Oral Care Compositions

Abstract

An oral care composition comprising primarily insoluble forms of zinc compounds and stannous compounds, as well as methods of using the same in the treatment or prevention of gingivitis, plaque, and dental caries.

Description

FIELD[0001]The present invention relates to an oral care composition for use in the treatment or prevention of gingivitis, plaque, and dental caries. This oral care composition comprises primarily insoluble forms of zinc compounds and stannous compounds, such as zinc oxide, zinc phosphate, stannous phosphate and stannous hydroxide.BACKGROUND[0002]Dental plaque is a sticky biofilm or mass of bacteria that is commonly found between the teeth, along the gum line, and below the gum line margins. Dental plaque can give rise to dental caries and periodontal problems such as gingivitis and periodontitis. Dental caries tooth decay or tooth demineralization caused by acid produced from the bacterial degradation of fermentable sugar.[0003]Oral care compositions which contain stannous ion sources exhibit excellent clinical benefits, particularly in the reduction of gingivitis. Stannous fluoride is well known for use in clinical dentistry with a history of therapeutic benefits over forty years....

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes oral care products that contain stannous compounds and zinc compounds in high water formulations. These products provide better protection against tooth damage and stronger antibacterial properties compared to previous formulations. The stannous and zinc species in the products are formed by a manufacturing process that involves using soluble salts. The compositions have a low amount of soluble stannous and zinc, and can be formulated as toothpaste or oral gel.

Problems solved by technology

Dental plaque can give rise to dental caries and periodontal problems such as gingivitis and periodontitis.

However, until recently, its popularity has been limited by its instability in aqueous solutions.

It has traditionally been thought that this formation of insoluble stannous salts results in a loss of therapeutic properties.

Both of these solutions to the stannous ion problem have drawbacks.

Low water oral care compositions can be difficult to formulate with desired rheological properties, and dual-phase compositions are considerably more expensive to manufacture and package.

Zinc ions in solution impart an unpleasant, astringent mouthfeel, so formulations that provide effective levels of zinc, and also have acceptable organoleptic properties, have been difficult to achieve.

Moreover, free zinc ions may react with fluoride ions to produce zinc fluoride, which is insoluble and so reduces the availability of both the zinc and the fluoride.

Finally, zinc ions can react with other dentifrice components, such as anionic surfactants (e.g. sodium lauryl sulfate), interfering with foaming and cleaning and composition stability.

Soluble metal ions, such as stannous and zinc, may also react unfavorably polymeric rheological modifiers, such as modified celluloses (e.g., carboxymethyl cellulose) and gums (e.g., xanthan gum or carrageenan gum).

Such compounds often considered to be incompatible with divalent metal ions.