Composition for enhancing oral hygiene, containing bamboo-salt

The present invention is directed to an oral hygiene composition which comprises a 0.1 to 30% by weight of a bamboo-salt alone based on the total weight of the composition or a mixture of bamboo-salt and sodium chloride said mixture being in a mixed ratio of 1:5 to 1:15.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a composition for enhancing oral hygiene, 
containing a bamboo-salt alone or in admixture with a sodium chloride. The 
composition of the present invention can effectively prevent and treat 
periodontal diseases or prevent teeth from decaying. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
As is known well, sodium chlorides, antiplasmin agents, allantoin 
derivatives, vitamines, amino acids and the like, which are used alone or 
in combination thereof, have been widely used as a composition for 
enhancing oral hygiene in order to prevent and treat periodontal diseases 
or to prevent teeth from decaying. However, the preventing and treating 
effects of periodontal diseases can scarcely be expected. Among the above 
components, sodium chloride which is known to be effective in preventing 
and treating the periodontal diseases deteriorates the feeling when the 
toothpaste is used because the said sodium chloride has its own salty 
taste and remarkably reduces the foaming properties of the anionic 
surfactant which is a forming agent to be used in reinforcing the cleaning 
power in brushing one's teeth. 
In order to solve these problems, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication 
No. (Sho) 60-92,208 discloses that alkyl sodium sulphates are mixed with 
N-acylglutamate. Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. (Sho) 
57-106,606 also discloses that alkyl sodium sulphates and nonionic 
surfactants such as polyoxyethylene hardened castor oil, polyoxyethylene 
stearyl alcohol esters, polyoxyethylene stearic acid esters, 
polyoxyethylene sorbitane monostearates, polyoxyethylene sugar fatty acid 
esters and the like are used in order to improve the foaming properties of 
the said surfactants. Further, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication 
No. (sho) 49-13,341, it is attempted to decrease the salty taste by using 
a flavouring agent comprising of a peppermint oil and a spearmint oil. In 
addition, in Korean Patent Publication No. 90-6,826, it is attempted to 
enhance the preventing and treating effects of periodontal diseases by 
using in admixture with sodium chloride, tranexamic acid, aluminium 
chlorohydroxy allantoinate and tocopherol acetate, to improve the forming 
properties by using sodium lauryl sulphate as a foaming agent and 
polyoxyethylene-polypropylene condensation polymers as a non-ionic 
surfactant, and to decrease the salty taste by adding a small amount of 
magnesium chloride. However, no good effects are not obtained. 
Under these circumstances, the present inventors have extensively studied 
in order to solve the above problems. As a result, it has been found that 
in the course of experiments for evaluating the preventing and treating 
effects of periodontal diseases and the preventing effect of decayed tooth 
by using a bamboo-salt which is a nostrum derived from the Korean 
traditional folk secret recipe, a composition for enhancing oral hygiene, 
containing a bamboo-salt alone or in admixture with a sodium chloride has 
an excellent preventing and treating effects and decreases the salty taste 
of sodium chloride itself, and affords a synergistic effect of the foaming 
properties. 
The bamboo-salts referred herein mean synthetic-processed salts by heating 
a bamboo and a salt. The bamboo-salt has been known as a nostrum having a 
greatly enhanced pharmacological effects, which has removed the toxin by 
repeatedly treating several times the bamboo having a cytogenic function 
to generate new cells with the salt which functions as a sterilizing agent 
and an antiseptic in the kiln at a high temperature. 
In general, the salts to be used in the preparation of bamboo-salts are bay 
salts. In addition, common salts, rock salts, reagent grade sodium 
chlorides and potassium chlorides may be used. As the bamboos, bamboos or 
black bamboos may be used, but the kind of bamboos is not critical. 
The bamboo-salts to be used in the present invention are commercially 
available. The bamboo-salt are prepared by repeatedly treating several 
times the bamboo having a cytogenic function to generate new cells with 
the yellow earth, and the salt which is a sterilizing agent and/or an 
antiseptic in the kiln at a high temperature (1000.degree. C. or more). 
