Oral Compositions Containing Fluoride, Pyrophosphate, Peroxide, and Nonionic and/or Amphoteric Surfactants

The present invention relates to stable oral compositions containing the active ingredients of fluoride, pyrophosphate, and calcium peroxide in addition to one or more nonionic and/or amphoteric surfactant. The total water content and pH are controlled to produce this stable composition.

Oral compositions utilizing a peroxide component are known. The most widely used peroxide has been hydrogen peroxide. Compositions containing peroxide generally deliver benefits in the antiplaque and antigingivitis areas. Other cosmetic benefits, such as tooth whitening, may also be provided. Oral compositions formulated with peroxide, a highly reactive ingredient, generally exhibit poor stability and many products do not have consumer preferred aesthetics.

While peroxide executions have been developed, they present a processing and stability challenge. Producing stable peroxide compositions also containing tartar control ingredients and fluoride in the same phase is even more difficult. It is difficult to stabilize the peroxide in the presence of fluoride and tartar control ingredients, without producing a product which has negative aesthetics and tartar control efficacy concerns.

References disclosing peroxide containing compositions include U.S. Pat. No. 5,403,578, to Gordon, issued Apr. 4, 1995, which discloses an oral composition containing peroxide, a tartar control ingredient, and fluoride. To stabilize the peroxide, the peroxide is microencapsulated to avoid the peroxide reacting with the other ingredients. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,456,902, to Williams, et al., issued Oct. 10, 1995, and 5,372,803, to Williams, et al., issued Dec. 13, 1994, disclose a composition utilizing a dual-compartment dispenser which separates the peroxide phase from the tartar control ingredients. WO 95/09603, published Apr. 13, 1995, also discloses a dual-compartment container which separates a calcium peroxide phase from the other dentifrice phase.

Canadian published applications 2,162,821, 2,162,885, and 2,162,812, all published May 15, 1996, disclose the use of calcium peroxide in a dentifrice. The amount of the water is controlled in these applications to aid in the stability.

Although peroxide products containing tartar control ingredients and fluoride are known, there is a continuing need to develop improved products. The present inventors have discovered that a stable oral composition can be formulated to include a soluble fluoride ion source, pyrophosphate, calcium peroxide, and a nonionic and/or amphoteric surfactant by controlling the total water content and the pH. It has also been discovered that these oral compositions may additionally contain polyethylene glycol, an alkali metal bicarbonate, and xylitol while still maintaining good stability.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a stable tartar control composition that contains a soluble fluoride ion source, calcium peroxide, and a nonionic and/or amphoteric surfactant. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a tartar control composition that contains a soluble fluoride ion source, calcium peroxide, a nonionic and/or amphoteric surfactant, polyethylene glycol, an alkali metal bicarbonate salt, and xylitol.

These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent from the detailed description which follows.

All percentages and ratios used herein are by weight of the total composition, and all measurements are made at 25.degree. C., unless otherwise specified.

The present invention relates to an oral composition comprising a soluble fluoride source capable of providing from about 50 ppm to about 3500 ppm of free fluoride ions, an amount of at least about 1.5% tetrasodium pyrophosphate, from about 0.01% to about 5% of calcium peroxide, from about 0.25% to about 5% of one or more nonionic surfactants and/or amphoteric surfactants, and from about 78% to about 98% of one or more aqueous carriers; wherein the oral composition has a neat pH of from about 9.0 to about 10.5 and a total water content of from about 5% to about 20%. The invention may also include from about 0.1% to about 20% of polyethylene glycol, from about 0.5% to about 40% of an alkali metal bicarbonate salt, and from about 0.01% to about 25% of xylitol.

The present invention relates to oral compositions comprising fluoride, tetrasodium pyrophosphate, calcium peroxide, and one or more nonionic and/or amphoteric surfactant. These compositions can also include polyethylene glycol, an alkali metal bicarbonate salt, and xylitol.

The oral compositions of the present invention may be in the form of a toothpaste. The term "toothpaste", as used herein, means paste, gel, or liquid dentifrice formulations unless otherwise specified. The toothpaste may be in any desired form, such as deep striped, surface striped, mulitlayered, having the gel surrounding the paste, or any combination thereof The toothpaste may also be a multilayer composition which is extruded from the tube in combination paste/gel stripes. One of the layers must comprise all of the essential components, while the other layers may contain less than all of the essential components or may be any dentifrice formulation.

