may exhibit improved removability from environmental surfaces to which they may become undesirably attached.

Abstract: A chewing gum base comprises food acceptable substituted polysaccharides wherein substituents on the saccharide units in the polysaccharides produce a degree of substitution of at least I.0. The polysaccharides may have branches with an average length of 1 to 15 saccharide units per branch. The polysaccharides may be linked saccharide units such as allose, altrose, mannose, gulose, idose, galactose, 3,6 anhydro galactose, glucuronic acid, mannuronic acid, galacturonic acid, aldobiouronic acid, fucose, rhamnose, arabinose, xylose, talose, acyl substituted glucose, fructose, lactose and combinations thereof.

Abstract: Chewing gums and chewing gum bases which are cud-forming and chewable at mouth temperature contains a block copolymer having at least two hard crystallizable polymeric blocks and at least one soft polymeric block. At least one hard polymeric block is a hard crystallizable polymeric block has a melting point greater than 20° C. The hard, crystallizable polymeric blocks and the soft blocks each have a degree of polymerization of at least 15 Characteristics of the block copolymers can be selected to produce gum bases and chewing gums having desired properties. In some cases, chewed cuds formed from the gum bases may exhibit improved removability from environmental surfaces to which they may become undesirably attached.

Abstract: An oral composition contains an enhanced antibacterial effective amount of an antioxidant and an extract of Magnolia.