Oral care article comprising a delivery carrier and solid hydrophilic particles comprising a bleaching agent
An oral care article for use in the oral cavity includes a water insoluble delivery carrier comprising solid hydrophilic particles comprising at least one bleaching agent. At least about 20 parts by weight of the solid hydrophilic particles dissolve in about 100 parts by weight of water, and/or the solid hydrophilic particles increase by volume and/or weight by at least about 50% in water. The particles are embedded in the carrier partially below the first surface and partially at or above the first surface of the solid hydrophobic delivery carrier. A concentration of the bleaching agent is from about 0.01% to about 15%, by weight of the article.
1. An oral care article comprising:
a) a solid water insoluble delivery carrier in a form of a strip having a length and a width forming a first surface and having a thickness extending from the first surface to a second surface; and
b) solid hydrophilic particles embedded in the solid water insoluble delivery carrier partially below the first surface and partially at or above the first surface of the solid hydrophobic delivery carrier, wherein the solid hydrophilic particles comprise a bleaching agent, wherein:
(i) at least about 20 parts by weight of the solid hydrophilic particles dissolve in about 100 parts by weight of water, and/or
(ii) wherein the solid hydrophilic particles increase in volume and/or weight by at least about 50% in water, and
wherein a concentration of the bleaching agent is from about 0.01% to about 15%, by weight of the article.
2. The oral care article of claim 1 , wherein a number-average equivalent-diameter or a volume-average equivalent-diameter of the solid hydrophilic particles is from about 0.01 microns to about 2000 microns.
3. The oral care article of claim 1 , wherein an average thickness of the solid water insoluble delivery carrier and/or the article is from about 0.1 mm to about 2.0 mm.
4. The oral care article of claim 1 , wherein a ratio of an average thickness of the solid water insoluble delivery carrier and/or the article divided by a number-average equivalent-diameter or a volume-average equivalent-diameter of the solid hydrophilic particles is from about 0.1 to about 10.
5. The oral care article of claim 1 , wherein at least about 50 parts by weight of the solid hydrophilic particles dissolve in about 100 parts by weight of water.
6. The oral care article of claim 1 , wherein the solid hydrophilic particles increase in volume and/or weight by at least about 60%, upon contact with water.
7. The oral care article of claim 1 , wherein the bleaching agent is selected from (i) a complex of hydrogen peroxide and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) polymer, (ii) urea peroxide, or (iii) mixtures thereof.
8. The oral care article of claim 7 , wherein the bleaching agent is a complex of hydrogen peroxide and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) polymer.
9. The oral care article of claim 1 , wherein a concentration of bleaching agent at the first surface is from about 1 microgram/cm 2 to about 10000 micrograms/cm 2 .
10. The oral care article of claim 1 , wherein the concentration of bleaching agent is from about 0.1% to about 10%, by weight of the article.
11. The oral care article of claim 1 , wherein the solid hydrophilic particles have a particle size of less than 425 micron.
12. The oral care article of claim 1 , wherein the solid water insoluble delivery carrier comprises a material having: (i) a needle consistency value of from about 0.1 to about 100 as measured by ASTM D1321-16a; and/or (ii) a cone penetration consistency value of less than about 10 as measured by ASTM D937-07; and/or (iii) a drop melting point of from about 60° C. to about 120° C. as measured by ASTM D127-08; and/or (iv) a flexural stiffness of greater than about 50 g/cm as measured by ASTM D2923-95.
13. The oral care article of claim 1 , wherein the solid water insoluble delivery carrier comprises a wax, a polymer, or a combination thereof.
14. The oral care article of claim 1 , wherein the solid water insoluble delivery carrier comprises microcrystalline wax and/or polyethylene polymer.
15. The oral care article of claim 1 , wherein the solid water insoluble delivery carrier is a single layer and/or shaped in the form of a dental arch.
16. The oral care article of claim 1 , wherein more than about 50% of the volume of the solid hydrophilic particles is disposed below or at the first surface of the solid water insoluble delivery carrier.
17. The oral care article of claim 1 , wherein more than about 20% of the surface area of the solid hydrophilic particles is disposed at the first surface of the solid water insoluble delivery carrier and exposed to the external environment surrounding the water insoluble delivery carrier.
18. A kit comprising the oral care article of claim 1 and an electromagnetic radiation source capable of directing electromagnetic radiation with one or more wavelengths in the range from about 200 nm to about 1700 nm towards at least one tooth, wherein the electromagnetic radiation impinges on the outer surface of the water insoluble delivery carrier in the range from about 175 mW/cm 2 to about 225 mW/cm 2 .
19. A method for whitening teeth comprising the steps of:
a) applying the oral care article of claim 1 to at least one tooth surface such that the first surface of the article contacts the at least one tooth surface;
b) letting the article stay on the at least one tooth surface for at least 1 minute; and
c) optionally applying electromagnetic radiation to the article for at least 1 minute.
20. A process for making the oral care article of claim 1 , the process comprising the steps of:
(i) providing the solid water insoluble delivery carrier;
(ii) applying the solid hydrophilic particles to the first surface of the solid water insoluble delivery carrier; and
(iii) embedding the solid hydrophilic particles into the solid water insoluble delivery carrier by forcing the solid hydrophilic particles into the first surface of the solid water insoluble delivery carrier.