The term "oral composition" as used herein means a product which in the ordinary course of usage is not intentionally swallowed for purposes of systemic administration of particular therapeutic agents, but is rather retained in the oral cavity for a time sufficient to contact substantially all of the dental surfaces and/or oral tissues for purposes of oral activity.

The term "aqueous carrier" as used herein means any safe and effective materials for use in the compositions of the present invention. Such materials include thickening materials, humectants, water, buffering agents, abrasive polishing materials, surfactants, titanium dioxide, flavor system, sweetening agents, coloring agents, and mixtures thereof

The present compositions comprise several essential components, as well as optional components. The essential and optional components of the compositions of the present invention are described in the following paragraphs.

Fluoride Ion Source

The present invention incorporates a soluble fluoride source capable of providing free fluoride ions. Preferred soluble fluoride ion sources include sodium fluoride, stannous fluoride, indium fluoride, and sodium monofluorophosphate. Sodium fluoride is the most preferred soluble fluoride ion source. Norris et al., U.S. Pat. No. 2,946,725, issued Jul. 26, 1960, and Widder et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,678,154 issued Jul. 18, 1972, disclose such fluoride ion sources as well as others. Both patents are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

The present compositions contain a soluble fluoride source capable of providing from about 50 ppm to about 3500 ppm, and preferably from about 500 ppm to about 3000 ppm of free fluoride ions.

Pyrophosphate source

The present invention also includes a pyrophosphate source. The pyrophosphate source comprises predominately undissolved pyrophosphate. Undissolved pyrophosphate compositions are defined as compositions containing no more than about 20% of the total pyrophosphate salt dissolved in the composition, preferably less than about 10% of the total pyrophosphate dissolved in the composition. Tetrasodium pyrophosphate salt is the preferred pyrophosphate salt in these compositions. It is also preferred that tetrasodium pyrophosphate be the only pyrophosphate or tartar control agent used.

Tetrasodium pyrophosphate may be the anhydrous salt form or the decahydrate form, or any other species stable in solid form in the dentifrice compositions. The anhydrous salt is in its solid particle form, which may be its crystalline and/or amorphous state, with the particle size of the salt preferably being small enough to be aesthetically acceptable and readily soluble during use. The amount of pyrophosphate salt useful in making these compositions is any tartar control effective amount, and is generally from about 1.5% to about 15%, preferably from about 2% to about 10%, and most preferably from about 3% to about 8%, by weight of the composition. Some or all of the tetrasodium pyrophosphate is undissolved in the product and is present as tetrasodium pyrophosphate particles. Pyrophosphate ions in different protonated states (e.g., HP.sub.2 O.sub.7.sup.-3) may also exist depending upon the pH of the composition and if part of the tetrasodium pyrophosphate is dissolved.

The pyrophosphate salts are described in more detail in Kirk & Othmer, Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, Third Edition, Volume 17, Wiley-Interscience Publishers (1982), incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, including all references incorporated into Kirk & Othmer.

Optional anticalculus agents that may be used in combination with the pyrophosphate salt include such known materials as synthetic anionic polymers ›including polyacrylates and copolymers of maleic anhydride or acid and methyl vinyl ether (e.g., Gantrez), as described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,627,977, to Gaffar et al., the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety; as well as, e.g., polyamino propoane sulfonic acid (AMPS)!, zinc citrate trihydrate, polyphosphates (e.g., tripolyphosphate; hexametaphosphate), diphosphonates (e.g., EHDP; AHP), polypeptides (such as polyaspartic and polyglutamic acids), and mixtures thereof.

Calcium Peroxide

The present invention also includes calcium peroxide. The following amounts represent the amount of peroxide raw material, although the calcium peroxide may contain ingredients other than the peroxide raw material. The present compositions contain from about 0.01% to about 5%, preferably from about 0.1% to about 3%, more preferably from about 0.2% to about 1%, and most preferably from about 0.3% to about 0.8% of calcium peroxide, by weight of the total composition.

