Oral care measurement device and method

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for measuring the tubule occlusion capability of an oral care composition, the device comprising a porous material mounted over an illumination system powered by a liquid activated battery.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to devices and methods for measuring the tubule-occluding capacity of oral care compositions. Background of the Invention

[0003] Tooth sensitivity is a painful condition that affects up to 20% of adults. There are several types of treatments for tooth sensitivity based on two modes of action. The first type is neurodepolarizing agents, agents such as potassium nitrate, which work by interfering with the nerve conduction of painful stimuli.

[0004] The second category is known as occlusive agents, which work by physically blocking the exposed ends of the dentinal tubules, thereby reducing the movement of dentin fluid and reducing the irritation associated with shear stress as described by fluid dynamic theory.

[0005] The present invention relates to devices and methods for measuring the effectiveness of oral care compositions that physically occlude dentinal tubules. Summary of the invention

[0006] The present invention relates to a method for measuring the tubule blocking ability of an oral care composition, the method comprising the following steps:

[0007] i) preparing a slurry of the composition;

[0008] ii) treating a porous material with the slurry;

[0009] iii) mounting the treated porous material over a liquid activated battery connected to a lighting system; iv) applying a liquid to the treated porous material; and

[0010] v) Measuring the time it takes for the lighting system to be illuminated. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0011] Except in the examples, or where otherwise explicitly indicated, all numbers in this specification indicating amounts of material or reaction conditions, physical properties of materials and / or use may optionally be understood as modified by the word "about".

[0012] Unless otherwise stated, all amounts are by weight of the composition.

[0013] It should be noted that in specifying any range of values, any upper value can be associated with any particular lower value.

[0014] When features are disclosed with respect to a particular aspect of the invention (eg, the composition of the invention), such disclosure is also considered applicable to any other aspect of the invention (eg, the method of the invention), mutatis mutandis.

[0015] Any natural or naturally derived ingredients mentioned in this application are of European origin.

[0016] Oral care compositions are any therapeutic agents used to treat or enhance the oral cavities and teeth, preferably they are used to clean the surfaces of the oral cavities, especially the teeth.

[0017] Thus, preferred product forms of the compositions for use with the present invention are those suitable for brushing the teeth and / or rinsing the surfaces of the oral cavity.

[0018] Preferably, the porous material mounted for use with the present invention is not flexible, more preferably it is hard. The preferred material is hydroxyapatite, more preferably it is sintered glass, a disc being particularly preferred.

[0019] Preferably, the lighting system is a light emitting diode (LED).

[0020] The porous material is mounted above the battery in such a way that the liquid passing through it falls on the liquid activated battery. Preferably, the porous material is mounted vertically above the battery.

[0021] Preferably, the liquid activated battery comprises an oxidation electrode and a reduction electrode spaced apart. Preferably, the electrodes are arranged side by side or face to face.

[0022] According to the proposed device, the battery is activated and provides electrical energy when a fluid is added in the device, while the fluid impregnates the porous material through capillary action.

[0023] The oxidation electrode can be composed of any redox substance, metal, alloy or polymer oxidation material, for example, anthraquinone, viologen, TEMPO, calcium, iron, sodium, potassium, lithium, cadmium, copper, silver, magnesium, zinc, aluminum, etc.

[0024] The reduction electrode can be composed of any redox substance, metal, alloy or polymer reducing material, such as an air-breathing cathode, iron, cobalt, nickel, benzoquinone, TEMPO, silver, silver chloride, silver oxide, silver peroxide, copper, copper chloride, manganese, mercury, platinum, gold or a carbon-based electrode, which includes but is not limited to electrodes based on activated carbon, graphene, carbon nanotubes, carbon paste, glassy carbon paste and glassy carbon.

[0025] The present invention may have several batteries connected in series to increase the output voltage, or several batteries connected in parallel to increase the output current.

[0026] The slurry is preferably water-based, preferably comprising at least 50 wt%, more preferably at least 75 wt% water based on the weight of the total slurry.

[0027] Preferably, the porous material is mounted above the lighting system in such a way that liquid passing through it falls onto the lighting system. Preferably, the porous material is mounted vertically above the lighting system.

[0028] If a measurement is taken, the time period measured is from the placement of the liquid on the porous material to the activation of the lighting system.

[0029] It should be noted that in some cases, if the oral care composition is a toothpaste, a slurry should be prepared, in other less preferred cases, the composition may be in a form ready to be applied directly to the tray, such as a mouthwash or other solution / dispersion.

[0030] The composition for use with the present invention is most preferably in the form of a dentifrice. The term "dentifrice" refers to an oral composition used to clean the surfaces of the oral cavity. Such a composition is not intended to be swallowed for the purpose of systemic administration of a therapeutic formulation, but is applied to the oral cavity, used to treat the oral cavity, and then expectorated. Typically, such a composition is used in conjunction with a cleaning embodiment (e.g., a toothbrush), typically by applying the composition to the bristles of the toothbrush and then brushing the accessible surfaces of the oral cavity.

