Patent Description:
In view of the foregoing, oral care products incorporating hydrogen peroxide often include an additional whitening agent to facilitate the oxidation of the different chromophores to thereby shorten the periods of treatment. While the oral care products incorporating a variety of whitening agents have demonstrated increased efficacy in whitening teeth, there is a desire to utilize whitening agents having relatively increased reactivity to thereby further reduce the periods of treatment. The whitening agents having relatively increased reactivity, however, are often unstable and subject to degradation. For example, the whitening agents having relatively increased reactivity often react with other components of the oral care products and/or degrade, thereby reducing the effectiveness thereof.

What is needed, then, are improved oral care products and whitening compositions thereof, and methods for generating whitening agents from the whitening compositions.

<CIT> discloses a tooth bleaching material comprising hydrogen peroxide and/or a compound generating hydrogen peroxide in an aqueous solution, and a dicarboxylic anhydride. <CIT> discloses a mouthwash comprising hydrogen peroxide and a polymer-based cyclic anhydride.

The present invention concerns a mouthwash whitening composition, comprising an orally acceptable vehicle, sodium carbonate, a source of hydrogen peroxide that provides hydrogen peroxide, and a cyclic anhydride that generates a peracid with the hydrogen peroxide provided by the source of hydrogen peroxide, wherein the molar ratio of the cyclic anhydride to the hydrogen peroxide provided by the source of hydrogen peroxide is from <NUM>:<NUM> to <NUM>:<NUM>; wherein the orally acceptable vehicle further comprises one or more ingredient selected from antibacterial agents, anticalculus agents, humectants, surfactants and cooling agents, and wherein the cyclic anhydride is not a polymer-based cyclic anhydride.

In at least one implementation, the source of hydrogen peroxide includes at least one of hydrogen peroxide, urea peroxide, calcium peroxide, sodium perborate, a polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) hydrogen peroxide complex, and sodium percarbonate.

In at least one implementation, the source of hydrogen peroxide is present in the whitening composition in an amount effective to provide less than or equal to <NUM> weight % of the hydrogen peroxide, based on a total weight of the whitening composition.

In at least one implementation, the cyclic anhydride is at least one of maleic anhydride, succinic anhydride, naphthalenetetracarboxylic dianhydride, phthalic anhydride, chloromaleic anhydride, and dichloromaleic anhydride.

In at least one implementation, the cyclic anhydride is maleic anhydride.

In at least one implementation, the peracid is maleic peracid.

In at least one implementation, the cyclic anhydride is succinic anhydride.

In at least one implementation, the peracid is succinic peracid.

In at least one implementation, the peracid is generated in less than or equal to three minutes after contacting the hydrogen peroxide and the cyclic anhydride with one another.

In at least one implementation, the whitening composition further includes a fluoride ion source.

In at least one implementation, the whitening composition further includes a surfactant.

The present inventors have surprisingly and unexpectedly discovered that whitening composition including a source of hydrogen peroxide and a cyclic anhydride provides a significant and unexpected increase or enhancement in whitening efficacy of teeth as compared to whitening compositions including the source of hydrogen peroxide alone.

In at least one implementation, the source of hydrogen peroxide and the cyclic anhydride may be maintained separate from one another until the point of use, and at the point of use, the source of hydrogen peroxide and the cyclic anhydride may be contacted, mixed, or otherwise combined with one another. The source of hydrogen peroxide and the cyclic anhydride may be maintained in separate phases or components of the whitening composition until the point of use. For example, the source of hydrogen peroxide and the cyclic anhydride may be maintained in separation phases, such as a hydrophobic phase and a hydrophilic phase, until the point of use. In another example, the source of hydrogen peroxide and the cyclic anhydride may be maintained and stored in separate vessels or containers until the point of use. Prior to or at the point of use, the respective contents of the separate vessels or containers may be combined or otherwise contacted with one another to generate the whitening agent.

In one implementation, contacting at least a portion or component of the whitening composition with water may initiate the release of hydrogen peroxide. For example, contacting the one or more sources of hydrogen peroxide with water may initiate the release of hydrogen peroxide. In another example, contacting at least a portion of the whitening composition with water initiates the generation of the whitening agent (e.g., peracid). In yet another example, the sources of hydrogen peroxide and the cyclic anhydride be maintained in separate phases, such as hydrophobic and hydrophilic phases, and combining, mixing, or otherwise contacting the hydrophobic phase and hydrophilic phase with one another may initiate the release of hydrogen peroxide.