Nonionic and amphoteric surfactants

The present composition also comprises a nonionic surfactant or amphoteric surfactant or a mixture of the two types of surfactants. Suitable nonionic and amphoteric surfactants are those which are reasonably stable and foam throughout a wide pH range. Nonionic surfactants which can be used in the compositions of the present invention can be broadly defined as compounds produced by the condensation of alkylene oxide groups (hydrophilic in nature) with an organic hydrophobic compound which may be aliphatic or alkyl-aromatic in nature. Examples of suitable nonionic surfactants include poloxamers (sold under trade name Pluronic), polyoxyethylene sorbitan esters (sold under trade name Tweens), fatty alcohol ethoxylates, polyethylene oxide condensates of alkyl phenols, products derived from the condensation of ethylene oxide with the reaction product of propylene oxide and ethylene diamine, ethylene oxide condensates of aliphatic alcohols, long chain tertiary amine oxides, long chain tertiary phosphine oxides, long chain dialkyl sulfoxides, and mixtures of such materials. Poloxamer is the preferred nonionic surfactant.

The amphoteric surfactants useful in the present invention can be broadly described as derivatives of aliphatic secondary and tertiary amines in which the aliphatic radical can be a straight chain or branched and wherein one of the aliphatic substituents contains from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms and one contains an anionic water-solubilizing group, e.g., carboxylate, sulfonate, sulfate, phosphate, or phosphonate. Other suitable amphoteric surfactants are betaines, specifically cocamidopropyl betaine. Mixtures of amphoteric surfactants can also be employed. Many of these suitable nonionic and amphoteric surfactants are disclosed by Gieske et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,051,234, issued Sep. 27, 1977, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

The present composition typically comprises a nonionic, amphoteric, or combination of nonionic and amphoteric surfactant each at a level of from about 0.25% to about 5%, preferably from about 0.5% to about 4%, and most preferably from about 1% to about 3%, by weight of the composition.

pH

The pH of the present compositions is adjusted to a neat pH range of from about 9.0 to about 10.5. The term "neat pH", as used herein, is defined as the pH of the composition before the composition is diluted or contacted by the mouth. The neat pH is adjusted by the use of buffering agents. The neat pH of the present composition is from about 9.0 to about 10.5, preferably from about 9.2 to about 10.2, and more preferably from about 9.5 to about 10.

Water

Water is also contained in the present invention. Water used in the preparation of these oral compositions should preferably be of low ion content and free of organic impurities. The "total water content" of the composition, as used herein, includes the free water which is added plus the water which is introduced with other materials, such as with sorbitol, silica, color solutions, or surfactant solutions. The total water content of the present invention is from about 5% to about 20%, preferably from about 9% to about 14%, more preferably from about 9.1% to about 13%, and most preferably from about 10% to about 11%, by weight of the total composition.

Polyethylene Glycol

The present composition may contain polyethylene glycol. Polyethylene glycols are generally clear, viscous liquids or white solids which are soluble in water and many organic solvents. These polymers correspond to the general formula:

where n is greater than or equal to 4. Polyethylene glycols, which are also known as "PEGs" or "polyoxyethylenes", are designated by both their average molecular weight range and their average "n" value as in the above designated formula. The Merck Index, Twelfth Edition, entry 7729, p.1305 (1996), incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Polyethylene glycols useful herein are those which are liquids at room temperature or have a melting point slightly there above. Liquid and low-melting polyethylene glycols are commercially available from Union Carbide under the Carbowax.RTM. tradename. Preferred are those polyethylene glycols having a molecular weight range of from about 200 to about 2000 and corresponding n values of from about 4 to about 40. More preferred are polyethylene glycols having a molecular weight range of from about 400 to about 1600 and most preferred are polyethylene glycols having a molecular weight range of from about 570 to about 630. The present invention may comprise one or more polyethylene glycols at a level of from about 0.1% to about 20%, preferably from about 0.25% to about 10%, more preferably from about 0.5 to about 5%, and most preferably from about 0.5% to about 2%, by weight of the composition.

Alkali Metal Bicarbonate salt

The present invention may also include an alkali metal bicarbonate salt. Alkali metal bicarbonate salts are soluble in water and unless stabilized, tend to release carbon dioxide in an aqueous system. Sodium bicarbonate, also known as baking soda, is the preferred alkali metal bicarbonate salt. The present compositions may contain from about 0.5% to about 40%, preferably from about 0.5% to about 20%, more preferably from about 0.5% to about 5%, and most preferably from about 0.8% to about 2% of an alkali metal bicarbonate salt, by weight of the total composition.

