Process for making toothpaste using low levels of carrageenan

Abstract

This invention pertains to a process for increasing by at least about 100% the viscosity of a carrageenan-containing dentifrice composition that comprises allowing the composition to quiescently cool from a temperature at or above about 45° C. The process may be applied to making toothpastes having suitable viscosity using carrageenan levels as low as about 0.05 weight percent. The dentifrice compositions are comprised of one or more of the following carrageenans: iota, modified kappa, or mixtures thereof. Toothpastes prepared using this method are easier to process and require much less carrageenan relative to similar viscosity toothpastes prepared by previous methods. This invention also pertains to certain toothpaste compositions having low levels of carrageenan including those made according to this process.

1 . A process for increasing the viscosity of a carrageenan-containing dentifrice composition that comprises allowing the composition to quiescently cool from a temperature at or above about 45° C., wherein the composition comprises a binder, polishing agent, humectant, surfactant and water, the binder comprises carrageenan in an amount of at least about 0.05% by weight of the composition, the carrageenan is selected from iota, modified kappa carrageenan, and mixtures thereof, and the viscosity increase is at least about 100%.  
     
     
         2 . A process of  claim 1  wherein the composition is allowed to quiescently cool from a temperature at or above about 55° C.  
     
     
         3 . A process of  claim 1  wherein the composition is allowed to quiescently cool from a temperature at or above about 65° C.  
     
     
         4 . A process of  claim 1  wherein the composition is allowed to quiescently cool from a temperature at or above about 75° C.  
     
     
         5 . A process of  claim 1  wherein the amount of carrageenan is in the range of about 0.05 to about 0.45% by weight of the composition.  
     
     
         6 . A process of  claim 1  wherein the amount of carrageenan is in the range of about 0.05 to about 0.35% by weight of the composition.  
     
     
         7 . A process of  claim 1  wherein the amount of carrageenan is in the range of about 0.05 to about 0.25% by weight of the composition.  
     
     
         8 . A process of  claim 1  wherein the viscosity increase is in the range of about 100% to 900%.  
     
     
         9 . A process of  claim 1  wherein the composition after the increase in viscosity has a Cuban value of 3 to 12 or a viscosity in the range of about 160,000 to about 1,400,000 cps at room temperature.  
     
     
         10 . A process of  claim 1  wherein the binder comprises carrageenan and carboxymethylcellujose.  
     
     
         11 . A process for making a carrageenan-containing dentifrice composition that comprises allowing the composition to quiescently cool from a temperature at or above about 45° C., wherein the composition comprises a binder, calcium-based polishing agent, humectant, surfactant and water, the binder comprises carrageenan in an amount between about 0.05% and 0.35% by weight of the composition, the carrageenan is selected from iota, modified kappa carrageenan, and mixtures thereof, and the composition has a Cuban value in the range of about 3 to 12.  
     
     
         12 . A process for making a carrageenan-containing dentifrice composition that comprises allowing the composition to quiescently cool from a temperature at or above about 45° C., wherein the composition comprises a binder, silica-based polishing agent, humectant, surfactant and water, the binder comprises carrageenan in an amount between about 0.05% and 0.15% by weight of the composition, the carrageenan is selected from iota, modified kappa carrageenan, and mixtures thereof, and the composition has a Cuban value in the range of about 3 to 12.  
     
     
         13 . A process of claims  11  or  12  that further comprises the step of heating the dentifrice composition in a toothpaste tube dr dispenser before allowing it to quiescently cool.  
     
     
         14 . A process of claims  11  or  12  wherein the binder comprises carrageenan and carboxymethylcellulose.  
     
     
         15 . A process for preparing a toothpaste having a Cuban value of 3 to 12, wherein the toothpaste comprises carrageenan, humectant, water and a calcium-based polishing agent and the in-process viscosity never exceeds about 18,000 cps.  
     
     
         16 . A dentifrice composition comprising a binder, a calcium-based polishing agent, humectant, surfactant and water, wherein the binder comprises carrageenan which is present in the range of about 0.05 to 0.35% by weight of the composition, the weight percent of total binder is less than about 0.5%, the weight percent of polishing agent is in the range of about 35 to 55%, the combined weight percent of humectant and water is in the range of about 40 to 60%, the carrageenan is selected from iota, modified kappa carrageenan, and mixtures thereof, and wherein the composition has a Cuban value in the range of about 3 to 12.  
     
     
         17 . A dentifrice composition comprising a binder, a silica-based polishing agent, humectant, surfactant and water, wherein the binder comprises carrageenan which is present in the range of about 0.05 to 0.15% by weight of the composition, the weight percent of total binder is less than about 0.2%, the weight percent of polishing agent is in the range of about 15 to 30%, the combined weight percent of humectant and water is in the range of about 25 to 70%, the carrageenan is selected from iota, modified kappa carrageenan, and mixtures thereof, and wherein the composition has a Cuban value in the range of about 3 to 12.