[0031] Preferably, the dentifrice, in particular toothpaste, is in the form of an extrudable semi-solid such as a cream, paste or gel (or a mixture thereof).

[0032] In one embodiment, a preferred class of oral care actives for inclusion in the compositions for use in the present invention comprises formulations for the remineralization of teeth.In the context of the present invention, the term "remineralization" means the in situ generation of hydroxyapatite on teeth.

[0033] A specific example of a suitable formulation for tooth remineralization is a mixture of a calcium source and a phosphate source which, when delivered to the teeth, results in the in situ formation of hydroxyapatite on the teeth.

[0034] Illustrative examples of calcium source types that can be used in this context (hereinafter referred to as "remineralizing calcium sources") include, for example, calcium phosphate, calcium gluconate, calcium oxide, calcium lactate, calcium glycerophosphate, calcium carbonate, calcium hydroxide, calcium sulfate, calcium carboxymethylcellulose, calcium alginate, calcium salts of citric acid, calcium silicate, and mixtures thereof. Preferably, the remineralizing calcium source is calcium silicate.

[0035] The amount of one or more remineralizing calcium sources (eg calcium silicate) in the composition of the invention is typically in the range of 1 to 30%, preferably 5 to 20% by total weight of the remineralizing calcium source, based on the total weight of the oral care composition.

[0036] Illustrative examples of types of phosphate sources that can be used in this context (hereinafter referred to as "remineralized phosphate sources") include, for example, monosodium dihydrogen phosphate, disodium hydrogen phosphate, sodium pyrophosphate, tetrasodium pyrophosphate, sodium tripolyphosphate, sodium hexametaphosphate, potassium dihydrogen phosphate, trisodium phosphate, tripotassium phosphate, and mixtures thereof. Preferably, the remineralized phosphate source is a mixture of trisodium phosphate and sodium dihydrogen phosphate.

[0037] The amount of one or more remineralizing phosphate sources (e.g., trisodium phosphate and sodium dihydrogen phosphate) in the composition of the present invention is typically in the range of 2 to 15%, preferably 4 to 10%, by total weight of the remineralizing phosphate source, based on the total weight of the oral care composition.

[0038] The invention will now be illustrated by the following non-limiting examples.

[0039] Example

[0040] A 5% w / w solution of anhydrous calcium chloride (purchased from Sigma Aldrich, UK) in deionized water was prepared. A filter disc (purchased from Robo, VitroPOR) with a diameter of 30 mm, a thickness of 3.5 mm and a porosity of 3 was treated by applying 3 x 1.5 ml of the calcium chloride solution. The disc was air dried after each application.

[0041] Example 1: A toothpaste slurry was prepared by mixing 5 grams of Sensodyne Repair and Protect (Original Variant) with 10 grams of water and mixing at a speed of 5 m / s for 20 seconds using a Fastprep mixer (available from MP Biomedicals, USA). The slurry was poured into a weigh boat and a glass disk was immersed in the slurry for 10 seconds. The disk was removed, patted dry with a paper towel, and air-dried. The disk was mounted above a signaling device that would cause a light source to flash when exposed to water passing through the disk. Deionized water was added dropwise to the upper surface of the disk using a pipette. As the water soaked into the disk, more water was added. If water droplets were collected on the surface before being immersed in the disk, no more water was added until the previous water droplets had been absorbed.

[0042] Example 2: A toothpaste slurry was prepared by mixing 5 grams of Pepsodent Sensitive Mineral Active (Active Remin Daily Care variant) with 10 grams of water and mixing at a speed of 5 m / s for 20 seconds using a Fastprep mixer (purchased from MP Biomedicals, USA). The slurry was poured into a weighing boat and a glass dish was immersed in the slurry for 10 seconds. The dish was removed, patted dry with a paper towel, and air-dried. The dish was mounted above a signal transduction device containing a battery that would cause a light source to flash when exposed to water passing through the dish. Deionized water was added dropwise to the upper surface of the dish with a pipette. As the water soaked into the dish, more water was added. If water droplets were collected on the surface before being immersed in the dish, no more water was added until the previous water droplets had been absorbed.

[0043] Time to shine the light Example 1 45 seconds Example 2 N / A

[0044] The examples show that the method of the present invention can be used to measure the tubule blocking capacity of toothpaste.

Claims

1. A method for measuring the tubule-occluding ability of an oral care composition, the method comprising the following steps: i) preparing a slurry of the composition; ii) treating a porous material with the slurry; iii) mounting the treated porous material over a liquid activated battery connected to a lighting system; iv) applying a liquid to the treated porous material; and v) Measuring the time it takes for the lighting system to be illuminated.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the liquid activated battery comprises an oxidation electrode and a reduction electrode separated by a distance. 3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the electrodes are arranged side by side or face to face.

4. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the porous material is hard.

5. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the porous material is sintered glass, preferably a sintered glass disk.

6. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the lighting system is a light emitting diode (LED).

7. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the lighting system is also placed below the porous material.

8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the oral care composition is a toothpaste.

9. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the slurry comprises at least 50% by weight of the total slurry of water.

10. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the porous material is pretreated with calcium chloride before adding the slurry i).