Xylitol

The present invention may also include xylitol. Xylitol is a sugar alcohol that is used as a sweetener and humectant. Xylitol may provide a therapeutic effect, such as an antibacterial or anticaries effect. The present compositions may comprise xylitol at a level from about 0.01% to about 25%, preferably from about 3% to about 15%, more preferably from about 5% to about 12%, and most preferably from about 9% to about 11%, by weight of the total composition.

Aqueous Carriers

In preparing the present compositions, it is desirable to add one or more aqueous carriers to the compositions. Aqueous carriers contain materials that are well known in the art and readily chosen by one skilled in the art based on the physical and aesthetic properties desired for the compositions being prepared. Aqueous carriers typically comprise from about 78% to about 98% and preferably from about 80% to about 95%, by weight of the total composition.

The present invention compositions in the form of toothpastes, typically contain some thickening material or binders to provide a desirable consistency. Preferred thickening agents are carboxyvinyl polymers, carrageenan, hydroxyethyl cellulose, and water soluble salts of cellulose ethers such as sodium carboxymethylcellulose and sodium carboxymethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose. Natural gums such as gum karaya, xanthan gum, gum arabic, and gum tragacanth can also be used. Colloidal magnesium aluminum silicate, lithium aluminum magnesium silicate (tradename Laponite), or finely divided silica can be used as part of the thickening agent to further improve texture. Thickening agents can be used in an amount of from about 0.1% to about 15%, by weight of the total composition.

Another optional component of the compositions desired herein is a humectant. This additional humectant may be added along with the polyethylene glycol humectant. The humectant serves to keep toothpaste compositions from hardening upon exposure to air and certain humectants can also impart desirable sweetness of flavor to toothpaste compositions. Suitable humectants for use in the invention include glycerin, sorbitol, propylene glycol, and other edible polyhydric alcohols. The additional humectant may comprises from about 0% to 70%, and preferably from about 15% to 55%, by weight of the compositions herein.

Buffering agents may be used to adjust the pH of the present compositions. Buffering agents, as used herein, refer to agents that can be used to adjust the pH of the compositions to a neat pH range of from about 9.0 to about 10.5. These agents include alkali metal hydroxides, carbonates, sesquicarbonates, borates, and silicates. Specific buffering agents include monosodium phosphate, trisodium phosphate, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, and sodium carbonate. Buffering agents can be used at a level of from about 0.5% to about 10%, by weight of the present compositions.

An abrasive polishing material may also be included in the toothpaste compositions. The abrasive polishing material contemplated for use in the compositions of the present invention can be any material which does not excessively abrade dentin. These include, for example, silicas including gels and precipitates, calcium carbonate, dicalcium orthophosphate dihydrate, calcium pyrophosphate, tricalcium phosphate, calcium polymetaphosphate, insoluble sodium polymetaphosphate, hydrated alumina, and resinous abrasive materials such as particulate condensation products of urea and formaldehyde, and others such as disclosed by Cooley et al in U.S. Pat. No. 3,070,510, issued Dec. 25, 1962, incorporated herein by reference. Mixtures of abrasives may also be used.

Silica dental abrasives of various types are preferred because of their unique benefits of exceptional dental cleaning and polishing performance without unduly abrading tooth enamel or dentine. The silica abrasive polishing materials herein, as well as other abrasives, generally have an average particle size ranging between about 0.1 to about 30 microns, and preferably from about 5 to about 15 microns. The abrasive can be precipitated silica or silica gels such as the silica xerogels described in Pader et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,538,230, issued Mar. 2, 1970, and DiGiulio, U.S. Pat. 3,862,307, issued Jan. 21, 1975, both incorporated herein by reference. Preferred are the silica xerogels marketed under the trade name "Syloid" by the W. R. Grace & Company, Davison Chemical Division. Also preferred are the precipitated silica materials such as those marketed by the J. M. Huber Corporation under the trade name, "Zeodent", particularly the silica carrying the designation "Zeodent 119". The types of silica dental abrasives useful in the toothpastes of the present invention are described in more detail in Wason, U.S. Pat. No. 4,340,583, issued Jul. 29, 1982, incorporated herein by reference. The abrasive in the toothpaste compositions described herein is generally present at a level of from about 6% to about 70% by weight of the composition. Preferably, toothpastes contain from about 10% to about 50% of abrasive, by weight of the composition.