The one or more sources of hydrogen peroxide may be any compound or material capable of or configured to generate hydrogen peroxide to react with the cyclic anhydride to generate the whitening agent. For example, the source of hydrogen peroxide may be or include any compound capable of or configured to provide or release hydrogen peroxide to react with the cyclic anhydride. Illustrative sources of hydrogen peroxide may be or include, but are not limited to, hydrogen peroxide, urea peroxide, calcium peroxide, sodium perborate, a cross-linked polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) hydrogen peroxide complex, a polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) hydrogen peroxide complex, sodium percarbonate, and the like, and combinations thereof. The sources of hydrogen peroxide may also be or include, but are not limited to, PEROXYDONE™ XL 10F complex, which is commercially available from Ashland Inc. of Covington, KY. In a typical implementation, the source of hydrogen peroxide includes hydrogen peroxide.

The amount or concentration of the source of hydrogen peroxide may vary widely, and may depend upon the amount of hydrogen peroxide provided or otherwise delivered by the source of hydrogen peroxide. In at least one implementation, the source of hydrogen peroxide may be present in an amount that provides from greater than <NUM> weight % to less than or equal to <NUM> weight % free hydrogen peroxide, based on a total weight of the oral care product or the whitening composition thereof. For example, the source of hydrogen peroxide may be present in an amount that provides hydrogen peroxide (e.g., free hydrogen peroxide) in an amount of from greater than <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight %, or about <NUM> weight % to about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight %, or about <NUM> weight %, based on a total weight of the oral care product or the whitening composition thereof. In another example, the source of hydrogen peroxide may be present in an amount that provides hydrogen peroxide in an amount of from greater than <NUM> weight % to less than or equal to <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight % to about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight % to about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight % to about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight % to about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight % to about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight % to about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight % to about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight % to about <NUM> weight %, or about <NUM> weight % to about <NUM> weight %. In another implementation, the source of hydrogen peroxide may be present in an amount that provides from about <NUM> weight % to less than or equal to <NUM> weight % free hydrogen peroxide, based on a total weight of the oral care product or the whitening composition thereof. For example, the source of hydrogen peroxide may be present in an amount that provides hydrogen peroxide (e.g., free hydrogen peroxide) in an amount of from about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight %, or about <NUM> weight % to about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight %, or about <NUM> weight %. In another example, the source of hydrogen peroxide may be present in an amount that provides hydrogen peroxide in an amount of from about <NUM> weight % to about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight % to about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight % to about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight % to about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight % to about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight % to about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight % to about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight % to about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight % to about <NUM> weight %, or about <NUM> weight % to about <NUM> weight %. In yet another example, the source of hydrogen peroxide may be present in an amount that provides hydrogen peroxide in an amount less than or equal to <NUM> weight %, less than or equal to <NUM> weight %, less than or equal to <NUM> weight %, less than or equal to <NUM> weight %, less than or equal to <NUM> weight %, less than or equal to <NUM> weight %, less than or equal to <NUM> weight %, less than or equal to <NUM> weight %, or less than or equal to <NUM> weight %. In yet another implementation, the source of hydrogen peroxide may be present in an amount that provides from greater than <NUM> weight % to less than or equal to <NUM> weight % free hydrogen peroxide, based on a total weight of the oral care product or the whitening composition thereof. For example, the source of hydrogen peroxide may be present in an amount that provides hydrogen peroxide (e.g., free hydrogen peroxide) in an amount of from greater than <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight %, or about <NUM> weight % to about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight %, or less than or equal to about <NUM> weight %, based on a total weight of the oral care product or the whitening composition thereof. In a typical implementation, the source of hydrogen peroxide may be present in an amount that provides hydrogen peroxide in an amount of about <NUM> weight % or less, or about <NUM> weight % or less, or about <NUM> weight % or less.

The one or more cyclic anhydrides may be any compound or material capable of or configured to react with the hydrogen peroxide from the source of hydrogen peroxide to generate the whitening agent. Illustrative cyclic anhydrides may be or include, but are not limited to, maleic anhydride, succinic anhydride, naphthalenetetracarboxylic dianhydride, phthalic anhydride, chloromaleic anhydride, dichloromaleic anhydride, <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>-tetrahydrophthalic anhydride, <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>-tetrachlorophthalic anhydride, <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>-tetrabromophthalic anhydride, and <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>-hexachloro-(<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>)-<NUM>-heptene-<NUM>,<NUM>-dicarboxylic acid anhydride, and the like, and combinations thereof. It should be appreciated that any two or more of the cyclic anhydrides may be combined or mixed with one another to control or adjust one or more properties of the anhydride mixture. For example, any two or more of the cyclic anhydrides may be mixed with one another to adjust the melting point and/or the solubility of the anhydride mixture in the oral care product or the whitening composition thereof.

The molar ratio of the cyclic anhydride to the hydrogen peroxide provided by the source of hydrogen peroxide is from <NUM>:<NUM> to <NUM>:<NUM>. For example, the molar ratio of the cyclic anhydride to the hydrogen peroxide provided by the source of hydrogen peroxide may be from about <NUM>:<NUM>, about <NUM>:<NUM>, or about <NUM>:<NUM> to about <NUM>:<NUM>, about <NUM>:<NUM>, about <NUM>:<NUM>, or from, , about <NUM>:<NUM> to about <NUM>:<NUM>,.

