Oral care compositions and methods of use

1. An oral care composition comprising:

a. a basic amino acid in free or salt form wherein the amino acid is arginine;

b. zinc oxide and zinc citrate;

c. a fluoride source; and

d. a silica abrasive which exhibits a pH of 3.4-4.2 when measured as an aqueous slurry, wherein said silica abrasive is present in an amount of about 3 wt. % to about 15 wt. % based on the total weight of the composition; and

wherein the oral care composition increases viscosity over 2-13 weeks after aging, or does not drop more than 18% in viscosity over 2-13 weeks of ageing, wherein the aging is measured from day 1.

2. The oral care composition of claim 1 , wherein the arginine has an L-configuration; and wherein the arginine is present in an amount corresponding to 1 wt. % to 15 wt. %, based on the total weight of the composition, the weight of the arginine being calculated as free form.

3. The oral care composition of claim 1 wherein the arginine is present in the amount of about 1.5 wt. %, 5.0 wt. % or 8.0 wt. %, based on the total weight of the composition.

4. The oral care composition of claim 1 , wherein the arginine is in free form.

5. The oral care composition of claim 1 , wherein the ratio of the amount of zinc oxide to zinc citrate is 2:1, 2.5:1, 3:1, 3.5:1 or 4:1, wherein the ratio is by wt. of the overall composition.

6. The oral care composition of claim 1 , wherein the zinc citrate is in an amount of from 0.25 to 1.0 wt % and the zinc oxide is in an amount of from 0.75 to 1.25 wt % based on the total weight of the oral care composition.

7. The oral care composition of claim 1 , wherein the zinc citrate is in an amount of about 0.5 wt % and the zinc oxide is in an amount of about 1.0% based on the total weight of the oral care composition.

8. The oral care composition of claim 1 , wherein the fluoride source is sodium fluoride or sodium monofluorophosphate.

9. The oral care composition of claim 8 , wherein the sodium fluoride or sodium monofluorophosphate is from 0.1 wt. %-2 wt. % of the total composition weight.

10. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the fluoride source is stannous fluoride.

11. The oral care composition of claim 1 , further comprising an additional ingredient selected from: benzyl alcohol, methylisothiazolinone (MIT), sodium bicarbonate, sodium methyl cocoyl taurate, lauryl alcohol, and polyphosphate.

12. The oral care composition of claim 11 wherein benzyl alcohol is present from 0.1-0.6% wt, based on the total weight of the composition.

13. The oral care composition of claim 1 comprising:

a. about 1.0% zinc oxide

b. about 0.5% zinc citrate

c. about 1.5% L-arginine

d. about 0.32% sodium fluoride;

e. about 3 wt. % to 15 wt. % silica abrasive which exhibits a pH of 3.4-4.2 when measured as an aqueous slurry;

wherein the amounts are based on the total weight of the composition.

14. The oral care composition of claim 1 comprising:

a. about 1.0% zinc oxide

b. about 0.5% zinc citrate

c. about 5% L-arginine

d. about 0.32% sodium fluoride;

e. about 10 wt. % to 15 wt. % silica abrasive which exhibits a pH of 3.4-4.2 when measured as an aqueous slurry;

wherein the amounts are based on the total weight of the composition.

15. The oral care composition of claim 1 , wherein the oral composition may be any of the following oral compositions selected from the group consisting of: a toothpaste or a dentifrice, a mouthwash or a mouth rinse, a topical oral gel, and a denture cleanser.

16. A method to improve oral health comprising applying an effective amount of the oral composition of claim 1 , to the oral cavity of a subject in need thereof, wherein the method is effective to:

i. reduce or inhibit formation of dental caries,

ii. reduce, repair or inhibit early enamel lesions,

iii. reduce or inhibit demineralization and promote remineralization of the teeth,

iv. reduce hypersensitivity of the teeth,

v. reduce or inhibit gingivitis,

vi. promote healing of sores or cuts in the mouth,

vii. reduce levels of acid producing bacteria,

viii. increase relative levels of arginolytic bacteria,

ix. inhibit microbial bio film formation in the oral cavity,

x. raise and/or maintain plaque pH at levels of at least pH 5.5 following sugar challenge,

xi. reduce plaque accumulation,

xii. treat dry mouth,

xiii. enhance systemic health,

xiv. whiten teeth,

xv. reduce erosion of the teeth,

xvi. immunize or protect the teeth against cariogenic bacteria and their effects, and/or

xvii. clean the teeth and oral cavity.