Methods of Preparing Non-Alcohol Bioactive Esential Oil Mouth Rinses

Abstract

The invention relates generally to liquids such as mouth rinses for the prevention and elimination of bad breath as well as for the reduction of oral microorganisms responsible for the development of dental plaque and tooth decay. In particular, the present invention relates to a method of preparing non-alcohol or reduced alcohol mouth rinses effective at preventing the above-mentioned problems.

1 . A method for preparing a liquid composition comprising the steps of:
 a.) preparing a first premix composition comprising:
 i. a first oil or oily component; 
 ii. optionally, a first polyol solvent, 
 iii. optionally, a flavor; 
   b.) preparing a second premix composition comprising:
 i. a second oil or oily component having a degree of hydrophobicity less than the degree of hydrophobicity of the first oil or oily component; and 
 ii. a second polyol solvent; 
   c.) preparing a third premix composition comprising:
 i. at least one surfactant; and 
 ii. an aqueous phase comprising water; 
   d.) adding the first premix to the third premix;   e.) mixing the composition of step d.) until uniform and homogeneous; and   f.) adding the second premix to the composition of step e.) and mixing until uniform and homogeneous.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the liquid composition is essentially free of alcohol. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a sugar alcohol solvent is added to the composition of step f.) and the composition mixed until uniform and homogeneous. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first oil or oily component is an antimicrobial essential oil selected from the group consisting of menthol, eucalyptol, methyl salicylate, thymol and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the antimicrobial essential oils are a mixture of menthol, eucalyptol, methyl salicylate and thymol. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second oil or oily component is an organic acid selected from the group consisting of ascorbic acid, sorbic acid, citric acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid and acetic acid, benzoic acid, salicylic acid, phthalic acid, phenolsulphonic acid, succinic acid and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the second oil or oily component is an organic acid is selected from group consisting of benzoic acid. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second polyol solvent is selected from the group consisting of polyhydric alkanes, polyhydric alkane esters, polyalkene glycols and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second polyol solvent is polyhydric alkane. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the polyhydric alkane is propylene glycol. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the sugar alcohol solvent is selected from as the group consisting of xylitol, sorbitol mannitol, maltitol, inositol, allitol, altritol, dulcitol, galactitol, glucitol, hexitol, iditol, pentitol, ribitol, erythritol and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the sugar alcohol solvent is sorbitol. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition of step g.) has a turbidity of less than about 12 Nephelometric Turbidity Units. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the composition of step g.) has a turbidity of less than about 10 Nephelometric Turbidity Units. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the composition of step g.) has a turbidity of less than about 8 Nephelometric Turbidity Units. 
     
     
         16 . A liquid composition made according to the process of  claim 1 .