The present compositions may also comprise an anionic, zwitterionic, and/or cationic surfactant, in addition to the nonionic and/or amphoteric surfactant. Surfactants are commonly referred to as sudsing agents. Suitable surfactants are those which are reasonably stable and foam throughout a wide pH range. Anionic surfactants useful herein include the water-soluble salts of alkyl sulfates having from 8 to 20 carbon atoms in the alkyl radical (e.g., sodium alkyl sulfate) and the water-soluble salts of sulfonated monoglycerides of fatty acids having from 8 to 20 carbon atoms. Sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium coconut monoglyceride sulfonates are examples of anionic surfactants of this type. Other suitable anionic surfactants are sarcosinates, such as sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, taurates, sodium lauryl sulfoacetate, sodium lauroyl isethionate, sodium laureth carboxylate, and sodium dodecyl benzenesulfonate. Mixtures of anionic surfactants can also be employed. Many suitable anionic surfactants are disclosed by Agricola et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,959,458, issued May 25, 1976, incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. The present compositions may comprise a surfactant selected from the group consisting of anionic, zwitterionic, cationic, and mixtures thereof each at a level of from about 0.25% to about 10%, preferably from about 0.5% to about 8%, and most preferably from about 1% to about 6%, by weight of the composition.

Titanium dioxide may also be added to the present composition. Titanium dioxide is a white powder which adds opacity to the compositions. Titanium dioxide generally comprises from about 0.25% to about 5%, by weight of the compositions.

Coloring agents may also be added to the present composition. The coloring agent may be in the form of an aqueous solution, preferably a 1% color solution. Color solutions may comprise from about 0.01% to about 5%, by weight of the composition.

A flavor system can also be added to the compositions. Suitable flavoring components include oil of wintergreen, oil of peppermint, oil of spearmint, clove bud oil, menthol, anethole, methyl salicylate, eucalyptol, cassia, 1-menthyl acetate, sage, eugenol, parsley oil, oxanone, alpha-irisone, marjoram, lemon, orange, propenyl guaethol, cinnamon, vanillin, ethyl vanillin, heliotropine, 4-cis-heptenal, diacetyl, methyl-para-tert-buytl phenyl acetate, and mixtures thereof. Coolants may also be part of the flavor system. Preferred coolants in the present compositions are the paramenthan carboxyamide agents such as N-ethyl-p-menthan-3-carboxamide (known commercially as "WS-3") and mixtures thereof. A flavor system is generally used in the compositions at levels of from about 0.001% to about 5%, by weight of the composition.

Sweetening agents can be added to the compositions. These include sodium saccharin, dextrose, sucrose, lactose, maltose, levulose, aspartame, sodium cyclamate, D-tryptophan, dihydrochalcones, acesulfame, and mixtures thereof Sweetening agents are generally used in toothpastes at levels of from about 0.005% to about 5%, by weight of the composition.

The present invention may also include other agents. Included among such agents are water insoluble non-cationic agents such as triclosan and other agents of the type disclosed in Parran, Jr. et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,015,466, issued May 14, 1991, incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

The composition may be a multilayer toothpaste composition. This composition may comprise two or more separate layers which are in contact with each other. Preferably, the separate layers are pastes and gels that when extruded from the tube, appear as combination paste/gel stripes. One of the layers in this paste/gel stripe combination must comprise all of the essential components, while the other layers may contain less than all of the essential components or may be any dentifrice formulation. Preferably, the gel layers do not comprise the essential component of calcium peroxide.

Alternatively, the dentifrice compositions may be physically separated in a dentifrice dispenser. The dispenser may be a tube, pump, or any other container suitable for dispensing toothpaste. Dual compartment packages suitable for this purpose are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,528,180, issued Jul. 9, 1985; U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,687,663, issued Aug. 18, 1987; and 4,849,213, issued Jul. 18, 1989, all to Shaeffer, all incorporated herein in their entirety. The dispenser will deliver approximately equal amounts of each dentifrice composition through an opening. The compositions may intermix once dispensed. Alternatively, the oral formulation may be delivered from a kit containing two separate dispensers which are used to deliver two dentifrice compositions that are both used simultaneously.