In a least one implementation, the cyclic anhydride may be provided in an amount of from about <NUM> weight % to about <NUM> weight %, based on a total weight of the oral care product or the whitening composition thereof. For example, the cyclic anhydride may be provided in an amount of from about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight %, or about <NUM> weight % to about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight %, or about <NUM> weight %. In another example, the cyclic anhydride may be provided in an amount of from about <NUM> weight % to about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight % to about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight % to about <NUM> weight %, about <NUM> weight % to about <NUM> weight %, or about <NUM> weight % to about <NUM> weight %. In another example, the cyclic anhydride may be provided in an amount greater than <NUM> weight % and less than or equal to <NUM> weight %, less than or equal to <NUM> weight %, less than or equal to <NUM> weight %, less than or equal to <NUM> weight %, less than or equal to <NUM> weight %, less than or equal to <NUM> weight %, less than or equal to <NUM> weight %, less than or equal to <NUM> weight %, less than or equal to <NUM> weight %, or less than or equal to <NUM> weight %.

In at least one implementation, the amount or concentration of the cyclic anhydride and/or the source of hydrogen peroxide may be at least partially determined by a target or desired concentration of the whitening agent to be generated in the oral care product or the whitening composition thereof. For example, in at least one implementation, the target or desired concentration of the whitening agent generated may be from about <NUM> ppm to about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm. For example, the target or desired concentration of the whitening agent generated may be from about <NUM> ppm, about <NUM> ppm, about <NUM> ppm, about <NUM> ppm, about <NUM> ppm, about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, or about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm to about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, or about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm. In another example, the target or desired concentration of the whitening agent generated may be from about <NUM> ppm to about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, about <NUM> ppm to about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, about <NUM> ppm to about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, about <NUM> ppm to about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, about <NUM> ppm to about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm to about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm to about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm to about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm to about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm to about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm to about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, or about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm to about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm.

As discussed above, the cyclic anhydride and the hydrogen peroxide provided by the source of hydrogen peroxide may be reacted or otherwise contacted with one another to generate the whitening agent. In an exemplary implementation, the whitening agent may be a derivative of hydrogen peroxide, the molecule of which may contain one or more directly linked pairs of oxygen atoms. For example, the whitening agent may be a peroxy acid or peracid. In a typical implementation, mixing, combining, or otherwise contacting the cyclic anhydride and the hydrogen peroxide with one another may initiate the generation of the whitening agent. In a preferred implementation, the cyclic anhydride may be or include maleic anhydride and/or succinic anhydride, and the whitening agent may be or include maleic peracid and/or succinic peracid, respectively.

The amount or concentration of the whitening agent (e.g., peracid) generated from the oral care product or the whitening composition thereof may vary widely. In at least one implementation, the amount of the peracid generated may be from about <NUM> ppm to about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm based on a total weight of an oral care product (e.g., dentifrice, whitening gel, etc.) or the whitening composition thereof. For example, the amount of the peracid generated may be from about <NUM> ppm, about <NUM> ppm, about <NUM> ppm, about <NUM> ppm, about <NUM> ppm, about <NUM> ppm, about <NUM> ppm, about <NUM> ppm, about <NUM> ppm, about <NUM> ppm, about <NUM> ppm, about <NUM> ppm, about <NUM> ppm, about <NUM> ppm, about <NUM> ppm, about <NUM> ppm, or about <NUM> ppm to about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, or about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, based on a total weight of the oral care product or the whitening composition thereof. In another example, the amount of the peracid generated may be less than <NUM> ppm, less than <NUM> ppm, less than <NUM> ppm, less than <NUM> ppm, less than <NUM> ppm, less than <NUM> ppm, less than <NUM> ppm, less than <NUM> ppm, less than <NUM> ppm, less than <NUM> ppm, less than <NUM> ppm, less than <NUM> ppm, less than <NUM> ppm, less than <NUM> ppm, less than <NUM> ppm, less than <NUM> ppm, less than <NUM> ppm, less than <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, less than <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, less than <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, less than <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, less than <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, less than <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, less than <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, less than <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, less than <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, less than <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, less than <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, less than <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, less than <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, less than <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, less than <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, less than <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, less than <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, less than <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, less than <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, less than <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, less than <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, less than <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, less than <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, less than <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, less than <NUM>,<NUM>, or less than <NUM>,<NUM>, based on a total weight of the oral care product or the whitening composition thereof. In a typical implementation, the amount of the peracid generated is less than <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, based on a total weight of the oral care product or the whitening composition thereof.

