Anti-sensitivity, anti-caries, anti-staining, anti-plaque, ultra-mild oral hygiene agent

Abstract

This invention relates to a composition useful as a dentifrice comprising a surfactant agent consisting essentially of monoalkyl and dialkyl phosphate esters, wherein the ratio of monoesters to diesters is greater than 1, and optionally an abrasive agent consisting essentially of siliceous materials.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A composition for reducing hypersensitivity in teeth comprising a surfactant agent consisting essentially of water soluble monoalkyl and dialkyl phosphate esters, wherein the ratio of monoesters to diesters is greater than 1.  
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein said phosphate esters are based on a single alcohol or blend of alcohols.  
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein a hydrocarbon group of said phosphate esters are linear or branched.  
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein a hydrocarbon group of said phosphate esters are saturated or unsaturated.  
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein a hydrocarbon group of said phosphate esters comprise from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms.  
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 5  wherein said phosphate ester has a degree of ethoxylation or propoxylation from between about 0 to about 20.  
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein said phosphate esters have a monoalkyl to dialkyl eser molar ratio of 70:30 to 100:0.  
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein said phosphate esters comprise potassium dodecyl phosphate.  
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1  further comprising an abrasive agent consisting essentially of siliceous materials.  
     
     
         10 . An oral care anti-hypersensitivity agent comprising an effective amount of water soluble monoalkyl and dialkyl phosphate ester salts to reduce tooth sensitivity.  
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 10  wherein the ratio of monoalkyl esters to dialkyl esters is at least 1.  
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 10  further comprising an abrasive agent consisting essentially of siliceous materials.  
     
     
         13 . A tooth cleaning product comprising a surfactant agent consisting essentially of water soluble salts of monoalkyl and dialkyl phosphate esters, wherein the molar ratio of monoalkyl esters to dialkyl esters is greater than 1, an abrasive agent and optionally a liquid.  
     
     
         14 . The tooth cleaning product of  claim 13  wherein said abrasive agent is an abrasive system comprising one or more of hydrated silica, colloidal silica, fumed silica, insoluble sodium metaphosphate, insoluble sodium aluminosilicates, sodium bicarbonate or mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         15 . The tooth cleaning product of  claim 14  wherein said abrasive system is in amount of from about 5% to about 70% by weight of the tooth cleaning product.  
     
     
         16 . The tooth cleaning product of  claim 13  wherein said tooth cleaning product is a toothpaste or a tooth cleaning gel.  
     
     
         17 . The tooth cleaning product of  claim 16  wherein said liquid comprises one or more of water, humectant, binder, or a mixture thereof.  
     
     
         18 . The tooth cleaning product of  claim 13  wherein said liquid is in an amount of from about 10% to about 90% by weight of the tooth cleaning product.  
     
     
         19 . The tooth cleaning product of  claim 17  wherein said humectant is in an amount of from about 5% to about 85% of the tooth cleaning product.  
     
     
         20 . The tooth cleaning product of  claim 17  wherein said tooth cleaning product is a translucent gel having a humectant to water ratio of at least about 0.5 to 1.  
     
     
         21 . A tooth powder comprising: 
 (c) an effective amount of a water soluble monoalkyl dialkyl mixture of phosphate ester salts to reduce tooth sensitivity; and    (d) from about 20% to about 95% by weight of a polishing agent.    
     
     
         22 . The tooth powder of  claim 21  wherein said effective amount of phosphate ester salts is from about 0.1% to about 10% by weight of said tooth powder.  
     
     
         23 . The tooth powder of  claim 22  wherein said effective amount of phosphate ester salts is from about 1% to about 5% by weight of said tooth powder.  
     
     
         24 . The tooth powder of  claim 21  comprising from over 50% by weight polishing agent.  
     
     
         25 . The tooth powder of  claim 21  further comprising one or more of a flavoring agent, sweetening agent, an anti-calculus agent, an anti-caries agent. buffering agents, or processing aids.  
     
     
         26 . A mouthwash comprising: 
 (e) an effective amount of a water soluble mixture of monoalkyl and dialkyl phosphate ester salts to reduce tooth sensitivity;    (f) alcohol;    (g) humectant; and    (h) water.    
     
     
         27 . The mouthwash of  claim 26  wherein said effective amount of said water soluble phosphate ester salt is from about 0.1% to about 10% by weight of the mouthwash.  
     
     
         28 . The mouthwash of  claim 27  wherein said effective amount of said water soluble phosphate ester salt is from about 1% to about 5% by weight of the mouthwash.  
     
     
         29 . The mouthwash of  claim 26  further comprising one or more of a flavoring agent, sweetening agent, an anti-calculus agent, an anti-caries agent, buffering agents, or processing aids.  
     
     
         30 . An oral care composition having anti-sensitivity effect upon teeth which contains an essential anti-sensitivity agent which essentially comprises: 
 (a) an effective amount of a water soluble mixture of monoalkyl and dialkyl phosphate ester salts.    
     
     
         31 . A toothpaste comprising the oral care composition of  claim 30 .  
     
     
         32 . A chewing gum comprising the oral care composition of  claim 30 .  
     
     
         33 . A mouthwash comprising the oral care composition of  claim 30 .  
     
     
         34 . An oral care strip comprising the oral care composition of  claim 30 .  
     
     
         35 . A lozenge comprising the oral care composition of  claim 30 .  
     
     
         36 . An oral care composition comprising an effective amount of a water soluble alkali metal or a functional amine salt of a phosphate ester, effective to reduce sensitivity in teeth.  
     
     
         37 . The composition of  claim 36  wherein said water soluble alkali metal salt comprises lithium, sodium, potassium or a mixture thereof.  
     
     
         38 . The composition of  claim 36  wherein said functional amine comprises a trialkanolamine.  
     
     
         39 . The composition of  claim 36  wherein said functional amine comprises a basic amino acid.  
     
     
         40 . An oral care compositon comprising an effective amount of salts of monoalkyl or monoalkenyl phosphates of Structure (I) and water soluble salts of dialkyl or dialkenyl phosphates of Structure (II):  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein R1, R2 and R3 are from 8 to 22 carbon atoms; n and m are 2 to 4; a and b are 0 to 20; one of Z1 or Z2 is selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal, an ammonium, protonated alkyl amine, protonated alkanolamine or a protonated basic amino acid; and the other of Z1 or Z2 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, an alkali metal, an ammonium, protonated alkyl amine, protonated alkanolamine, or a protoanted basic amino acid; and Z3 is selected from a group consisting of an alkali metal, an ammonium, protonated alkyl amine or protonated alkanolamine, or a protonated basic amino acid.