Method of Manufacturing

Toothpaste compositions comprising a soluble fluoride source capable of providing from about 50 ppm to about 3500 ppm of free fluoride ions; an amount of at least about 1.5% tetrasodium pyrophosphate; from about 0.01% to about 5% of calcium peroxide; from about 0.25% to about 5% of each surfactant selected from the group consisting of nonionic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, and combinations thereof; and from about 78% to about 98% of one or more aqueous carriers, are made by a process comprising the steps of: (a) preparing a mixture of a soluble fluoride ion source and one or more aqueous carrier materials including the nonionic and/or amphoteric surfactant; (b) adding tetrasodium pyrophosphate and calcium peroxide, all at once or in portions, under conditions wherein less than about 20% of the total pyrophosphate and calcium peroxide are dissolved in the dentifrice mixture; and wherein further any remaining aqueous carrier materials not added to the mixture during step (a) are added in whole or in part in step (b) or thereafter, either by themselves or with any remaining amount of the tetrasodium pyrophosphate or calcium peroxide, under conditions such that less than about 20% of the total pyrophosphate and calcium peroxide are dissolved in the mixture; and (c) heating the mixture to a temperature range of from about 38.degree. C. (100.degree. F.) to about 71.degree. C. (160.degree. F.) and preferably to a temperature range of from about 52.degree. C. (125.degree. F.) to about 57.degree. C. (135.degree. F.). The amount of pyrophosphate dissolved in the mixture for the methods and compositions of the present invention is preferably less than about 10% by weight of the total pyrophosphate present in the compositions and the amount of calcium peroxide dissolved in the mixtures is preferably less than about 10% by weight of the total amount of calcium peroxide present in the compositions.

The dentifrice mixtures will have a viscosity of from about 10 to about 60 Brookfield units at 23.degree. C. in bulk or packed product from about 10 minutes to about two hours after being made or packed. The viscosity then builds to a viscosity of from about 30 to about 125 Brookfield units at 23.degree. C. in bulk or packed product after about one month or more after being made or packed. Preferably, the viscosity is from about 20 to about 50 Brookfield units at 23.degree. C. in bulk or packed product from about 10 minutes to about two hours after being made or packed and the viscosity builds to a viscosity of from about 60 to about 80 Brookfield units at 23.degree. C. in bulk or packed product after about one month or more after being made or packed. The viscosity is measured with a Brookfield Synchrolectric Viscometer Model RVT/2 using a T-E spindle at 2.5 revolutions per minute.

Preferably, one or more of the following process conditions are controlled as follows to limit the solubility of the tetrasodium pyrophosphate and calcium peroxide in the dentifrice mixture: (1) the neat pH of the mixture is above about pH 8, preferably above about pH 9, during and after the tetrasodium pyrophosphate and calcium peroxide additions are made to the mixture; and (2) the tetrasodium pyrophosphate salt and peroxide are two of the last components to be added to the mixture, preferably after all or much of the other sodium-containing salts present in the composition have been added to the process mixture. By these methods, the dissolved tetrasodium pyrophosphate salt is less likely to recrystalize in the form of glass-like crystal particles of tetrasodium pyrophosphate decahydrate and the peroxide is less likely to breakdown and react with the fluoride to form calcium fluoride.

During step (c), the heating step, the mixture is heated to a temperature range of from about 38.degree. C. (100.degree. F.) to about 71.degree. C. (160.degree. F.) and preferably to a temperature range of from about 52.degree. C. (125.degree. F.) to about 57.degree. C. (135.degree. F.). One or more heating variables may be controlled during this step. The heating variables include: the rate of heating the mixture to the temperature range, the amount of time that the composition is kept at this temperature range, and the rate of cooling the mixture from the temperature range. Additionally, another heating variable is homogenization. Homogenization of the mixture may occur while the mixture is within the temperature range.

After step (c), the toothpaste is fed into a suitable dispensing tube or container. After filling the tube with toothpaste, the open end of the tube is sealed. If the toothpaste is to be a multilayer composition, the desired toothpaste layers are fed in parallel streams to form a multilayered appearance and then the open end of the tube is sealed. The dentifrice layers will be extruded in the desired multilayer configuration when dispensed from the tube.