In at least one implementation, the whitening agent may be generated within at least <NUM> minutes (min) from contacting the hydrogen peroxide and the cyclic anhydride with one another. In another implementation, the whitening agent may be generated within at least <NUM> minutes (min) from contacting the oral care product or the whitening composition thereof with water. For example, the whitening agent of the whitening composition may be generated in less than or equal to <NUM>, less than or equal to <NUM>, less than or equal to <NUM>, less than or equal to <NUM>, less than or equal to <NUM>, less than or equal to <NUM>, less than or equal to <NUM>, less than or equal to <NUM>, less than or equal to <NUM>, less than or equal to <NUM>, less than or equal to <NUM>, less than or equal to <NUM>, less than or equal to <NUM>, or less than or equal to <NUM>.

The whitening composition include or are combined with an orally acceptable vehicle to form the mouthwash. As used herein, "orally acceptable vehicle" may refer to a suitable vehicle, ingredient, or combination of ingredients, which can be used to form and/or apply the oral care composition to the surfaces of the teeth in a safe and effective manner. It should be appreciated that the orally acceptable vehicle may include materials such as, but not limited to, one or more antibacterial agents, anticalculus agents, buffers, additional abrasives, sources of peroxide (e.g., hydrogen peroxide), alkali metal bicarbonate salts, thickening materials, humectants, water, surfactants, titanium dioxide, cooling agents, coloring agents, and the like, and combinations thereof. In an exemplary implementation, the orally acceptable vehicle may include a mixture of water, glycerin, and sorbitol. In another implementation, the orally acceptable vehicle may include water and glycerin. In yet another implementation, the whitening composition is combined with an orally acceptable vehicle including a hydrophilic phase and a hydrophobic phase, and optionally a hydrotrope to form a dual-phase mouthwash or a dual-phase mouthwash composition.

The oral care product or the whitening composition thereof may include one or more polymers. Illustrative polymers that may be included in the oral care product or the whitening composition thereof may include polyvinylmethyl ether maleic acid copolymers and/or polysaccharides, such as cellulose derivatives, polysaccharide gums, and the like, and combinations thereof. The cellulose derivatives may include carboxymethyl cellulose, and the polysaccharide gums may include xanthum gum or carrageenan gum.

In at least one implementation, the whitening composition may include one or more copolymers, such as a polyvinylmethylether/maleic anhydride (PVM/MA) copolymer, polymaleic anhydride, polystyrene/maleic anhydride (PS/MA) copolymer, polyethylene/maleic anhydride (PE/MA) copolymer, polyepropylene/maleic anhydride (PP/MA) copolymer, polypropylene-graft-maleic anhydride, polyethylene-graft-maleic anhydride, and polyisoprene-graft-maleic anhydride, a phosphate/acrylate copolymer, and the like, and combinations thereof. As discussed above, the polymer-based cyclic anhydrides may be provided as a cyclic anhydride. For example, the polymer-based cyclic anhydrides may be reacted with the hydrogen peroxide to generate the whitening agent in an appreciable amount (e.g., greater than <NUM> ppm). As set forth in claim <NUM>, polymer-based cyclic anhydrides are not included as a cyclic anhydride. For example, the polymer-based cyclic anhydrides may not react with the hydrogen peroxide to generate the whitening agent in an appreciable amount (e.g., greater than <NUM> ppm). An illustrative PVM/MA copolymer may include those under the GANTREZ® brand, which is commercially available from ISP of Wayne, NJ.

The oral care product or the whitening composition thereof may include one or more fluoride ion sources (e.g., soluble fluoride salts). A wide variety of fluoride ion-yielding materials may employed as sources of soluble fluoride. Examples of suitable fluoride ion-yielding materials may be found in <CIT>, <CIT>, and <CIT>. Illustrative fluoride ion sources include, but are not limited to, stannous fluoride, sodium fluoride, potassium fluoride, sodium monofluorophosphate, sodium fluorosilicate, ammonium fluorosilicate, amine fluoride, ammonium fluoride, and combinations thereof. In a preferred implementation, the fluoride ion source includes sodium fluoride. The amount of the fluoride ion source present in the whitening composition may be less than <NUM> wt%. For example, the amount of the fluoride ion source present in the whitening composition may be less than <NUM> weight %, less than <NUM> weight %, less than <NUM> weight %, less than <NUM> weight %, or less than <NUM> weight %. In another implementation, the fluoride ion source is present in an amount to provide fluoride ions in a total amount of about <NUM> to about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, about <NUM> to about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm, or about <NUM> to about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm.

The oral care product or the whitening composition thereof may include one or more surfactants. For example, the whitening composition may include one or more anionic surfactants, one or more cationic surfactants, one or more zwitterionic surfactants, one or more nonionic surfactants, and mixtures thereof. Examples of suitable surfactants may be found in <CIT>, <CIT>, and <CIT>.

