Title:  Cyclodextrins in dental products

United States Patent:  6,245,321

Assignee:  Pfizer Inc. (New York, NY)

Filed:  April 23, 1999

Oral rinse and dentifrice compositions, comprising a phenolic selected from the group consisting of menthol, eucalyptol, methyl salicylate, thymol, triclosan, and mixtures thereof; and a cyclodextrin selected from the group consisting of hydroxypropyl .beta.-cyclodextrin, hydroxyethyl .beta.-cyclodextrin, hydroxypropyl .gamma.-cyclodextrin, hydroxyethyl .gamma.-cyclodextrin, .alpha.-cyclodextrin, methyl .beta.-cyclodextrin, and mixtures thereof. These compositions are useful in retarding the development of plaque, treating gingivitis, and in treating the presence of micro-organisms in the oral cavity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an oral rinse composition, comprising:

a) from about 0.01% to about 2.5% by weight of a phenolic, said phenolic selected from the group consisting of menthol, eucalyptol, methyl salicylate, thymol, triclosan, and mixtures thereof;

b) From about 0. 1% by weight to about 25% by weight of a cyclodextrin, said cyclodextrin selected from the group consisting of hydroxypropyl .beta.-cyclodextrin, hydroxyethyl .beta.-cyclodextrin, hydroxypropyl .gamma.-cyclodextrin, hydroxyethyl .gamma.-cyclodextrin, .alpha.-cyclodextrin, methyl .beta.-cyclodextrin, and mixtures thereof;

c) Up to about 25% by weight ethanol; and

d) an orally acceptable carrier.

The present invention also relates to a dentifrice in the form of a toothpaste or tooth gel, comprising:

a) from about 0.01% to about 10% by weight of a phenolic, said phenolic selected from the group consisting of menthol, eucalyptol, methyl salicylate, thymol, triclosan, and mixtures thereof;

b) From about 0.1% by weight to about 60% by weight of a cyclodextrin, said cyclodextrin selected from the group consisting of hydroxypropyl .beta.-cyclodextrin, hydroxyethyl .beta.-cyclodextrin, hydroxypropyl .gamma.-cyclodextrin, hydroxyethyl .gamma.-cyclodextrin, .alpha.-cyclodextrin, methyl .beta.-cyclodextrin, and mixtures thereof;

c) up to about 60% by weight of an orally acceptable dental abrasive, for example, silica, alumina, calcium pyrophosphate and calcium carbonate; and

d) an orally acceptable carrier.

The present also relates to a method for retarding development of plaque on a dental surface in the oral cavity of a mammal, comprising administering to said dental surface an amount of said oral rinse composition effective in retarding said development of plaque.

The present also relates to a method for retarding development of plaque on a dental surface in the oral cavity of a mammal, comprising administering to said dental surface an amount of said dentifrice effective in retarding said development of plaque.

The present also relates to a method of treating gingivitis, comprising administering to a mammal in need of such treatment an amount of said oral rinse composition effective in treating gingivitis.

The present also relates to a method of treating gingivitis, comprising administering to a mammal in need of such treatment an amount of said dentifrice effective in treating gingivitis.

The present also relates to a method of treating the presence of micro-organisms in the oral cavity of a mammal, comprising administering to the mammal in need of such treatment an amount of said oral rinse composition effective in reducing the viable population of said micro-organisms.

The present also relates to a method of treating the presence of micro-organisms in the oral cavity of a mammal, comprising administering to the mammal in need of such treatment an amount of said dentifrice effective in reducing the viable population of said micro-organisms.

Claim 1 of 16 Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A dentifrice in the form of a clear tooth gel, comprising:

a) from about 0.01% to about 10% by weight of a phenolic, said phenolic selected from the group consisting of (i) a combination of menthol, eucalyptol, methyl salicylate, and thymol, (ii) triclosan, and (iii) mixtures thereof;

b) from about 0.1% by weight to about 60% by weight of a soluble cyclodextrin capable of solubilizing said phenolic without the use of high alcohol levels, high surfactant levels, or other phenolic cosolvents, said cyclodextrin selected from the group consisting of hydroxypropyl b-cyclodextrin, hydroxyethyl b-cyclodextrin, hydroxypropyl g-cyclodextrin, hydroxyethyl g-cyclodextrin, a-cyclodextrin and methyl b-cyclodextrin, and mixtures thereof;

c) up to about 60% by weight of an orally acceptable dental abrasive; and

d) an orally acceptable carrier,

said composition being low temperature stable and substantially clear and substantially free of precipitants, flocculants, or crystals at about room temperature.

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