Stable Dentifrice With High Sodium Bicarbonate Loading

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing dentifrice compositions with high levels of sodium bicarbonate and stannous fluoride face stability issues such as high viscosity, difficulty in mixing, and phase separation, which affect their dispensibility and texture consistency.

Innovation Solution

A stabilizer component comprising carboxyvinyl polymers, polyvinylpyrrolidone, and xanthan gum is used to stabilize dentifrice compositions containing high levels of sodium bicarbonate and stannous fluoride, improving their physical stability and maintaining the efficacy of stannous ions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If high levels of sodium bicarbonate are used to achieve maximum cleaning benefit, then plaque removal capability is improved, but viscosity becomes excessively high making mixing and dispensing difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplaque removal capabilityVSAvoidmixing and dispensing ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by introducing a specific stabilizer system comprising carboxyvinyl polymers, polyvinylpyrrolidone, and xanthan gum. This stabilizer system modifies the rheological parameters of the dentifrice, allowing high sodium bicarbonate content (at least 40 wt.%) to be maintained while controlling viscosity to acceptable levels for mixing and dispensing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If high levels of sodium bicarbonate are used to achieve maximum cleaning benefit, then plaque removal capability is improved, but the product becomes unstable over time with hardening or phase separation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplaque removal capabilityVSAvoidproduct stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a stabilizer system as an intermediary component that mediates between the high sodium bicarbonate content and the overall product stability. The stabilizer comprising carboxyvinyl polymers, polyvinylpyrrolidone, and xanthan gum acts as a buffering system that prevents direct interactions causing instability, thereby maintaining both high cleaning efficacy and long-term compositional stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite dentifrice system combining multiple functional components: high levels of sodium bicarbonate (at least 40 wt.%), stannous ion anticaries component, a tri-component stabilizer system, and humectant. This composite structure allows each component to contribute its specific function while the overall formulation achieves synergistic stability and performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Reliability

If stannous fluoride is added to provide anticaries benefits, then cavity prevention is improved, but stannous ions rapidly oxidize to stannic ion causing discoloring and reduced efficacy

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanticaries efficacyVSAvoidstannous ion stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The stabilizer system comprising carboxyvinyl polymers, polyvinylpyrrolidone, and xanthan gum acts as a protective intermediary that shields stannous ions from oxidation. This stabilizer system creates a chemical environment that maintains stannous ions in their reduced state, preventing oxidation to stannic ion and thereby preserving both anticaries efficacy and appearance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The stabilizer system creates a chemically inert microenvironment around the stannous ions, protecting them from oxidative conditions. The carboxyvinyl polymers, polyvinylpyrrolidone, and xanthan gum collectively establish a protective matrix that limits exposure to oxidizing agents, effectively creating an inert chemical environment that maintains stannous ion stability throughout the product shelf life.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #39Inert atmosphere (Inert environment)

Data Source

PatentUS20250170033A1Stable Dentrifice Compositions With High Sodium Bicarbonate Loading
Publication Date: 2025.05.29 LUBRIZOL ADVANCED MATERIALS INC

AI summary

The present technology generally relates to stable dentifrice compostions comprising high amounts of sodium bicarbonate. More specifically. the disclosed technology relates to stable dentifrice compositions comprising a) at least 40 wt. % sodium bicarbonate: b) at least one stannous ion anticaries component: c) a stabilizer component comprising i) a carboxyvinyl polymer and/or copolymer: ii) polyvinylpyrrolidone; and iii) xanthan gum; and d) at least one humectant component.