In at least one implementation, the oral care product or the whitening composition thereof includes at least one anionic surfactant. Illustrative anionic surfactants may include, but are not limited to, water-soluble salts of higher fatty acid monoglyceride monosulfates, such as a sodium salt of a monosulfated monoglyceride of hydrogenated coconut oil fatty acids, such as sodium N-methyl N-cocoyl taurate, sodium cocomonoglyceride sulfate. Illustrative anionic surfactants may also include higher alkyl sulfates. As used herein, "higher alkyl" refers to C<NUM>-<NUM> alkyl. For example, in a preferred implementation the anionic surfactant is sodium lauryl sulfate. The anionic surfactants may also include higher alkyl-ether sulfates. For example, the anionic surfactants may have a formula CH<NUM>(CH<NUM>)mCH<NUM>(OCH<NUM>CH<NUM>)nOSO<NUM>X, where m is <NUM>-<NUM>, n is <NUM>-<NUM>, and X is Na or K. In an exemplary implementation, m is <NUM>, and n is <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM>, and X is Na or K. For example, the anionic surfactant may be sodium laureth-<NUM> sulfate (CH<NUM>(CH<NUM>)<NUM>CH<NUM>(OCH<NUM>CH<NUM>)<NUM>OSO<NUM>Na). In another implementation, the anionic surfactant may include higher alkyl aryl sulfonates, such as sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (sodium lauryl benzene sulfonate), and higher alkyl sulfoacetates, such as sodium lauryl sulfoacetate (dodecyl sodium sulfoacetate), higher fatty acid esters of <NUM>,<NUM> dihydroxy propane sulfonate, sulfocolaurate (N-<NUM>-ethyl laurate potassium sulfoacetamide) and sodium lauryl sarcosinate. In an exemplary implementation, the anionic surfactant is a water soluble salt of alkyl sulfates having from <NUM> to <NUM> carbon atoms in the alkyl radical and water soluble salts of sulfonated monoglycerides of fatty acids having from <NUM> to <NUM> carbon atoms. For example, the anionic surfactant may be or include, sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, sodium coconut monoglyceride sulfonates, or the like, and mixtures thereof.

In at least one implementation, the oral care product or the whitening composition thereof may include at least one nonionic surfactant. Accordingly, the oral care product or the whitening composition thereof may include at least one anionic surfactant, at least one nonionic surfactant, or both an anionic surfactant and a nonionic surfactant. The nonionic surfactant may function as an emulsifier. Illustrative nonionic surfactants may include, but are not limited to, poloxamers or the like. For example, the nonionic surfactants may include polysorbate <NUM>, poloxamer <NUM>, poloxamer <NUM>, or the like, and mixtures thereof. The nonionic surfactants may also include, but are not limited to, ethoxylated and hydrogenated ethoxylated castor oils, such as those commonly designated as PEG NN castor oil or PEG NN hydrogenated castor oil, where "NN" designates the number of ethylene oxide units polymerized onto the castor oil to form the nonionic surfactant. For example, the nonionic surfactants may be or include PEG <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and combinations thereof. In a preferred implementation, the nonionic surfactant is polysorbate <NUM>.

The amount of any one or more of the surfactants in the oral care product or the whitening composition thereof may be from about <NUM> wt%, about <NUM> wt%, about <NUM> wt%, about <NUM> wt%, about <NUM> wt%, about <NUM> wt%, or about <NUM> wt% to about <NUM> wt%, about <NUM> wt%, about <NUM> wt%, about <NUM> wt%, about <NUM> wt%, about <NUM> wt%, about <NUM> wt%, or greater. In another example, the amount of any one or more of the surfactants in the oral care product or the whitening composition thereof may be about <NUM> wt% to about <NUM> wt%, about <NUM> wt% to about <NUM> wt%, about <NUM> wt% to about <NUM> wt%, about <NUM> wt% to about <NUM> wt%, about <NUM> wt% to about <NUM> wt%, or about <NUM> wt% to about <NUM> wt%. In yet another example, the amount of any one or more of the surfactants in the oral care product or the whitening composition thereof may be greater than <NUM> wt%, greater than <NUM> wt%, greater than <NUM> wt%, greater than <NUM> wt%, greater than <NUM> wt%, greater than <NUM> wt%, or greater than <NUM> wt%. The amount of any one or more of the surfactants in the oral care product or the whitening composition thereof may also be from about <NUM> wt%, about <NUM> wt%, about <NUM> wt%, about <NUM> wt%, about <NUM> wt%, about <NUM> wt%, or about <NUM> wt% to about <NUM> wt%, about <NUM> wt%, about <NUM> wt%, about <NUM> wt%, about <NUM> wt%, about <NUM> wt%, about <NUM> wt%, or greater. In another example, the amount of any one or more of the surfactants in the oral care product or the whitening composition thereof may be about <NUM> wt% to about <NUM> wt%, about <NUM> wt% to about <NUM> wt%, about <NUM> wt% to about <NUM> wt%, about <NUM> wt% to about <NUM> wt%, about <NUM> wt% to about <NUM> wt%, or about <NUM> wt% to about <NUM> wt%. In yet another example, the amount of any one or more of the surfactants in the oral care product or the whitening composition thereof may be greater than <NUM> wt%, greater than <NUM> wt%, greater than <NUM> wt%, greater than <NUM> wt%, greater than <NUM> wt%, greater than <NUM> wt%, or greater than <NUM> wt%.