As is known, the bamboos and the salts to be used in the preparation of 
bamboo-salts have the following efficacy. The bamboos contain cyanine, 
paeonine, galactose and the like, and have excellent effects (Dongeubogam, 
Botanical List, Mystic Botanical Roots and Korean Heliochrome Medicinal 
Herb Pictorial Book). The salts have disinfective and sterilizing effects 
by virtue of a high osmetic pressure. Moreover, they have effects in the 
gingival bleeding, edema, inflammation, halitosis and severe periodontal 
diseases (Dongeubogam, Botanical List, and Mystic Botanical Roots). 
As disclosed in the old Chinese Medicinal Books, a process for preparing 
the bamboo-salts to be used in the present invention is as follows: A 
large bamboo (triennial bamboo) grown in the sea wind is cut off in the 
shape that the one side is opened and the other side is closed. The bay 
salts are hardened by pounding into the bamboo-tube, and then the pine 
needles, mugworts (collected in Gangwha province) and bamboo leaves are 
charged thereto in depth of about 1 cm. Then, the yellow earth free of 
manure collected in the mountain is passed nine times through a fine 
sieve, dried in the shade, and thereafter thickly kneaded. The bamboo tube 
is sealed up with the above kneaded yellow earth in depth of about 2 cm 
from the opened end portion of the bamboo tube. 
A large number of bamboo tube filled with the above materials are prepared 
in the same manner as above. The bamboo tubes thus obtained are heated in 
the pottery kiln which is made of the yellow earth, at the internal 
temperature of 1000.degree. C. or more, in which pine trees and pine 
resins are used as a fuel. After 24 hours, the heated products are taken 
out of the kiln. At this time, the salt posts absorbed components of 
bamboos, pine needles, mugworts and yellow earth remain only. Then, the 
salt posts thus obtained are finely ground, and the ground salts are put 
into the bamboo tubes in the same manner as above, and then the above 
heating process is repeated eight times. In the ninth heating process, in 
order to obtain a high temperature (1500.degree. C. or more), a special 
stainless furnace installed under ground is used. The above furnace is 
heated by using pine resins only. The salt products are flowed down like a 
metallic stain spot by treating with the ninth heating process. After 
completion of this heating process, the molten salt products are hardened 
like a stone. The salt masses thus obtained are bamboo-salts, and they are 
usually used in a pulverized form. 
The bamboo-salts are effective in detoxication, lifeblood, 
anti-inflammation, cytogenesis, improvement of habitude, antibiosis, 
anti-cancer and symptoms of cold [In-Hoon, Kim, Wonder Drug (1986), 
Synthetic Wonder-Working Remedy, Kwon-Ik, Lee, Wonder-Working Remedy 
(1989)]. Moreover, the bamboo-salts have been used as folk drugs for 1000 
years or more and mainly used by the Buddhist monks. 
It has been found that the bamboo-salts thus obtained maintain by far a 
superior healthy condition of the teethridge with an improvement effect 
rather than the oral composition comprising of sodium chloride, 
antiplasmin agent, allantoin, vitamin, amino acid and the like which is 
used alone or in combination thereof, by measuring the variance of colors 
in the teethridge. It has also been found that the bamboo-salts have 
sterilizing effect three times or more than S. mutans which is a 
pathogenic bacteria of the decayed tooth and the general pathogenes in the 
test of sterilizing power. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The object of the present invention is to provide a composition for 
enhancing oral hygiene, containing a bamboo-salt alone or in admixture 
with sodium chloride. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of 
preventing and treating periodontal diseases or preventing teeth from 
decaying. 
Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the 
following descriptions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention provides a composition for enhancing oral hygiene by 
adding a bamboo-salt or a mixture of bamboo-salt and sodium chloride to 
the components which are conventionally used in the tooth paste, mouth 
detergent, artificial teeth cleanser, chewing gum, massage cream for 
teethridge and the like. 
The major components of a bamboo-salt according to the present invention 
are sodium, chlorine, iron, calcium, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, 
zinc, sulfur and the like. 
The amount of a bamboo-salt or a mixture of bamboo-salt and sodium chloride 
is 0.1 to 30% by weight, preferably 1 to 15% by weight to the total weight 
of the components which are conventionally necessary for preparing mouth 
preparations, and a composition for enhancing oral hygiene. When the 
mixture of bamboo-salt and sodium chloride is used, the mixed ratio of 
bamboo-salt to sodium chloride is preferably 1/5 to 1/15. 
