Compositions for removing stains from dental surfaces, and methods of making and using the same

Abstract

A composition for removing stains from dental surfaces comprising a stain removing effective amount of at least two active components selected from a peroxide compound, a polyphosphate, and an anionic surfactant, in combination with an orally acceptable carrier. The present invention is further directed to methods of making and using the same.

1 . A composition for removing stains from dental surfaces comprising peroxide compound in an amount of 0.01% to 10% by weight based on the total weight of the composition and a polyphosphate compound in an amount of 0.01% to 5% by weight based on the total weight of the composition. 
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the peroxide compound is selected from the group consisting of carbamide peroxide, hydrogen peroxide, calcium peroxide, sodium peroxide, strontium peroxide, zinc peroxide, magnesium peroxide and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the polyphosphate is selected from the group consisting of tripolyphosphates, tetrapolyphosphates, pyrophosphates, hexametaphosphates and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 3  wherein the polyphosphate is selected from the group consisting of water soluble alkali metal polyphosphates. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 4  wherein the polyphosphate is selected from the group consisting of sodium tripolyphosphate, potassium tripolyphosphate, sodium potassium tripolyphosphate, sodium hexametaphosphate, tetrasodium pyrophosphate, sodium acid pyrophosphate and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the polyphosphate is present in a stain removing effective amount of from about 0.1% to 3% by weight based on the total weight of the composition. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 7  wherein the polyphosphate is present in a stain removing effective amount of from about 1.0% to 3% by weight based on the total weight of the composition. 
     
     
         9 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 1  in the form of a chewing gum. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 1  in the form of a confectionery. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the composition is selected from the group consisting of chewing gums, centerfill confections, nougats, candies, panning goods, gel confections, fondants, lozenges, hard boiled candies, mints, troches, pastilles, microcapsules, cakes, wafers, thin films, tablets and compressed tablets. 
     
     
         18 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the peroxide compound is present in a stain removing effective amount of from about 0.1% to 5% by weight based on the total weight of the composition. 
     
     
         22 . The composition of  claim 21  wherein the peroxide compound is present in a stain removing effective amount of from about 0.2% to 3% by weight based on the total weight of the composition. 
     
     
         23 - 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . The composition of  claim 1  further comprising an encapsulating substance for encapsulating the peroxide compound within the composition. 
     
     
         30 . The composition of  claim 29  wherein the encapsulating substance is selected from the group consisting of natural gums, synthetic gums, edible oils, polymers, olefin copolymers, resins, waxes, mineral oils, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         31 . The composition of  claim 1  further comprising an orally acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         32 . The composition of  claim 31  wherein the orally acceptable carrier is a gum or wax base. 
     
     
         33 . A method of removing stains from dental surfaces comprising administering a stain removing effective amount of the composition of  claim 1  to the oral cavity of a warm-blooded animal including humans for contact with the dental surfaces thereof. 
     
     
         34 . A method of making the composition of  claim 1  comprising combining the peroxide compound and the polyphosphate compound, with an orally acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         35 . The composition of  claim 31  wherein the orally acceptable carrier is a solid carrier. 
     
     
         36 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the combined stain removing effective amount of the peroxide compound and polyphosphate compound is less than the amount of one of said compounds to achieve the same stain removing effect. 
     
     
         37 . The composition of  claim 36  wherein the combined stain removing effective amount of the peroxide compound and the polyphosphate compound is less than the amount of the polyphosphate compound administered alone to achieve the same stain removing effect. 
     
     
         38 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the peroxide compound is carbamide peroxide. 
     
     
         39 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the polyphosphate compound is sodium tripolyphosphate. 
     
     
         40 . The composition of  claim 38  wherein the polyphosphate compound is sodium tripolyphosphate. 
     
     
         41 . The composition of  claim 13  wherein the chewing gum comprises a core and at least one coating, said peroxide compound and said polyphosphate compound being present at least in at least one of said coatings. 
     
     
         42 . The composition of  claim 13  wherein at least one of said peroxide compound and said polyphosphate compound are present in the core. 
     
     
         43 . The composition of  claim 42  wherein the peroxide compound is carbamide peroxide which is present in the core. 
     
     
         44 . The composition of  claim 40  wherein each of carbamide peroxide and sodium tripolyphosphate are present in an amount of 3% by weight based on the total weight of the composition.