ORAL COMPOSITIONS FOR CONTROLLING MOUTH AND BREATH ODORS CONTAINING A ZINC SALT

Abstract: Oral compositions according to the present invention include at least one solvent, a surfactant, and a zinc compound, such as zinc chloride.

Description: ORAL COMPOSITIONS FOR CONTROLLING MOUTH AND BREATH ODORS CONTAINING A ZINC S T BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to oral compositions for the control of volatile compounds associated with oral malodor. "Oral composition" means a composition for topical applications to the oral cavity to clean and care for the teeth as well as the oral cavity surfaces. Representatives of such compositions are oral hygiene products and dentifrices such as mouthwashes or rmses, toothpaste, dental gels, tooth powder, chewing gum, lozenges, and similar products. In addition to cleaning teeth to remove dental plaque, the function of oral hygiene preparations is to stop the formation of dental calculus, to prevent dental disorders such as canes, peπodontitis and gingivitis, and also to eliminate halitosis. Dental plaque is a deposit which forms on teeth and consists of inorganic and organic components deπved from saliva, food and bacteria which are present in the oral cavity. When plaque undergoes calcification it forms dental calculus, or tartar as it is sometimes called. Dental calculus is largely calcium and orthophosphate arranged m a crystal lattice called hydroxyapatite (HAP). Oral malodor, or halitosis, is caused by the putrefactive activity of microorganisms on appropriate substrate components of dental plaque, debπs adhering to mucous membranes and salivary cellular elements to produce volatile sulfur compounds These sulfur volatiles primarily consist of hydrogen sulfide (H,S), methyl mercaptan (CH-SH) and traces of dimethyl sulfide (CH 3 )-S. Volatile sulfur compounds, aromatic ammes, ammonia and urea have also been shown to increase m the mouth of patients suffering from peπodontal disease Methods of inhibiting volatile sulfur compounds to reduce the production of mouth odor have included the use of dentifrices containing antimicrobials, such as, chlorhexidine. However, the side effects associated with chlorhexidme, such as a bitter taste and staining of the teeth, tongue, gums and oral mucosa, precludes the use of chlorhexidme in oral compositions. The pnor art also shows oral compositions containing zmc salts such as zmc chloπde, zmc iodide, zmc fluonde, zmc phenol sulfonate and the like as antiseptic agents, and correctives of oral conditions such as pyorrhea. Zmc chloπde has commonly been used in oral formulations for its astπngency properties. Zmc phenol sulfonate has been utilized m the pπor art dentifrice compositions as an anti-plaque and anti-calculus agent as well as an odor inhibitor of fermentation and putrefaction which occurs in the oral cavity. Compositions m which these soluble zmc salts have been used have had the disadvantages such as leaving an unpleasant astπngent taste in the mouth and/or having short-lived efficacy against plaque, and as an odor inhibitor. A need exists therefore for an oral composition to control mouth and breath odors and which does no have the unpleasant taste associated with previous oral compositions. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an oral composition. It is another object of the present invention to provide an oral composition which controls mouth and breath odors. It is a further object of the invention to provide oral compositions in the nature of dentπfπces, including mouth πnses and toothpastes. These and other objects of the present invention which shall become apparent from the specification to follow are accomplished by the invention as hereinafter descπbed. In general, according to the present invention, a breath freshening toothpaste includes at least one solvent, a surfactant, a thickener and an amount of a zmc compound, preferably zinc chloride. According to another embodiment of the invention, a breath freshening πnse includes water and alcohol or other solvents, and an amount of a zinc component, preferably zmc chloπde. PREFERED EMBODIMENTS FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention includes zmc components contained in an solvent. Preferably, the zmc component is a zinc salt which includes any that are physiologically acceptable m oral compositions. A preferred zmc salt is zinc chloride. The compositions according to the present invention also include a solvent such as water, alcohol, glyceπn or the like. Preferred solvents include sorbitol, glyceπn, polyethylene glycol, water or any similar physiologically acceptable solvent. It is understood that certain of the solvents, such as polyethylene glycol, can also act as a humectant. It is also preferred to include a surface-active agent or surfactant in the compositions. Again, any physiologically acceptable surfactant, such as sodium lauryl sulfate is useful in the present invention. Other components may also be included in the compositions according to the present invention, such as for example abrasivesn (such as Zeodent), thickeners (again including for example, Zeodent), emulsifiers, sweeteners, dyes and the like, may also be included in the present compositions. A toothpaste according to the present invention may include the following: TABLE 1 BREATH FRESHENING TOOTHPASTE An oral πnse composition according the present invention has the following components. TABLE 2 ORAL RINSE INGREDIENTS Ethanol (PharmCo) TΠΓ TΠΓ Polysorbate 80 (1CI) 0.40-044 H4 " Pluro c F 7 (BASF) 0.40-0.44 Zmc Chloπde (JT Baker) TTT5 " ux5 ~ Sodium citrate (J 1 Baker) TUT U Γ Flavor (Mint) TΠ Γ ΓΠΓ Flavor (Cmnamic Aldehyde) UJJΪT TJJjtJ " Sodium Sacchann (JT Baker) UλW Citπc Acid (JT Baker) 0.01 0.01 FD&C Blue 31 (Werner Jenkinson) 0.0002 0.0002 100 In the above formulas, polysorbate 80 is a surfactant, namely, a polyoxyethylene fatty acid ester. Poloximer 237 emulsifier (a polyethylene polypropylene glycol) are useful. It should be evident therefore, that the oral compositions according to the present invention and as descnbed above, carry out the objects of the invention as set forth. The present invention has been exemplified without attempting to show all of the vaπations which fall withm the scope of the invention. One skilled in the art will readily understand how to vary the composition components, amounts, and the like without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims: What is claimed is: 1. An oral composition for controlling odors comprising: a zmc salt, a physiologically acceptable solvent and a physiologically acceptable surface active agent. 2. An oral composition as in claim 1, wherein said zinc salt is zmc chloπde. 3. An oral composition as in claim 1 , wherein said solvent is selected from the group consisting of water, alcohol, glyceπn and mixtures thereof. 4. An oral composition as in claim 1 , wherein said solvent is selected from the group consisting of sorbitol, polyethylene glycol and mixtures thereof. 5. An oral composition as in claim 1, wherein said surface active agent is sodium lauryl sulfate. 6. An oral composition as m claim 1, further compπsmg an abrasive component. 7. A breath-freshenmg oral composition m the form of a toothpaste compπsing: from about 35 to about 40 percent by weight of sorbitol; from about 23 to about 27 percent by weight of a thickener; about 20 percent by weight of glycenn; about 8 to about 12 percent by weight of water; about 3 percent by weight of polyethylene glycol; about 1.2 percent by weight of sodium lauryl sulfate; about 1 percent by weight of zmc chloπde; each component based upon 100 percent by weight of the total composition. 8. A breath-freshenmg oral nnse compπsing: About 85 to about 90 percent by weight of water; about 11 percent by weight of ethanol; about 0.4 to about 0.44 percent by weight of a polyoxyethylene fatty acid ester surfactant: 0 4 to about 0.44 percent by weight of Pluruonic surfactant; and about 0.15 percent by weight of zmc chloπde; each component based upon 100 percent by weight of the total composition.

Inventors: CHILCOT CONNIE, SMUCKER LISA, CHILCOT, CONNIE, SMUCKER, LISA
Applicants: DENTSPLY INT INC, DENTSPLY INTERNATIONAL INC.
Application year: 2000
Main classification: A61K7
IPC codes: A61K8, A61Q11