When the amount of bamboo-salt or its mixture is less than 0.1% by weight, 
the preventing and treating effects of periodontal diseases as well as the 
preventing effect of decayed tooth may not be expected. On the other hand, 
when the amount of bamboo-salt or its mixture exceeds 30% by weight, the 
users have an unpleasant feeling due to the existence of the inherent 
salty taste of bamboo-salt and/or sodium chloride and an unpleasant odor 
of sulphide existing in the bamboo-salt. Furthermore, by reducing the 
foaming properties of the surfactant, a feeling of use may be 
deteriorated. 
The amounts of other components of the present invention may be properly 
adjusted depending on the kind of oral composition and the object of use. 
As an example, a toothpaste composition includes conventional tooth paste 
components, for example, polishing agents such as dicalcium phosphate, 
silicon dioxide aluminum hydroxide, calcium carbonate and the like; 
humectants such as sorbitol, glycerin, polyethylene glycol and the like; 
foaming agents such as sodium alkylsulphate, 
polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene condensation polymer and the like; 
sweetening agents such as saccharin, aspartame and the like; flavouring 
agents such as peppermint oil, spearmint oil and the like; preservatives 
such as methyl paraoxy benzoic acid and the like; therapeutic agents such 
as sodium fluoride, chlorhexidine, tranexamic acid, allantoin and the 
like; and the binders. The toothpaste composition may be prepared by 
adding 0.1-30% by weight of a bamboo-salt or a mixture of bamboo-salt and 
sodium chloride to the above conventional toothpaste components in a known 
manner in the art of toothpastes. 
As an embodiment of the present invention, the oral composition is prepared 
by mixing a proper amount of conventional components to be used in the 
mouth preparations with a bamboo-salt alone or a mixture of bamboo-salt 
and sodium chloride which is effective in preventing and treating 
periodontal diseases or preventing teeth from decaying at an amount of 
0.1-30% by weight, preferably 1-15% by weight. 
Among the compositions for enhancing oral hygiene, a toothpaste composition 
is prepared as follows: Firstly, a small amount of sodium carboxymethyl 
cellulose, saccharin and preservative in the form of powder is dispersed 
in the non-crystalline sorbitol solution, diluted with the distilled 
water, and blended in the mixer. Then, a polishing agent (dicalcium 
phosphate, etc.), sodium chloride and bamboo-salt are added thereto, and 
then blended. Finally, a foaming agent(sodium alkylsulphate), preservative 
and flavouring agent are added to the resulting blend, and then blended 
under vacuum to obtain a toothpaste composition. 
Other oral hygiene compositions may be prepared in the conventional manner. 
The present invention is further illustrated by the following Examples and 
Comparative Examples. 
In the following Examples and Comparative Examples, all the percents are by 
weight unless otherwise stated. 
EXAMPLES 1 TO 2 AND COMATIVE EXAMPLES 1 TO 4 
The toothpaste compositions were prepared by using the components as shown 
in Table 1. 
TABLE 1 
______________________________________ 
Example Comparative 
Nos. Example Nos. 
1 2 1 2 3 4 
Components (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) 
______________________________________ 
Dicalcium phosphate 
40.0 40.0 40.0 40.0 40.0 40.0 
Non-crystalline sorbitol 
25.0 25.0 25.0 25.0 25.0 25.0 
solution 
Bamboo-salt 2.0 5.0 -- -- -- -- 
Sodium chloride 
-- -- 10 15 20 -- 
Aluminum chlorohydroxy 
-- -- 0.1 0.1 0.1 -- 
allantoinate 
Tocopherol acetate 
-- -- 0.1 0.1 0.1 -- 
Tranexamic acid 
-- -- 0.1 0.1 0.1 -- 
l-sodium glutamate 
-- -- 0.01 0.01 0.01 -- 
Sodium alkylsulphate 
2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 
Sodium saccharin 
0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 
Sodium carboxymethyl 
1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 
cellulose 
Flavouring agent 
0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 
By adding distilled water, 
100 100 100 100 100 100 
up to 
U.V Spectrophotometer, 
70 90 10 10 20 0 
transmittance (%) 
______________________________________ 
EXAMPLES 3 TO 6 
The toothpaste compositions were prepared by using the components as shown 
in Table 2. 
COMATIVE EXAMPLES 5 TO 8 
The conventional toothpaste compositions were prepared by using the 
components as shown in Table 2. 
