Oral care composition
Disclosed are oral care compositions, for example dentifrice compositions, comprising an orally acceptable vehicle, metal oxide particles having an average particle size of no greater than a dentin tubule and a polymeric adherent material for adhering the metal oxide particles in the dentin tubule. The metal oxide particles have a median particle size of 5 microns or less, and may comprise zinc oxide.
1. An oral care composition comprising:
an orally acceptable vehicle; and
metal oxide particles comprising zinc oxide;
wherein the metal oxide particles are encapsulated in a mixture of two hydroxyalkyl cellulose polymers having different molecular weight selected from the group consisting of hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose (HPMC), hydroxyethylpropyl cellulose (HEPC) and hydroxybutylmethyl cellulose (HBMC) and;
wherein the metal oxide particles have an average particle size of from 1 to 7 microns.
2. The oral care composition according to claim 1 wherein the metal oxide is zinc oxide.
3. The oral care composition according to claim 1 wherein the metal oxide particles are present in an amount of up to 5% by weight, based on the total weight of the oral care composition.
4. The oral care composition according to claim 3 wherein the metal oxide particles are present in an amount of from 0.5 to 2% by weight, being based on the total weight of the oral care composition.
5. The oral care composition according to claim 1 wherein the mixture of two hydroxyalkyl cellulose polymers comprise at least one polymer selected from poly (ethylene oxide) polymers, linear polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and cross-linked polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), polyethylene glycol (PEG)/polypropylene glycol (PPG) copolymer, ethylene oxide (EO)-propylene oxide (PO) block copolymers, ester gum, shellac, pressure sensitive silicone adhesives, methacrylates, or mixtures thereof.
6. The oral care composition according to claim 1 further comprising silica particles which have an average particle size of no greater than a dentin tubule.
7. The oral care composition according to claim 6 wherein the silica particles are present in an amount of up to 10% by weight, based on the total weight of the oral care composition.
8. The oral care composition according to claim 7 wherein the silica particles are present in an amount of from 3 to 6% by weight, based on the total weight of the oral care composition.
9. The oral care composition according to claim 1 which is a dentifrice composition.
10. The oral care composition according to claim 9 , which is a toothpaste or a gel.
11. The oral care composition according to claim 1 , wherein the composition is formulated into a form selected from a mouth rinse, a gum, a dissolvable lozenge, and a dissolvable film.
12. A method of reducing dental sensitivity comprising applying to the surface of a mammalian tooth an oral care composition of claim 1 .
13. A method of protecting dental surfaces from acid-mediated degradation, comprising applying to the surface of a mammalian tooth an oral care composition of claim 1 .
14. A method of maintaining or increasing the systemic health of a mammal comprising applying a composition to an oral surface of a mammal at least once a day for a duration of time, wherein the composition comprises:
a. an oral care composition of claim 1 , and
b. an agent selected from triclosan; triclosan monophosphate; chlorhexidine; alexidine; hexetidine; sanguinarine; benzalkonium chloride; salicylanilide; domiphen bromide; cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC); tetradecylpyridinium chloride (TPC); N-tetradecyl-4-ethylpyridinium chloride (TDEPC); octenidine; delmopinol; octapinol; nisin; zinc ion agent; copper ion agent; essential oils; furanones; bacteriocins, ethyllauroyl arginate, extracts of magnolia, a metal ion source, fluoride, stannous ions, arginine bicarbonate, honokiol, magonol, ursolic acid, ursic acid, morin, extract of sea buckthorn, a peroxide, an enzyme, a Camellia extract, a flavonoid, a flavan, halogenated diphenyl ether, creative, and propolis.
15. A method of occluding a dentin tubule within the surface of a mammalian tooth comprising applying to the tooth surface a composition according to claim 1 .
16. The oral care composition according to claim 1 , wherein the metal oxide particles further comprises a member of the group consisting of stannous oxide, calcium oxide, copper oxide, iron oxide and mixtures thereof.
17. The oral care composition according to claim 1 , wherein the metal oxide particles have a particle size distribution of 3 to 4 microns, a particle size distribution of 5 to 7 microns, a particle size distribution of 3 to 5 microns, a particle size distribution of 2 to 5 microns, or a particle size distribution of 2 to 4 microns.