Combating dentine hypersensitivity with a non-ionic polymer

1. An oral care composition which is a transparent aqueous solution at or below room temperature and which forms a two-phase cloudy system at body temperature and wherein the composition consists essentially of:

1) hydroxypropyl cellulose having an average molecular weight of about 95,000 to about 370,000 in an amount of from 1 to 5% by weight of the composition and wherein the hydroxypropyl cellulose has a cloud point in the composition at a temperature no higher than about 38° C., and

2) one or more cloud point modifying agents selected from an alkali metal salt in an amount from 0.5 to 5% by weight of the composition or a humectant which is selected from glycerine, sorbitol, propylene glycol or polyethylene glycol or a mixture thereof, in an amount from 2 to 15% by weight of the composition; and

3) water in an amount up to 100% by weight of the composition.

2. A composition according to claim 1 wherein the non-ionic polymer in the composition has a cloud point in the range 32° to 38° C.

3. A composition according to claim 1 wherein the salt comprises sodium citrate.

4. A composition according to claim 1 wherein the humectant is present in an amount ranging from 2 to 10% by weight of the composition.

5. A composition according to claim 1 wherein the humectant comprises glycerine.

6. A composition according to claim 1 wherein the hydroxypropyl cellulose is selected from Klucel GF (M.W.≈370,000), Klucel JF (M.W.≈140,000), Klucel LF (M.W.≈95,000) and Klucel EF (M.W.≈80,000).

7. A composition according to claim 6 wherein the hydroxypropyl cellulose comprises Klucel JF.

8. A composition according to claim 1 wherein the non-ionic polymer is present in an amount ranging from 1 to 5% by weight of the composition.

9. A method of treating dentine hypersensitivity comprising administering a composition according to claim 1 .