Oral Care Compositions and Methods of Using the Compositions

Abstract

An oral care composition comprising zinc phosphate and stannous fluoride.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A method of treating or reducing bacterial colonization and biofilm development in the oral cavity in a subject in need thereof, wherein the method comprises administering an oral care composition comprising:
 an orally acceptable carrier;   zinc phosphate;   stannous fluoride; and   
       wherein the oral care composition is administered to the oral cavity of the subject in need thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the zinc phosphate is a preformed salt of zinc phosphate. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein zinc phosphate is present in an amount sufficient so that the stannous fluoride dissociates to provide a therapeutically effective amount of stannous ions in aqueous solution. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the amount of zinc phosphate is from 0.05 to 5% by weight, relative to the weight of the oral care composition. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the amount of the stannous fluoride is from 0.05% to 5% by weight, relative to the weight of the oral care composition. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the amount of the water is about 12% by weight or more, relative to the weight of the oral care composition. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the oral care composition further comprises an abrasive. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising one or more humectants and/or one or more surfactants. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising an effective amount of one or more alkali phosphate salts. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising a whitening agent. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising one or more sources of zinc ions in addition to the zinc phosphate. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the oral care composition is a dentifrice, powder, cream, strip or gum. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the oral care composition comprises:
 from 0.5 to 3% by weight zinc phosphate;   from 0.05 to 11% by weight stannous fluoride;   from 1 to 8% by weight alkali phosphate salts selected from sodium phosphate dibasic, potassium phosphate dibasic, dicalcium phosphate dihydrate, tetrasodium pyrophosphate, tetrapotassium pyrophosphate, calcium pyrophosphate, sodium tripolyphosphate, and mixtures of any two or more of these, relative to the weight of the oral care composition; and   a silica abrasive.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the oral care composition is a gel. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the pH of the oral care composition is less than 7. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the amount of zinc phosphate in the oral care composition is from 0.9 to 1.1% by weight, relative to the weight of the oral care composition, and wherein the amount of stannous fluoride is from 0.4 to 0.5% by weight, relative to the weight of the oral care composition.