Compositions for dental care

Abstract

This invention pertains to dental care compositions with antimicrobial benefits. In particular, the invention provides for compositions of oral tissue-adherent salts that release biocidal ions on a controlled release basis and thereby provide and maintain an essentially uniform concentration of biocidal ions above the MBC or MIC of the target bacteria at the site of application in the mouth for an extended period of time. The compositions are useful for treating or preventing oral diseases resulting from bacteria, fungal or yeast infections, such as caries, gingivitis, periodontal disease and candidiasis. 13

1 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A method of treating oral diseases in the mouth, said method comprising the step of applying to the target area of the mouth an oral treatment composition comprising a controlled release, oral tissue-adherent salt comprising an anionic component with phenolic, C8-C18 monocarboxylate, or polycarboxylate functionality and a cationic component polymer or copolymer with quaternary ammonium, guanidino, or biguanidino groups, as the cationic component, whereby said salt has (i) an aqueous solubility from about 200 ppm to about 10,000 ppm enabling it to release dissolved biocidal or biostatic cations into the oral fluid at a concentration that is equal to or exceeds the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) or minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the target bacteria, while (ii) the aqueous solubility of said salt is appropriately limited to leave undissolved, un-dissociated salt on the oral tissues to which it was applied, to act as a reservoir to allow the subsequent release of additional biocidal or biostatic ions into the mouth, to replace the dissolved biocidal or biostatic ions as they are used up or otherwise depleted, thereby maintaining an essentially uniform concentration of biocidal biostatic ions equal to or exceeding the MBC or MIC of the target bacteria in the oral fluid in the treated area of the mouth for an extended period of time. 
     
     
         23 . The method of treating oral diseases of  claim 22 , in which the oral treatment composition is applied to the soft or mineralized oral tissue above the gum line as a supra-gingival treatment to control bacteria, fungi and yeasts in the prevention and treatment of dental caries, gingivitis, candidiasis or other oral diseases. 
     
     
         24 . The method of treating oral diseases of  claim 22 , in which the controlled release, oral tissue-adherent salt is preformed or is formed by application of two separate salt solution components, one component containing the cation and one component containing the anion, to the target area by physically segregating the two components prior to use, then separately or simultaneously adding the two components to the target area to form the salt in situ. 
     
     
         25 . The method of treating oral diseases of  claim 22 , in which the controlled release, oral tissue-adherent salt is delivered to the teeth, gums, supra-gingival areas, or other area of the mouth in a toothpaste, a tooth gel, a mouthwash, dental floss, a tray, a treatment strip, an ointment, a dental appliance, a denture appliance or other type device for delivery of the oral tissue-adherent salt. 
     
     
         26 . The method of treating oral diseases of  claim 22 , in which the anionic component is selected from the group consisting of phenolate, poly-phenolate, resorcinolate, PCMX anion, eugenol anions, thymol anions, and penicillin anions and the cationic component is selected from the group consisting of polyquaterniunum4, polyquaternium-10, polyquaternium-11, polyquaternium-22, polyquaternium-28, polyquaternium-32 and polyquaternium-37 cations. 
     
     
         27 . The method of treating oral diseases of  claim 22 , in which the quaternary ammonium cationic component is selected from the group consisting of cetylpyridinium ions, benzalkonium ions, and benzethonium ions. 
     
     
         28 . The method of treating oral diseases of  claim 22 , in which the biguanidino cationic component is chlorhexidinium cation. 
     
     
         29 . The method of treating oral diseases of  claim 22 , in which the guanidino cationic component is Nα-C8-C18)acyl(C2-C18) alkyl ester of a dibasic amino acid cation. 
     
     
         30 . The method of treating oral diseases of  claim 22 , in which the polycarboxylate anionic component is selected from the group consisting of anions of malic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, tartaric acid, succinic acid, adipic acid, malonic acid, citric acid, polyacrylic acid, alginic acid, xanthan, polysaccharide and vinyl ether/maleic acid copolymer. 
     
     
         31 . The method of treating oral diseases of  claim 22 , in which the cation component is selected from the group consisting of cations of tetracycline, aureomycin, terramycin, tigecycline, doxycycline, minocycline, demeclocycline, lymecycline, meclocycline, methacycline, rolitetracycline, and clindamycin.