Oral hygiene compositions
Oral hygiene compositions suitable for use as dentifrice compositions comprising a silicon abrasive agent are provided.
1. A dentifrice composition comprising a particulate elemental silicon abrasive agent wherein the silicon consists of elemental silicon.
2. A dentifrice composition according to claim 1 , wherein the silicon is selected from one or more of: amorphous silicon; single crystal silicon; and
polycrystalline silicon.
3. A dentifrice composition according to claim 1 , wherein the silicon is porous silicon.
4. A dentifrice composition according to claim 3 , wherein the porous silicon has a BET surface area of 100 to 700 m 2 /g.
5. A dentifrice composition according to claim 4 , wherein the porous silicon has a BET surface area of 200 to 500 m 2 /g.
6. A dentifrice composition according to claim 3 , wherein the silicon is microporous or mesoporous.
7. A dentifrice composition according to claim 1 , wherein the silicon is resorbable.
8. A dentifrice composition according to claim 1 , wherein the silicon is about 96 to 99.9% pure.
9. A dentifrice composition according to claim 3 , wherein the porous silicon consists surface modified porous silicon.
10. A dentifrice composition according to claim 9 , wherein the surface modified porous silicon comprises, or consists essentially of, one or more of: derivatised porous silicon, partially oxidised porous silicon, porous silicon modified with silicon hydride surfaces.
11. A dentifrice composition according to claim 1 , wherein the mean particle size (d 50 ) of the silicon abrasive agent is about 1 to 100 μm.
12. A dentifrice composition according to claim 11 , wherein d 50 is about 10 to 50 μm.
13. A dentifrice composition according to claim 12 , wherein d 50 about 30 μm.
14. A dentifrice composition according to claim 1 , wherein the Vickers hardness of the particulate silicon abrasive agent is about 1 to 4 GPa.
15. A dentifrice composition according to claim 14 , wherein the Vickers hardness is about 1 to 2 GPa.
16. A dentifrice composition according to claim 1 , wherein the silicon abrasive agent is loaded with at least one active and/or inactive ingredients for delivery to the teeth and/or other oral surfaces.
17. A dentifrice composition according to claim 16 , wherein the active and/or inactive ingredients are selected from any one or more of: an antitartar agent, flavouring agent, antiseptic, anticaries agent, antibacterial agent.
18. A dentifrice composition according to claim 1 , wherein the particulate silicon abrasive agent is present in an amount of about 5 to 50 wt % of the dentifrice composition.
19. A dentifrice composition according to claim 1 , wherein the silicon abrasive agent comprises bioactive silicon.
20. A dentifrice composition according to claim 19 , wherein the bioactive silicon is loaded with calcium and/or phosphate salts.
21. A dentifrice composition according to claim 1 , wherein the dentifrice composition is selected from a toothpaste, tooth powder, prophylaxis paste, lozenge, dragee, bon-bon, gum or oral gel.
22. A dentifrice composition according to claim 21 , wherein the dentifrice composition is a toothpaste.
23. A dentifrice composition according to claim 1 , wherein the silicon abrasive agent is at least partly present in the form of minors, each minor comprising a plurality of layers and wherein each layer comprises porous silicon.
24. A dentifrice composition according to claim 1 , wherein the pH of the dentifrice composition is less than or equal to about 7.
25. A dentifrice composition according to claim 1 , wherein the RDA of the dentifrice composition is about 10 to 150.
26. A dentifrice composition according to claim 25 , wherein the RDA is less than about 100.
27. A dentifrice composition according to claim 1 wherein the PCR is about 20 to 150.
28. A dentifrice composition according to claim 27 , wherein the PCR is greater than about 50.
29. A production process for making the dentifrice composition according to claim 1 , comprising blending the particulate silicon abrasive agent and other components of the dentifrice composition.
30. A production process according to claim 29 , wherein the other components are selected from one or more of the following: water, humectant, anticaries agent, antitartar agent, antibacterial agent, other abrasive agent, flavouring agent, thickening agent, surfactant, efficacy enhancing agent, preservative, silicone, desensitiser, whitening agent, acidity regulator, pigment.
31. A method for reducing stain and/or plaque and/or gingivitis comprising the application of a safe and effective amount of a dentifrice composition according to claim 1 to the teeth and other oral surfaces.
32. A cosmetic method for reducing stain comprising the application of a safe and effective amount of a composition according to claim 1 to the teeth and other oral surfaces.
33. A dentifrice composition according to claim 1 for use in the treatment and/or the prevention of plaque and/or gingivitis.