TABLE 2 
______________________________________ 
Comparative 
Example Nos. Example Nos. 
3 4 5 6 5 6 7 8 
Components 
(%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) 
______________________________________ 
Dicalcium 
35.0 35.0 35.0 23.0 35.0 25.0 40.0 -- 
phosphate 
Calcium -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 35.0 
carbonate 
Precipitated 
-- -- -- -- -- -- 2.0 -- 
silica 
Anhydrous 
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- 1.5 
silicic acid 
Non- 35.0 35.0 35.0 23.0 35.0 35.0 30.0 -- 
crystalline 
sorbitol 
solution 
Sorbitol -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 7.0 
solution 
Glycerin -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 13.0 
Sodium 10.0 -- -- -- -- -- 15.0 20.0 
chloride 
Bamboo-salt 
0.5 5.0 10.0 30.0 0.05 35.0 -- -- 
Tranexamic 
0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 
acid 
Aluminum 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 
chlorohy- 
droxy allan- 
toinate 
Tocopherol 
0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 
acetate 
E-amino 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 
caproic arid 
Sodium 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 
alkylsulphate 
Sugar-fatty 
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- 2.5 
acid ester 
N-acyl -- -- -- -- 2.0 -- -- -- 
glutamate 
Magnesium 
0.05 0.05 0.1 0.1 0.05 0.1 0.1 0.1 
chloride 
Trimagnes- 
0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 
ium 
phosphate 
Sodium 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 
saccharin 
Methyl 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.15 0.05 0.15 0.15 
Paraben 
Sodium 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.6 1.0 0.5 1.0 1.0 
carboxymeth- 
yl cellulose 
Flavouring 
0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 
agent 
By adding 
100.0 100.0 100.0 
100.0 
100.0 
100.0 
100.0 
100.0 
distilled 
water, up to 
______________________________________ 
EXPERIMENTAL EXAMPLE 1 
Bactericidal Test on ToothPastes of Examples 1 to 2 and Comparative 
Examples 1 to 4 
Each toothpaste sample prepared by using the components as shown in the 
above Table 1 was taken with 10% by weight based on the total weight of 
the compositions. The bactericidal test on the aerobic and anaerobic 
bacteria was carried out by a conventional method. After each toothpaste 
sample being standed at 37.degree. C. for 24 hours, the growing condition 
of bacteria was observed by using an U.V. spectrophotometer, and each 
transmittance observed was shown in Table 1. The measurement of 
transmittance was carried out by using a Perkin-Elmer Lamda 15 UV/VIS 
spectrophotometer. The evaluation of bactericidal effects was carried out 
in Examples 1 to 2 and Comparative Examples 1 to 3 on the basis of 
Comparative Example 4 on the condition that the transmittance of a 
toothpaste prepared in the Comparative Example 4 is zero. 
EXPERIMENTAL EXAMPLE 2 
Preventing Effect of Periodontal Diseases and Comparative Experiments of 
Toothpastes of Examples 3 to 6 and Comparative Examples 5 to 8 
The teeth were brushed for three minutes by using the toothpastes according 
to the present invention and the toothpastes obtained in the Comparative 
Examples, respectively, for 20 days (3 times per one day). Thereafter, the 
healthy condition of the teethridge and the improvement effects thereof 
were tested by measuring the variance of colors in the teethridge. The 
measurement of the variance of colors was carried out by using a Japanese 
Whole Color .SIGMA.80 Colorimeter. The results are set forth in Tables 3 
and 4. 
