Oral Care Compositions Containing A Gel Network Phase

Abstract

An oral care composition containing a gel phase, an abrasive, and a fluoride source. The gel network phase contains a cold dispersible fatty amphiphile and phase separation is not visually perceptible in the oral care composition.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An oral care composition comprising:
 a. a gel network phase comprising a cold dispersible fatty amphiphile;   b. an abrasive; and   c. a fluoride ion source selected from the group consisting of stannous fluoride, sodium fluoride, potassium fluoride, amine fluoride, sodium monofluorophosphate, indium fluoride, amine fluoride, and combinations thereof;   wherein the oral care composition comprises from about 3% to about 17% fatty amphiphile;   wherein phase separation is not visually perceptible as determined by the phase separation method.   
     
     
         2 . The oral care composition of  claim 1  wherein the cold dispersible fatty amphiphile comprises:
 a. from about 50% to about 95% fatty amphiphile; 
 b. from about 5% to about 30% surfactant; and 
 c. from about 5% to about 20% polymer. 
 
     
     
         3 . The oral care composition of  claim 2  wherein the fatty amphiphile comprises a fatty alcohol selected from the group consisting of cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The oral care composition of  claim 1  wherein the cold dispersible fatty amphiphile comprises one or more straight or branched carbon chains from about C8 to about C25. 
     
     
         5 . The oral care composition of  claim 1  wherein the cold dispersible fatty amphiphile comprises the cold dispersible fatty amphiphile comprises 40% cetyl alcohol, 40% stearyl alcohol, 10% sodium lauryl sulfate, and 10% sodium acrylate/sodium acryloyl dimethyl taurate copolymer. 
     
     
         6 . The oral care composition of  claim 1  wherein the abrasive comprises precipitated silica. 
     
     
         7 . The oral care composition of  claim 6  wherein the precipitated silica has a BET surface area from about 19 m 2 /g to about 55 m 2 /g. 
     
     
         8 . The oral care composition of  claim 1  wherein the composition has a viscosity from about from about 10 BKUs to about 45 BKUs. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the composition further comprises from about 25% to about 70% water. 
     
     
         10 . The oral care composition of  claim 1  further comprising a peroxide component selected from the group consisting of hydrogen peroxide, urea peroxide, calcium peroxide, sodium peroxide, zinc peroxide, polyvinylpyrrolidone peroxide complex or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The oral care composition of  claim 10  comprising 1% or more peroxide component. 
     
     
         12 . The oral care composition of  claim 10  wherein the peroxide component comprises hydrogen peroxide. 
     
     
         13 . An oral care composition comprising:
 a. a gel network phase comprising a cold dispersible fatty amphiphile;   b. from about 0.01% to about 3% thickening material selected from the group consisting of carboxyvinyl polymers, carrageenan, hydroxyethyl cellulose, water soluble salts of cellulose ethers, gum karaya, xanthan gum, gum arabic, gum tragacanth, magnesium aluminum silicate, finely divided silica, and combinations thereof;   c. potassium nitrate;   d. an abrasive; and   e. a fluoride ion source selected from the group consisting of stannous fluoride, sodium fluoride, potassium fluoride, amine fluoride, sodium monofluorophosphate, indium fluoride, amine fluorides, and combinations thereof;   wherein the oral care composition comprises less than about 10% fatty amphiphile; and   wherein phase separation is not visually perceptible as determined by the phase separation method.   
     
     
         14 . The oral care composition of  claim 13  wherein the cold dispersible fatty amphiphile comprises:
 a. a fatty amphiphile; 
 b. a surfactant; and 
 c. a 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid (AMPS) polymer; 
 wherein the weight ratio of fatty amphiphile to surfactant is from about 4:1 to about 15:1. 
 
     
     
         15 . The oral care composition of  claim 13  wherein the thickening material comprises carrageenan. 
     
     
         16 . The oral care composition of  claim 15  wherein the composition comprises from about 0.1% to about 1% carrageenan. 
     
     
         17 . A method for making an oral care composition comprising the steps of:
 a. combining water and a cold dispersible fatty amphiphile;   b. adding a fluoride ion source and/or an abrasive and/or potassium nitrate;   c. adding a secondary surfactant;   d. mixing until the composition is substantially homogeneous;   e. deaerating until the composition is substantially free of air;   wherein a gel network is formed and wherein the composition is not heated above 30° C.   
     
     
         18 . The oral care composition of  claim 17  wherein the cold dispersible fatty amphiphile has a melting point greater than about 25° C.