Method of Treatment

The present invention compositions additionally relate to a method for reducing the incidence of calculus on dental enamel. The method of treatment herein comprises contacting the dental enamel surfaces in the mouth with the oral compositions according to the present invention.

The following examples further describe and demonstrate embodiments within the scope of the present invention. These examples are given solely for the purpose of illustration and are not to be construed as limitations of the present invention as many variations thereof are possible without departing from the spirit and scope.

Examples I and II are prepared as follows: Add approximately half of the glycerin to a mixing vessel. Disperse the thickening agents, carboxymethyl cellulose and xanthan gum, in the propylene glycol. Add this mixture of dispersed thickening agents in the propylene glycol to the mixing vessel and then add the polyethylene glycol. Dissolve the sodium fluoride and sodium saccharin in water and add to the mixture. Add the xylitol and poloxamer. The flavor and sodium alkyl sulfate are then added. Next, add the sodium carbonate, titanium dioxide, and the silica. Add the sodium bicarbonate. Disperse the tetrasodium pyrophosphate in the remaining glycerin and add to the mixture. Finally, add the calcium peroxide. Stir the mixture until homogeneous and then heat the mixture to a temperature range of from about 110.degree. F. to about 160.degree. F. This temperature should be maintained for about 30-60 minutes. Finally, the mixture may be cooled and deaerated.

Example III is prepared as follows: Add approximately half of the glycerin to a mixing vessel. Disperse the thickening agents, carboxymethyl cellulose and xanthan gum, in the propylene glycol. Add this mixture of dispersed thickening agents in the propylene glycol to the mixing vessel and then add the polyethylene glycol. Dissolve the sodium fluoride and sodium saccharin in water and add to the mixture. Add the xylitol. The flavor, sodium alkyl sulfate, and cocamidopropyl betaine are then added. Next, add the sodium carbonate, titanium dioxide, and the silica. Add the sodium bicarbonate. Disperse the tetrasodium pyrophosphate in the remaining glycerin and add to the mixture. Finally, add the calcium peroxide. Stir the mixture until homogeneous and then heat the mixture to a temperature range of from about 110.degree. F. to about 160.degree. F. This temperature should be maintained for about 30-60 minutes. Finally, the mixture may be cooled and deaerated.

Example IV is prepared as follows: Add approximately half of the glycerin to a mixing vessel. Disperse the thickening agents, carboxymethyl cellulose and xanthan gum, in the propylene glycol. Add this mixture of dispersed thickening agents in the propylene glycol to the mixing vessel and then add the polyethylene glycol. Dissolve the sodium fluoride and sodium saccharin in water and add to the mixture. Add the xylitol and poloxamer. The flavor and sodium alkyl sulfate are then added. Next, add the sodium carbonate, titanium dioxide, and the silica. Add the sodium bicarbonate. Disperse the tetrasodium pyrophosphate in the remaining glycerin and add to the mixture. Finally, add the calcium peroxide. Stir the mixture until homogeneous and then heat the mixture to a temperature range of from about 110.degree. F. to about 160.degree. F. This temperature should be maintained for about 30-60 minutes. Finally, the mixture may be cooled and deaerated.

Example V is prepared as follows: Add approximately half of the glycerin to a mixing vessel. Disperse the thickening agents, carboxymethyl cellulose and xanthan gum, in the propylene glycol. Add this mixture of dispersed thickening agents in the propylene glycol to the mixing vessel and then add the polyethylene glycol. Dissolve the sodium fluoride and sodium saccharin in water and add to the mixture. Add the poloxamer. The flavor, sodium alkyl sulfate, and cocamidopropyl betaine are then added. Next, add the sodium carbonate, titanium dioxide, and the silica. Add the sodium bicarbonate. Disperse the tetrasodium pyrophosphate in the remaining glycerin and add to the mixture. Finally, add the calcium peroxide. Stir the mixture until homogeneous and then heat the mixture to a temperature range of from about 110.degree. F. to about 160.degree. F. This temperature should be maintained for about 30-60 minutes. Finally, the mixture may be cooled and deaerated.