The oral care product or the whitening composition thereof may also include one or more flavoring agents. Illustrative flavoring agents may include, but are not limited to, essential oils and various flavoring aldehydes, esters, alcohols, and the like. The flavoring agents may also include, but are not limited to, sweeteners, sucralose, dextrose, polydextrose, sucrose, maltose, dextrin, dried invert sugar, mannose, xylose, ribose, fructose, levulose, galactose, corn syrup (including high fructose corn syrup and corn syrup solids), partially hydrolyzed starch, hydrogenated starch hydrolysate, sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, maltitol, isomalt, aspartame, neotame, saccharin and salts thereof (e.g., sodium saccharin), dipeptide-based intense sweeteners, cyclamates, dihydrochalcones and mixtures thereof. Examples of the essential oils include oils of spearmint, peppermint, wintergreen, sassafras, clove, sage, eucalyptus, marjoram, cinnamon, lemon, lime, grapefruit, and orange. In another example, the flavoring agents may include menthol, carvone, and anethole. In a preferred implementation, the flavoring agent includes peppermint and spearmint. In a more preferred implementation, the flavoring agent includes a Firmenich Newman Flavor. The amount of the flavoring agent in the oral care product or the whitening composition thereof may be less than <NUM> wt%, less than <NUM> wt%, less than <NUM> wt%, or less than <NUM> wt%. For example, the amount of the flavoring agent in the oral care product or the whitening composition thereof may be about <NUM> wt% to about <NUM> wt%, about <NUM> wt% to about <NUM> wt%, about <NUM> wt% to about <NUM> wt%. In a preferred implementation, the amount of the flavoring agent in the oral care product or the whitening composition thereof is about <NUM> wt% to about <NUM> wt%.

The oral care product or the whitening composition thereof may include one or more humectants. The humectants may be capable of or configured to reduce evaporation and lower water activity. It should be appreciated that the humectants may also be capable of imparting desirable sweetness or flavor to the oral care product or the whitening composition thereof. Illustrative humectants may include, but are not limited to polyhydric alcohols, such as glycerin, sorbitol, xylitol, propylene glycol, as well as other polyols, and mixtures thereof.

The oral care product or the whitening composition thereof may include water. Water of the oral care product or the whitening composition thereof may be deionized and free of organic impurities. Water may make up the balance of the oral care product or the whitening composition thereof. For example, the amount of water in the oral care product or the whitening composition thereof may be from about <NUM> wt% to <NUM> wt%, about <NUM> wt% to about <NUM> wt%, or about <NUM> wt% to about <NUM> wt%. In another example, the amount of water in the oral care product or the whitening composition thereof may be at least <NUM> wt%, at least <NUM> wt%, at least <NUM> wt%, at least <NUM> wt%, or at least <NUM> wt%. The amount of water in the oral care product or the whitening composition thereof may include free water added and water introduced with other components or materials of the oral care product or the whitening composition thereof. For example, the amount of the water in the oral care product or the whitening composition thereof may include free water and water associated with the humectants, flavoring agents, or any other component of the oral care product or the whitening composition thereof.

The oral care product or the whitening composition thereof may optionally include one or more additional components or ingredients. For example, the oral care product or the whitening composition thereof may include one or more antimicrobial agents such as, methylisothiazolinone (MIT), sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, and combinations thereof. In another example, the oral care product or the whitening composition thereof may include one or more antibacterial agents selected from halogenated diphenyl ether (e.g. triclosan), herbal extracts and essential oils (e.g., rosemary extract, tea extract, magnolia extract, thymol, menthol, eucalyptol, geraniol, carvacrol, citral, hinokitol, catechol, methyl salicylate, epigallocatechin gallate, epigallocatechin, gallic acid, miswak extract, sea-buckthorn extract), bisguanide antiseptics (e.g., chlorhexidine, alexidine or octenidine), quaternary ammonium compounds (e.g., cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), benzalkonium chloride, tetradecylpyridinium chloride (TPC), N-tetradecyl-<NUM>-ethylpyridinium chloride (TDEPC), phenolic antiseptics, hexetidine, octenidine, sanguinarine, povidone iodine, delmopinol, salifluor, other metal ions (e.g., stannous salts, copper salts, iron salts), sanguinarine, propolis and oxygenating agents (e.g., hydrogen peroxide, buffered sodium peroxyborate or peroxycarbonate), phthalic acid and its salts, monoperthalic acid and its salts and esters, ascorbyl stearate, oleoyl sarcosine, alkyl sulfate, dioctyl sulfosuccinate, salicylanilide, domiphen bromide, delmopinol, octapinol, and other piperidino derivatives, nicin preparations, chlorite salts; and mixtures of any of the foregoing. In an exemplary implementation, the antibacterial agent includes cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC).

