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.

1 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . An oral treatment composition comprising a controlled release, oral tissue-adherent salt comprising an anionic component with polycarboxylate functionality and a polymer or copolymer with quaternary ammonium 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 or 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 composition of  claim 22 , in which the quaternary ammonium cationic component is selected from the group consisting of cetylpyridinium ions, benzalkonium ions, and benzethonium ions. 
     
     
         24 . The composition of  claim 22 , in which the biguanidino cationic component is chlorhexidinium cation. 
     
     
         25 . The composition of  claim 22 , in which the polycarboxylate cation is selected from the group consisting 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. 
     
     
         26 . The composition of  claim 22 , in which the anionic component is selected from the group consisting of phenolate, polyphenolate, resorcinolate, PCMX anion, eugenol anions, and penicillin anions. 
     
     
         27 . The composition 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. 
     
     
         28 . The composition of  claim 22 , in which the cationic component is selected from the group consisting of polyquaternium-4, polyquaternium-10, polyquaternium-11, polyquaternium-22, polyquaternium-28, polyquaternium-32 and polyquaternium-37 cations. 
     
     
         29 . An oral treatment composition comprising a controlled release, oral tissue-adherent salt comprising C8-C18 monocarboxylic acid or polycarboxylic acid anionic and Nα-(C8-C18)acyl(C2-C18) alkyl ester of a dibasic amino acid cationic components, whereby said salt has (1) 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, in-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 or 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. 
     
     
         30 . The composition of  claim 29 , wherein in which the C8-C18 monocarboxylic acid anionic component is an anion of octanoic acid and the Nα-(C8-C18) acyl (C2-C18) alkyl ester of a dibasic amino acid cationic component is a cation of Nα-(C8-C18) acyl (C2-C18) alkyl ester of arginine. 
     
     
         31 . The composition of  claim 29 , in which the polycarboxylate anion 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.