Film compositions for oral use

1. An oral care composition comprising:

(i) flakes of a water dissolvable or soluble film comprising:

(a) about 15 to about 40% by weight of a water soluble cellulose polymer in the form of a polymer matrix, wherein the cellulose polymer is hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose; and

(b) a dye which is entrapped in a silica sol-gel, wherein the silica sol-gel is entrained in the polymer matrix, and

(c) betaine; and

(ii) an orally acceptable carrier vehicle,

wherein the film flakes are single-layer film flakes and are pliable;

wherein the hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose is a blend of a first hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose having a viscostity ranging from 4 to 6 mPas, and a second hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose having a viscosity ranging from 40 cps to 60 mPas; and

wherein the first and second hydroxylpropylmethyl cellulose are present in a weight ratio of about 1:1.

2. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the cellulose polymer further comprises one or more of hydroxyethylpropyl cellulose, hydroxybutyl methyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose and mixtures thereof.

3. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the film further comprises a plasticizer selected from sorbitol, propylene glycol, glycerol, and polyethylene glycol.

4. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the film is dissolved after a period of greater than 30 seconds and less than 180 seconds of brushing, scrubbing or agitation in the presence of water.

5. The composition according to claim 1 wherein the average thickness of the film is 1.5-3 mil.

6. The composition according to claim 1 wherein the dye is FD&C Blue#1.

7. The composition according to claim 1 , comprising, by dry weight of the film, 10-30% propylene glycol; 1-5% betaine; and 15-30% dye entrapped silica sol-gel.

8. The composition according to claim 1 which is stable upon storage at about room temperature for 1 month, 2 months, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year or 2 years.

9. The composition according to claim 1 , which is a clear gel toothpaste; wherein the dye is released from said film after brushing for a period of 30 to 120 seconds.

10. A method of cleaning the teeth comprising brushing the teeth with a composition according to claim 1 , wherein brushing is continued until the film releases all of the dye; thereby providing a color signal to the user of adequate brushing.

11. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the composition does not contain polysorbate 80.

12. The compositition according to claim 1 , wherein the film flakes have a particle size of about 10 to about 100 mesh.

13. The compositition according to claim 1 , wherein the film flakes have a particle size of about 20 to about 60 mesh.

14. The compositition according to claim 1 , wherein the film flakes have a particle size of about 30 to about 50 mesh.

15. An oral care composition comprising:

(i) flakes of a water dissolvable or soluble film comprising:

(a) a polymer matrix comprising a water soluble cellulose polymer that is present in an amount ranging from about 15 wt. % to about 40 wt. % based on the total weight of the oral care composition, the cellulose polymer comprising a blend of:

a first hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose having a viscostity ranging from 4 to 6 mPas, and

a second hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose having a viscosity ranging from 40 cps to 60 mPas; and

(b) a dye which is entrapped in a silica sol-gel, wherein the silica sol-gel is entrained in the polymer matrix, wherein the dye-entrapped silica sol-gel is present in an amount ranging from about 15 wt. % to about 30 wt. % based on the total weight of the oral care composition and the dye is FD&C Blue#1; and

(c) betaine present in an amount ranging from about 1 wt. % to about 5 wt. % based on the total weight of the oral care composition; and

(ii) an orally acceptable carrier vehicle,

wherein the film flakes have a particle size of about 30 to about 50 mesh;

wherein the first hydroxypropylmethyl celluose and the second hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose are present in a weight ratio of about 1:1.