The oral care product or the whitening composition thereof may optionally include one or more pH modifying agents. For example, the oral care product or the whitening composition thereof may include one or more acidifying agents and/or one or more basifying agents to reduce and/or increase the pH, respectively. The oral care product or the whitening composition thereof may also include one or more buffering agents to control or modulate the pH within a predetermined or desired range. Illustrative buffering agents may include, but are not limited to, sodium bicarbonate, sodium phosphate, sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, sodium acid pyrophosphate, citric acid, sodium citrate, and mixtures thereof. Sodium phosphate may include, monosodium phosphate (NaH<NUM>PO<NUM>), disodium phosphate (Na<NUM>HPO<NUM>), trisodium phosphate (Na<NUM>PO<NUM>), and mixtures thereof. In a preferred implementation, the buffering agent is anhydrous sodium phosphate dibasic or disodium phosphate.

In at least one implementation, the acidifying, buffering, and/or buffering agents may be included in the oral care product or the whitening composition thereof to provide the oral care composition with a pH between <NUM> to <NUM>, <NUM> to <NUM>, <NUM> to <NUM>, <NUM> to <NUM>, <NUM> to <NUM>, or <NUM> to <NUM>. Additional orally acceptable pH modifying agent may be used, including without limitation carboxylic, phosphoric, and sulfonic acids, acid salts (e.g., monosodium citrate, disodium citrate, monosodium malate, etc.), alkali metal hydroxides, such as sodium hydroxide, carbonates, such as sodium carbonate, bicarbonates, sesquicarbonates, borates, silicates, phosphates (e.g., monosodium phosphate, trisodium phosphate, pyrophosphate salts, etc.), imidazole and mixtures thereof. The one or more pH modifying agents may be optionally present in an amount effective to maintain the oral care product or the whitening composition thereof in an orally acceptable pH range. In a preferred implementation, the buffering agent includes anhydrous sodium phosphate dibasic or disodium phosphate, and phosphoric acid (e.g., syrupy phosphoric acid; <NUM>%-Food Grade).

In various implementations, the present disclosure provides methods to whiten surfaces of teeth in a human or animal subject in need thereof. As used herein, "animal subject" includes non-human mammals such as canines, felines, and horses. The methods may include contacting the surfaces of the teeth with the whitening composition or the whitening agent of the present disclosure. Contacting the whitening composition with the surfaces of the teeth may include brushing, flossing, irrigating, wiping, rinsing (lavage of oral cavity), foam/gel and in-tray application, masticating, spraying, painting, and the like.

In various implementations, the oral care product, or the whitening composition thereof, prepared in accordance with the present disclosure may be applied regularly to an oral surface, for example on a daily basis, at least one time daily for multiple days, or alternately every second or third day. In some implementations, the oral care product or the whitening composition thereof is applied to the oral surfaces from <NUM> to <NUM> times daily, for at least <NUM> weeks up to <NUM> weeks, from four months to three years, or more, up to a lifetime.

In some implementations, the the mouthwash thereof may be applied directly to the teeth using a delivery device, such as a pen, (e.g., a COLGATE® whitening pen or a COLGATE® ACTIS™ whitening pen, Colgate-Palmolive Company, New York, NY), a liquid stick having an applicator, such as a felt tip, brush, roller ball, or non-woven pad, sufficient to effect whitening.

The examples and other implementations described herein are exemplary and not intended to be limiting in describing the full scope of compositions and methods of this disclosure. Equivalent changes, modifications and variations of specific implementations, materials, compositions and methods may be made within the scope of the present disclosure, with substantially similar results.

The generation of peracid from an oral care composition, namely a mouthwash, was evaluated via HPLC and UV/Vis. Since peracid is not visible via UV-Vis, secondary compounds that are visible or absorb in the UV-Vis spectrum were derived from the generated peracid via successive oxidation reactions.

