Oral care compositions
The present invention relates to oral compositions, comprising select polyethylene oxide-polypropylene oxide block copolymer surfactants. Methods for using the compositions are also disclosed.
1. A composition, comprising:
i. a polyethylene oxide-polypropylene oxide block polymer surfactant of the formula:
where “x” represents the average number of polyethylene oxide units and is an integer of from 10 to 100; “y” represents the average number of polypropylene oxide units and is an integer of less than or equal to 30; and the ratio of “x” to “y” is no greater than about 4:1 but at least 0.8:1, and wherein the polymer surfactant of formula I is selected from the group consisting of poloxamer 108, poloxamer 188 or mixtures thereof;
ii. one or more water-insoluble bioactive agents; and
iii. at least one orally acceptable solvent; said composition having a pH below 5.
2. The composition according to claim 1 wherein the polymer surfactant is poloxamer 188.
3. The composition according to claim 1 wherein the one or more water-insoluble bioactive agents is a bioactive essential oil.
4. The composition according to claim 3 wherein the bioactive essential oil is selected from the group consisting of thymol, eucalyptol, menthol, methyl salicylate and mixtures thereof.
5. The composition according to claim 4 wherein the bioactive essential oil is a mixture of thymol, eucalyptol, menthol and methyl salicylate.
6. The composition according to claim 1 wherein the composition is essentially free of C 2 -C 4 monohydric alcohols.
7. The composition according to claim 6 wherein the composition is free of C 2 -C 4 monohydric alcohols.
8. The composition according to claim 1 wherein the composition is an oral composition.
9. A method of treating plaque, gingivitis, gum disease or oral malodor, comprising the step of applying to the tissues of the oral cavity of a mammal in need of such treatment an amount of the composition of claim 1 effective to reduce symptoms associated with plaque, gingivitis, gum disease or oral malodor.
10. A method for reducing the number of oral microorganisms responsible for plaque, gingivitis, gum disease or oral malodor, comprising the step of applying to the tissues of the oral cavity of a mammal having such microorganisms an amount of the composition of claim 1 effective to reduce the number of such oral microorganisms.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein application of the composition to the oral cavity results in an M-factor of greater than about 0.5.
12. The composition of claim 1 having a pH of below 4.5.