Drug – bio-affecting and body treating compositions – Dentifrices – Oxygen or chlorine releasing compound containing
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-24
2001-07-03
Rose, Shep K. (Department: 1614)
Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions
Dentifrices
Oxygen or chlorine releasing compound containing
C424S049000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06254857
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a two component effervescent dentifrice wherein, upon mixing of the separate components during brushing, significantly enhanced consumer perceived sensory sensations are provided which instill the consumer a perception of enhanced cleaning performance, and more particularly to a two component peroxide containing oral composition that provides enhanced sensory cues as well as providing a tooth whitening benefit.
2. The Prior Art
A tooth is comprised of an inner dentin layer and an outer hard enamel layer that is the protective layer of the tooth. The enamel layer of a tooth is naturally an opaque white or slightly off-white color. It is this enamel layer that can become stained or discolored. The enamel layer of a tooth is composed of hydroxyapatite mineral crystals that create a somewhat porous surface. It is believed that this porous nature of the enamel layer is what allows staining agents and discoloring substances to permeate the enamel and discolor the tooth.
Many substances that a person confronts or comes in contact with on a daily basis can “stain” or reduce the “whiteness” of one's teeth. In particular, the foods, tobacco products and fluids such as tea and coffee that one consumes tend to stain one's teeth. These products or substances tend to accumulate in the protein pellicle enamel layer of the tooth. These staining and discoloring substances can then permeate the enamel layer. This problem occurs gradually over many years, but imparts a noticeable discoloration of the enamel of one's teeth.
There are available in the marketplace oral compositions for home use which contain 1-3% by weight concentrations of a peroxide compounds such as hydrogen peroxide and when applied on the teeth effect whitening.
Illustrative of oral compositions containing peroxygen compounds for whitening teeth include U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,766,574 and 5,648,064.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,766,574 discloses dual component whitening dentifrice which comprises a first dentifrice component containing a peroxide compound such as urea peroxide and a second dentifrice component containing an abrasive such as alumina or silica which is incompatible with the peroxide, the first and second dentifrice components being maintained separate from the other until dispensed and combined for application to teeth requiring whitening.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,648,064 discloses a two component whitening dentifrice composition which discloses a first component containing a peroxygen compound such as hydrogen peroxide and a second dentifrice component containing a manganese coordination complex compound such as manganese gluconate, which activates the peroxygen compound and accelerates the release of active oxygen for rapid whitening action, the first and second components being maintained separate from the other until dispensed for application to teeth.
Further, it is known that bicarbonate-acid mixtures in toothpaste compositions will create an effervescent effect and that such effervescent effect can provide certain sensory and tooth cleaning benefits. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,885,871 discloses a two component effervescent dentifrice composition wherein the effervescent signal produced by the dentifrice derives form the evolution of carbon dioxide upon the mixing of a high alkaline pH paste (pH range 8-9) and a low acid pH (pH 2-4) gel.
There is an ongoing need for new and novel sensory benefits to promote the use of dentifrices and particularly in dentifrices used in the tooth whitening.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention there is provided, an effervescent peroxide containing oral composition for whitening of teeth wherein there is provided a two component composition of separate unmixed phases comprised of (a) a first component containing a water soluble peroxide compound contained in an orally acceptable vehicle and unmixed (b) a second component containing a mixture of iron and copper salts in an orally acceptable vehicle in an amount effective to activate the peroxide compound and accelerate the release of active oxygen, the two phases being combined shortly before application to the teeth wherein the iron and copper salts interact with the peroxide constituent to accelerate the breakdown and rapid release of active oxygen from the peroxide compound, such rapid release being effective for whitening teeth and instilling in the consumer a perception of enhanced product performance.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In the practice of the present invention the first peroxide containing dentifrice component is a gel containing the peroxide ingredient and is formulated using a vehicle containing water, humectant, a peroxide compound as the whitening agent and a thickener such as a polyoxyethylene/polyoxypropylene block copolymer.
The amount of peroxide compound incorporated in the first gel component of the two component oral composition of the present invention will vary dependent upon its intended use. For use by trained professionals in office treatments, the concentration of peroxygen compound incorporated in the oral composition can vary from about 5 to about 30% by weight. For home use, such high concentrations of peroxide compounds cannot be used safely by the typical consumer and therefore the useful range of peroxide compound when the oral composition is a paste, gel or rinse is between 0.1 to 6.0% by weight. The preferred range is between about 0.5 to about 2.0% by weight.
Glycerin, and polyethylene glycol in combination with water are useful in formulating the vehicle for the whitening component of the dentifrice composition of the present invention. A combination of glycerine, polyethylene glycol and water is preferred as the vehicle in which the other ingredients of the peroxide component are contained.
Illustrative of polyethylene glycols useful in the practice of the present invention include polyethylene glycols known by the trademark Carbowax which are nonionic polymers of ethylene oxide having the general formula:
HOCH
2
(CH
2
OCH
2
)
n
CH
2
OH
wherein n represents the average number of oxyethylene groups. The Carbowax polyethylene glycols are designated by a number such as 400, 600, 800, etc. which represents the average molecular weight. The average molecular weight of the polyethylene glycols used in the practice of the present invention is about 200-2000, preferably 400-800 and most preferably 600 (PEG 600).
Glycerin and polyethylene glycol is included in the peroxide dentifrice component of the present invention in an amount of from about 20 to about 50% by weight and preferably about 30 to about 45% by weight. Water is incorporated in the peroxide whitening dentifrice compositions of the present invention at a concentration of about 20 to about 50 by weight of the composition and preferably about 25 to about 40% by weight.
Thickening or gelling agents used in the formulation of the peroxide whitening dentifrice component include polyoxyethylene/polyoxypropylene block copolymers. Illustrative of polyoxyethylene/polyoxypropylene block copolymers useful in the practice of the present invention include block copolymers having the formula
HO(C
2
H
4
O)
b
(C
3
H
6
O)
a
(C
2
H
4
O)
b
H
wherein a is an integer such that the hydrophobic portion (moiety) represented by (C
3
H
6
O) has a molecular weight of about 2750 to 4000, b is an integer such that the hydrophilic portion represented by (C
2
H
4
O) constitutes about 70-80% by weight of the copolymer. Block copolymers of this composition are available commercially under the trademark Pluronic F type. Pluronic F127, which has a molecular weight of 4000 and contains 70% of the hydrophilic C
2
H
4
O moiety is preferred in the practice of the present invention.
The thickening agent is preferably present in the peroxide dentifrice component in an amount within the range of about 10 to about 30% by weight and about 15 to 25% by weight is preferred.
The peroxide containing component is normally applied to the teeth in the form of an
Hoic Diego A.
Masters James G.
Viscio David B.
Colgate-Palmolive Company
Rose Shep K.
Shapiro Paul
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