To simulate the generation of peracid, namely maleic peracid, about <NUM> (<NUM> weight % to mouthwash) of a cyclic anhydride, namely maleic anhydride, and <NUM> (<NUM> weight % to mouthwash) of sodium carbonate, a pH modifying agent, was combined with <NUM> of a mouthwash containing <NUM> weight % hydrogen peroxide. The mouthwash mixture was agitated for <NUM> minute, and <NUM> of the agitated mixture was diluted with water to <NUM>. To derive the secondary compounds, <NUM>µL of the diluted mixture was then transferred to a microfuge tube containing <NUM>µL of <NUM> phosphoric acid and mixed or agitated to reach a final pH of less than <NUM>, thereby terminating the maleic anhydride ring opening reaction in generating peracid. <NUM>µL of mixed solution was then transferred to an HPLC container/vial containing <NUM>µL of water and <NUM>µL of a methyl tolyl sulfide (MTS) reagent, and mixed or agitated in the dark for at least <NUM>, thereby reacting the peracid with the MTS reagent to produce methyl tolyl sulfoxide (MTSO) and acetic acid (AcOH). Then <NUM>µL of acetonitrile and <NUM>µL of a triphenyl phosphine (TPP) reagent was added to the solution and allowed to react in the dark for <NUM>. After <NUM>, <NUM>µL of acetonitrile was added and mixed thoroughly, and the resulting solution was analyzed via HPLC.

The calculated concentration of MTSO was then corrected for dilution (i.e., during the acid quench step) and total reaction volume. It should be appreciated that the molar concentration of the peracid is equivalent to the calculated concentration of MTSO including the aforementioned corrections. The amount of the peracid generated from the hydrogen peroxide mouthwash and the maleic anhydride is summarized in Table <NUM>.

As illustrated in Table <NUM>, when more maleic anhydride (MA) and sodium carbonate (SC) were mixed with <NUM> of a mouthwash containing <NUM> weight % hydrogen peroxide, more maleic peracid was generated. For example, about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm maleic peracid was formed in the when <NUM> of MA and <NUM> of SC were added to <NUM> of mouthwash and over <NUM>,<NUM> ppm of maleic peracid was formed when <NUM> maleic anhydride and <NUM> of SC were added to the mouthwash. It should be appreciated that higher concentration of the peracid generated in mouthwash solution would lead to better whitening efficacy.

The whitening efficacy of whitening compositions including <NUM> weight % hydrogen peroxide mouthwash with varying amounts of maleic anhydride and sodium carbonate was evaluated in vitro. Particularly, artificially stained bovine incisors individually mounted to resin blocks were obtained from Therametric Technologies, Inc. The artificially stained bovine teeth selected for the analysis had L* values from about <NUM> to about <NUM>.

Solutions of <NUM> of the <NUM> weight % hydrogen peroxide mouthwash (MW) with varying amounts of maleic anhydride (MA) and sodium carbonate (SC) were prepared. The bovine teeth were soaked in each of the respective solutions for <NUM> minute after combining the mouthwash with the maleic anhydride and sodium carbonate. Each of the bovine teeth was soaked in the solution twice to provide one treatment.

The L*, a*, and b* values were measured with a hand-held spectrophotometer after each treatment (one minute soakings for each treatment). The L*, a*, b* values after each treatment were compared to the baseline values to calculate the change in the whiteness of each of the teeth. It should be appreciated that the whiteness index (W*) is a measure of overall color change relative to pure white, and is given by formula (<NUM>), and the change in whiteness index (ΔW*) is measured by formula (<NUM>). The change in whiteness index (ΔW*) is summarized in Table <NUM>. <MAT> <MAT>.

It was surprisingly and unexpectedly discovered, as demonstrated in Table <NUM>, that the combination of maleic anhydride (MA) and sodium carbonate (SC) with a mouthwash (MW) containing <NUM> weight % hydrogen peroxide significantly enhanced the whitening efficacy of the whitening compositions. Particularly, the whitening composition including the maleic anhydride and the sodium carbonate provided whiter teeth at a faster rate. For example, the mouthwash including <NUM>% MA and <NUM>% SC had a whitening efficacy (ΔW) of about <NUM>, which was about three times the whitening efficacy of the MW including the hydrogen peroxide alone with <NUM> treatments. The enhanced whitening efficacy (ΔW) was not attributed to the change in pH, as the whitening composition including the MW and <NUM>% SC exhibited similar whitening efficacy (ΔW) as compared to the MW alone.

Claim 1:
A mouthwash whitening composition, comprising an orally acceptable vehicle, sodium carbonate, a source of hydrogen peroxide that provides hydrogen peroxide, and a cyclic anhydride that generates a peracid with the hydrogen peroxide provided by the source of hydrogen peroxide
wherein the molar ratio of the cyclic anhydride to the hydrogen peroxide provided by the source of hydrogen peroxide is from <NUM>:<NUM> to <NUM>:<NUM>;
wherein the orally acceptable vehicle further comprises one or more ingredient selected from antibacterial agents, anticalculus agents, humectants, surfactants and cooling agents, and
wherein the cyclic anhydride is not a polymer-based cyclic anhydride.