Multi-phase oral care compositions

1. A semisolid oral dispersion comprising:

a) hydrophilic discontinuous phase comprising bleaching agent particles, wherein the bleaching agent particles are free of percarbonate; and

b) hydrophobic continuous phase comprising at least 80%, by weight of the multi-phase oral composition, of petrolatum,

wherein the semisolid oral dispersion is substantially free of an added wax.

2. The semisolid oral dispersion of claim 1 , wherein at least about 20 parts by weight of the bleaching agent particles are soluble in about 100 parts by weight of water.

3. The semisolid oral dispersion of claim 2 , wherein at least about 50 parts by weight of the bleaching agent particles are soluble in about 100 parts by weight of water.

4. The semisolid oral dispersion of claim 3 , wherein the bleaching agent particles comprise hydrogen peroxide adduct.

5. The semisolid oral dispersion of claim 4 , wherein the hydrogen peroxide adduct comprises urea peroxide, polyvinyl pyrrolidone complexed with peroxide, or combinations thereof.

6. The semisolid oral dispersion of claim 1 , wherein the bleaching agent particles swell by at least about 50% upon contact with water.

7. The semisolid oral dispersion of claim 1 , wherein the bleaching agent particles are insoluble in the hydrophobic phase and the hydrophobic phase is insoluble in water.

8. The semisolid oral dispersion of claim 1 , wherein the dispersion has a cone penetration consistency value of from about 25 to about 300.

9. The semisolid oral dispersion of claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobic phase has a cone penetration consistency value of from about 25 to about 300.

10. The semisolid oral dispersion of claim 1 , wherein the dispersion has a drop melting point of from about 40° C. to about 80° C.

11. The semisolid oral dispersion of claim 1 , wherein the dispersion has a bleaching efficacy of at least about 1.

12. The semisolid oral dispersion of claim 11 , wherein the dispersion has a ratio of the bleaching efficacy to a weight percentage of the bleaching agent particles present in the dispersion of at least about 1.

13. The semisolid oral dispersion of claim 1 , wherein the dispersion comprises an additional oral care agent.

14. The semisolid oral dispersion of claim 1 , wherein the additional oral care agent comprises stannous fluoride, stannous chloride, or combinations thereof.

15. A kit for whitening teeth comprising:

a) the semisolid oral dispersion of claim 1 ; and

b) an electromagnetic radiation source capable of directing electromagnetic radiation with one or more wavelengths in a range from about 200 nm to about 1700 nm towards at least one tooth.

16. A kit for whitening teeth comprising:

a) the semisolid oral dispersion of claim 1 ; and

b) a delivery carrier.

17. The kit of claim 16 , wherein the delivery carrier comprises strip, film of material, dental tray, sponge material, applicator, or mixtures thereof.

18. The kit for whitening teeth according to claim 17 , further comprising an electromagnetic radiation source capable of emitting electromagnetic radiation in a range from about 400 nm to about 500 nm, impinging on the outer surface of the delivery carrier in a range from about 175 mW/cm 2 to about 225 mW/cm 2 .

19. A method for whitening teeth comprising:

a) applying the semisolid oral dispersion of claim 1 to a delivery carrier; and

b) contacting the semisolid oral dispersion to at least one tooth surface.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the method further comprises:

c) directing electromagnetic radiation with one or more wavelengths in the range from about 200 nm to about 1700 nm towards the at least one tooth.