Patent ID: 8377423

Claim:
A bleaching composition for whitening a tooth surface comprising a substantially non-cytotoxic first component comprising chlorine dioxide and oxy-chlorine anions; a second component comprising a second bleaching agent; and a sweetener, a flavorant, a fragrance, or a combination thereof; wherein the bleaching composition comprises at least about 20 ppm chlorine dioxide and no more than about 0.25 milligrams oxy-chlorine anion per gram composition; and wherein: i) the cytotoxicity of the bleaching composition is about equal to or less than the cytotoxicity of a composition comprising no substantially non-cytotoxic chlorine dioxide component and a sufficient quantity of the at least second bleaching agent to have comparable bleaching efficacy; ii) the bleaching composition is associated with soft oral tissue irritation about equal to or less irritation than associated with a composition comprising no substantially non-cytotoxic chlorine dioxide component and a sufficient quantity of the at least second bleaching agent to have comparable bleaching efficacy; or iii) the bleaching composition is associated with hard tooth tissue damage about equal to or less than the damage associated with a composition comprising no substantially non-cytotoxic chlorine dioxide component and a sufficient quantity of the at least second bleaching agent to have comparable bleaching efficacy.