Oral care compositions comprising chlorite and methods

Abstract

The present invention relates to oral care compositions, including therapeutic rinses, especially mouth rinses, as well as toothpastes, gels, tooth powders, chewing gums, mouth sprays, and lozenges (including breath mints), comprising at least a minimally effective amount of chlorite ion, wherein preferably the pH of the final composition is greater than 7 and level of chlorine dioxide or chlorous acid is less than about 50 ppm, preferably is essentially free of chlorine dioxide or chlorous acid. This invention fuirther relates to a method for treating or preventing gingivitis, plaque, periodontal disease, and/or breath malodor, and/or for the whitening of teeth, in humans or other animals, by applying a safe and effective amount of the chlorite ion composition to the oral cavity.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An oral care mouthrinse composition comprising: 
 (a) greater than about 0.04%, by weight of the final composition, of chlorite ion from chlorite salts; and    (b) a pharmaceutically-acceptable topical, mouthrinse oral carrier; wherein the final composition is essentially free of chlorine dioxide or chlorous acid and the pH of the final composition is greater than 7.0.    
     
     
         2 . The composition of    claim 1    wherein the composition comprises a first and a second phase: 
 (a) the first phase comprising chlorite ion; and  
 (b) the second phase comprising a pharmaceutically-acceptable topical, oral carrier and comprising no chlorite ion.  
 
     
     
         3 . The composition of    claim 2    wherein the composition comprises greater than about 0.075%, by weight of the composition, of chlorite ion.  
     
     
         4 . The composition of    claim 3    wherein the composition comprises greater than about 0.15%, by weight of the composition, of chlorite ion.  
     
     
         5 . The composition of    claim 2    wherein the level of chlorine dioxide or chlorous acid in the final composition is less than about 5 ppm.  
     
     
         6 . The composition of    claim 5    wherein the level of chlorine dioxide or chlorous acid in the final composition is less than about 1 ppm.  
     
     
         7 . The composition of    claim 2    wherein the pH is greater than 7.5.  
     
     
         8 . The composition of    claim 7    wherein the pH is from about 8 to about 12.  
     
     
         9 . The composition of    claim 8    wherein the pH is from 8 to 10.  
     
     
         10 . An oral care mouthrinse composition comprising: 
 (a) greater than about 0.04%, by weight of the final composition, of chlorite ion from chlorite salts; and    (b) a pharmaceutically-acceptable topical, mouthwash oral carrier;    wherein the pH of the final composition is greater than 7.5 and wherein the level of chlorine dioxide or chlorous acid in the composition is less than about 50 ppm.    
     
     
         11 . An oral care mouthrinse composition according to    claim 10    comprising a first and a second phase: 
 (a) the first phase comprising chlorite ion; and  
 (b) the second phase comprising a pharmaceutically-acceptable topical, oral carrier and comprising no chlorite ion.  
 
     
     
         12 . The composition of    claim 11    wherein the composition comprises greater than about 0.075%, by weight of the composition, of chlorite ion.  
     
     
         13 . The composition of    claim 12    wherein the composition comprises greater than about 0.15%, by weight of the composition, of chlorite ion.  
     
     
         14 . The composition of    claim 13    wherein the level of chlorine dioxide or chlorous acid in the final composition is less than about 25 ppm.  
     
     
         15 . The composition of    claim 14    wherein the level of chlorine dioxide or chlorous acid in the final composition is less than about 15 ppm.  
     
     
         16 . The composition of    claim 15    wherein the level of chlorine dioxide or chlorous acid in the final composition is less than about 10 ppm.  
     
     
         17 . The composition of    claim 16    wherein the final composition is essentially free of chlorine dioxide or chlorous acid.  
     
     
         18 . The composition of    claim 11    wherein the pH is greater than 7.6.  
     
     
         19 . The composition of    claim 18    wherein the pH is from about 8 to about 12.  
     
     
         20 . The composition of    claim 19    wherein the pH is from 8 to 10.  
     
     
         21 . A method for the treatment or prevention of periodontal disease, plaque, and gingivitis, comprising the step of administering to a subject's oral cavity, an oral care mouthrinse composition according to    claim 1    or    claim 2   .  
     
     
         23 . A method for the treatment or prevention of periodontal disease, plaque, and gingivitis, comprising the step of administering to a subject's oral cavity, an oral care mouthrinse composition according to    claim 10    or    claim 11   .  
     
     
         24 . A method for the treatment or prevention of breath malodor, comprising the step of administering to a subject's oral cavity, an oral care mouthrinse composition according to    claim 1    or    claim 2   .  
     
     
         25 . A method for the treatment or prevention of breath malodor, comprising the step of administering to a subject's oral cavity, an oral care mouthrinse composition according to    claim 10    or    claim 11   .  
     
     
         26 . A method for whitening teeth, comprising the step of administering to a subject's oral cavity, an oral care mouthrinse composition according to    claim 1    or    claim 2   .  
     
     
         27 . A method for whitening teeth, comprising the step of administering to a subject's oral cavity, an oral care mouthrinse composition according to    claim 10    or    claim 11   .