DELIVERY SYSTEM FOR AQUEOUS ZINC ORAL CARE COMPOSITIONS WITH FLUORIDE

1 . A dental article configured to access an interproximal gap, the article comprising:

at least one applicator;

zinc-fluoride composition comprising:

a zinc carboxylate;

an amine-containing ligand;

a source of fluoride anion effective to provide fluoride in an amount of at least 4 wt % with respect to the weight of the zinc-fluoride composition; and

water,

wherein:

the zinc-fluoride composition has a pH of at least 8, and

the zinc-fluoride composition is a homogenous solution at a temperature of about 20-25 ° C.; and

a package for containing one or more of the at least one applicator and the zinc-fluoride composition, wherein the package is impermeable to water vapor.

2 . (canceled)

3 . The dental article of claim 1 , wherein the applicator is selected from a floss, a floss pick, a pick, a microbrush, a swab, or a combination thereof.

4 . The dental article of claim 1 , wherein the applicator is pre-saturated with the zinc-fluoride composition.

5 . The dental article of claim 1 , wherein the zinc-fluoride composition consists essentially of the zinc carboxylate, the amine-containing ligand, the source of fluoride, and water.

6 . The dental article of claim 1 , wherein the zinc carboxylate is selected from zinc citrate, zinc gluconate, zinc maleate, zinc acetate, zinc fumarate, zinc adipate, zinc propionate, hydrates thereof, and combinations thereof.

7 . The dental article of claim 1 , wherein the zinc carboxylate is zinc citrate.

8 . The dental article of claim 1 , wherein the amine-containing ligand is selected from one or more of an amino acid and ammonia.

9 . The dental article of claim 1 , wherein the amine-containing ligand is an amino acid selected from histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, tyrosine, tryptophan, methionine, phenylalanine, aspartic acid, glycine, arginine, glutamic acid, valine, alanine, threonine, cysteine, proline, asparagine, and combinations thereof.

10 . (canceled)

11 . The dental article of claim 1 , wherein the amine-containing ligand is ammonia.

12 . The dental article of claim 1 , wherein the source of fluoride anion is selected from sodium fluoride, ammonium fluoride, silver fluoride, stannous fluoride, potassium fluoride, and combinations thereof.

13 . (canceled)

14 . The dental article of claim 1 , wherein the amine-containing ligand is present in amount between about 5 wt % and about 30 wt % with respect to the weight of the zinc-fluoride composition.

15 . The dental article of claim 1 , wherein the zinc carboxylate is present in an amount effective to provide zinc in about 5 wt % to about 15 wt % with respect to the weight of the zinc-fluoride composition.

16 . The dental article of claim 1 , wherein the water is present in an amount of about 20 wt % to about 50 wt % with respect to the weight of the zinc-fluoride composition.

17 . The dental article of claim 1 , wherein the amine-containing ligand is present in amount of about 10 wt % to about 15 wt % with respect to the zinc-fluoride composition, and provides zinc:amine-containing ligand mol ratio of about 1:2 to about 1:3.

18 . A method for one or more of reducing bacteria on a tooth surface and remineralizing a tooth surface, the method comprising:

providing a dental article of claim 1 ;

contacting an effective amount of the zinc-fluoride composition to the tooth surface with the at least one applicator; and

allowing the zinc-fluoride composition to contact the tooth surface for a period,

wherein the zinc-fluoride composition one or more of reduces the bacteria at the tooth surface and remineralizes the tooth surface.

19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising contacting the at least one applicator to the tooth surface and loading the applicator with the zinc-fluoride composition.

20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the at least one applicator is pre-loaded with the zinc-fluoride composition.

21 . (canceled)

22 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the effective amount is at least about 30 mg of zinc-fluoride composition.

23 . A method of claim 18 , wherein the tooth surface is an interproximal tooth surface.

24 . A kit comprising:

a dental article of claim 1 , or

at least one applicator, and

zinc-fluoride composition comprising:

a zinc carboxylate;

an amine-containing ligand;

a source of fluoride anion effective to provide fluoride in an amount of at least 4 wt % with respect to the weight of the zinc-fluoride composition; and

water,

wherein:

the zinc-fluoride composition has a pH of at least 8, and

the zinc-fluoride composition is a homogenous solution at a temperature of about 20-25° C.; and

a set of instructions directing a user to contact an effective amount of the zinc-fluoride composition to the tooth surface with the at least one applicator.