Drug – bio-affecting and body treating compositions – Dentifrices – Oxygen or chlorine releasing compound containing
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-16
2001-01-16
Rose, Shep K. (Department: 1614)
Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions
Dentifrices
Oxygen or chlorine releasing compound containing
C424S613000, C424S616000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06174516
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to method for whitening human teeth, and more particularly, to a method of whitening teeth by sequentially first applying to the teeth an alkaline rinse followed by brushing with a peroxide containing dentifrice.
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 on the enamel layer of the tooth and form a film over the teeth. 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.
Means known to the art to effect whitening of teeth include the application, as by brushing, to the teeth of peroxide containing dentifrice compositions of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,256,402 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,814,309.
The aqueous dentifrice compositions disclosed these patents contain a urea or hydrogen peroxide compound, an alkali pyrophosphate salt and an abrasive material. Although such peroxide dentifrice compositions of the prior art are effective in whitening teeth, the art continuously seeks means to effect even greater tooth whitening efficacy.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention it has now been found that the tooth whitening efficacy of peroxide containing dentifrice compositions can be substantially heightened by a method wherein there is first applied to the teeth an aqueous rinse composition having an alkaline pH of about 8.0 to about 11.0 and thereafter brushing the teeth to which the rinse has been previously applied with a peroxide containing dentifrice.
It is believed that the alkaline rinse application to the teeth prior to brushing with the peroxide dentifrice activates and promotes the rapid release of oxygen from the peroxide contained in the dentifrice, such rapid release accounting for the observed unexpected heightened whitening obtained by the brushing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The rinse formulations used in the practice of this invention comprise an alkaline solution having a pH of at least about 8.0 or above, and preferably about 8.5 to 10.5. The solvent for the rinse ingredients may be water or a solution of water and ethanol and such solvent generally comprises about 70% to about 95% of the rinse, and preferably about 65% to 95% water and about 0% to 35% ethanol.
Block polymers of polyoxyethylene and polyoxypropylene, such as available from BASF-Wyandotte Co., Wyandotte, Mich. are useful as surfactants in the preparation of the rinse and serve to solubilize flavor components as well as to provide foaming action while rinsing. In addition, other surfactants suitable for use in the preparation of the rinse composition include anionic surfactants such as sodium lauryl sulfate or sodium lauryl sulfonate. The surfactant is employed in the rinse composition at concentrations ranging from about 0.1% to about 10% by weight of the rinse, and most preferably from about 0.5% to abut 2% by weight.
Humectants such as glycerine and sorbitol in amounts up to about 25% by weight, and preferably about 15% to 20% by weight may also be used in the preparation of the rinse.
About 3 to about 10% by weight and preferably about 4 to about 8% by weight of an alkali metal such as sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate, sodium hydroxide and mixtures thereof are included in the rinse composition to adjust the pH to an alkaline range of about 8.0 to about 11.0 and preferably 9.0 to about 10.5.
Preservatives such as sodium benzoate, methylparaben, propylparaben and benzoic acid are included in the rinse compositions at concentrations of about 0.1 to about 1.0% by weight and preferably 0.4 to 0.6% by weight. Sodium benzoate is the preferred preservative.
Flavoring oils are incorporated in the rinse composition at a concentration of about 0.1 to 1.0% by weight, examples of which are oils of spearmint, peppermint, wintergreen, menthol, cineole, limonene, menthone and menthyl acetate.
A sweetening material is preferably also employed as a complement to the flavoring material. Suitable sweetening agents include sodium saccharine, sodium cyclamate, xylitol and aspartame in concentrations of about 0.01 to 1.0% by weight. Sodium saccharin is preferred.
The dental rinse is prepared by mixing the ingredients together to form a homogeneous solution of the constituent ingredients. The rinse is used by first applying a small amount in the mouth, such as one cap full, and rising about the tooth surfaces. As will hereinafter be demonstrated, a striking increase in whitening is observed over a relatively brief usage period when the rinse of this invention is first employed in sequential steps with a peroxide dentifrice.
The ingredients of the peroxide dentifrice composition used in the practice of the present invention are dissolved or suspended in a vehicle comprised of water and a humectant such as sorbitol polyethylene glycol or glycerin. Water constitutes about 10 to about 40% by weight of the peroxide dentifrice of the present invention and preferably about 20 to about 30% by weight.
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, 1000, 2000 which represents the average molecular weight. The molecular weight range of the polyethylene glycols used herein is about 200 to about 2000 and preferably about 600 hereinafter referred to as PEG 600.
The polyethylene glycol component included in the composition of the present invention constitutes about 10 to about 35% by weight of the dentifrice composition and preferably about 15 to about 25% by weight.
Glycerin is included in the dentifrice composition of the present invention in the range from 10 to about 20% by weight and preferably 12 to abut 15% by weight.
The peroxide compound used to prepare of the dentifrice composition used in the practice of the present invention is included in an amount sufficient to allow release of sufficient oxygen during brushing of teeth to effect whitening thereof. Typically, the peroxide compound is employed in the dentifrice composition in amounts so that at least about 1.0% of the composition comprises a peroxide. Preferably, the peroxide compound comprises from about 5 to about 15% by weight of the composition. Examples of suitable peroxide compounds used to prepare the dentifrice compositions used in the practice of the present invention include calcium peroxide, hydrogen peroxide and peroxides including urea peroxide, glyceryl peroxide, benzoyl peroxide and the like. A preferred peroxide compound is urea peroxide.
Abrasives suitable for use in the preparation of the dentifrice composition include silica, calcium pyrophosphate, dicalcium diphosphate and calcined alumina. The abrasive is incorporated in the dentifrice composition at a concentration of about 0 to 30% by weight and preferably about 5 to 10% by weight, Calcined alumina is a preferred abrasive.
Thickening agents are included in the pe
Beck Lisa Christina
Curtis John P.
Reinhard Barry G.
Rustogi Kedar N.
Colgate-Palmolive Company
Rose Shep K.
Shapiro Paul
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