TABLE 3 
______________________________________ 
Kind of Pre-Use Post-Use 
toothpaste 
User L a b L a b 
______________________________________ 
Example 3 a 60.6 18.5 4.0 65.8 23.4 4.8 
b 64.2 21.3 2.4 69.1 25.3 3.8 
Example 4 c 62.4 18.2 2.8 69.5 25.0 4.0 
d 65.0 19.0 1.4 70.2 24.2 2.2 
Example 5 e 60.5 16.4 5.0 67.8 29.1 5.5 
f 63.2 18.9 3.8 71.2 26.6 5.0 
Example 6 g 62.5 19.2 3.5 71.3 25.4 4.4 
h 66.7 22.4 0.5 75.0 28.6 1.2 
Comparative 
i 64.3 25.1 2.4 66.2 26.3 5.0 
Example 5 j 60.7 21.5 3.8 63.5 23.1 6.2 
Comparative 
k 63.2 20.8 5.1 72.1 30.3 6.0 
Example 6 l 60.2 24.1 3.6 69.8 28.4 4.8 
Comparative 
m 60.3 17.2 2.5 64.1 22.4 5.5 
Example 7 n 64.1 18.5 1.1 68.0 23.8 3.5 
Comparative 
o 62.8 16.5 0.8 66.9 19.3 2.9 
Example 8 p 64.2 20.4 3.4 68.6 23.0 5.6 
______________________________________ 
TABLE 4 
______________________________________ 
Kind of Average Variance Value 
toothpaste L a b 
______________________________________ 
Example 3 4.8 4.5 1.2 
Example 4 6.2 6.0 1.0 
Example 5 7.7 10.2 0.8 
Example 6 8.6 6.2 0.8 
Comparative Example 5 
2.4 1.4 2.5 
Comparative Example 6 
9.25 5.9 1.05 
Comparative Example 7 
3.9 5.3 2.7 
Comparative Example 8 
4.3 2.7 2.2 
______________________________________ 
Notes: 
L: Lightness index 
a: (+) Degree of red color, (-) Degree of green color 
b: (+) Degree of yellow color, (-) Degree of blue color 
As can be seen from the above Tables 3 and 4, the teethridge is more 
healthy, the lightness index and a degree of red color are more higher, 
and a degree of yellow color is more lower. thus, a clear pink color 
appears. 
EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS 
As the toothpastes according to the Examples appear a more clean pink color 
than the one of the toothpastes according to the Comparative Examples, it 
is apparent that the toothpastes according to the present invention are 
more effective than the conventional toothpastes in preventing and 
treating the periodontal diseases and in enhancing the health of 
teethridge. As shown in the Comparative Example 5, a tooth paste having a 
bamboo-salt(less than 0.1% by weight) showed a low effect. On the 
contrary, in the Comparative Example 6, the effect was good, but the 
feeling of use was too bad due to the existence of the odor of sulphide 
and the salty taste of a bamboo-salt. 
EXAMPLE 7 
Mouth Detergent 
______________________________________ 
Ethanol (90%) 20.0% 
Glycerine (98%) 10.0% 
Polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene copolymer 
1.0% 
Aluminum chlorohydroxy allantoinate 
0.1% 
Tranexamic acid 0.05% 
Bamboo-salt 2% 
Sodium saccharin 0.1% 
Flavouring agent 1.0% 
By adding distilled water, up to 
100.0% 
______________________________________ 
EXAMPLE 8 
Artificial Teeth Cleanser 
______________________________________ 
Sodium bicarbonate 30.0% 
Stannic acid 27.0% 
Sodium sarcosinate-cocoanut oil 
5.0% 
Sodium lauryl sulfate 5.0% 
Benzalkonium chloride 2.0% 
EDTA 5.0% 
Sodium tripolyposphate 14.0% 
Polyethylene glycol 2.0% 
Bamboo-salt 5.0% 
Flavouring agent q.s. 
______________________________________ 
EXAMPLE 9 
Chewing Gum 
______________________________________ 
Gum base 25.0% 
Sorbitol 44.0% 
Mannitol 12.0% 
Glycerine 13.0% 
Lecithin 0.5% 
Sweetening agent 2.0% 
Bamboo-salt 2.0% 
Flavouring agent 1.5% 
______________________________________ 
EXAMPLE 10 
Massage Cream For Teethridge 
______________________________________ 
Glycerol monolaurate 3.0% 
Oleic alcoholate 5.0% 
Polyethylene glycol 15.0% 
White Vaseline 3.0% 
Monosodium N-palmitic glutamate 
0.5% 
Hydroxyethyl cellulose 5.0% 
Tocopherol acetate 0.1% 
Bamboo-salt 3.0% 
Sweetening agent 0.2% 
Aluminum chlorohydroxy allantoinate 
3.0% 
Flavouring agent 0.3% 
By adding distilled water, up to 
100.0% 
______________________________________ 
All the compositions of Examples 3 to 10 showed an excellent preventing and 
treating effects for periodontal diseases and an inhibiting effect for 
decayed tooth.