Oral composition providing enhanced oral hygiene properties

Abstract

An oral care composition having enhanced oral hygiene and lipophylic properties which comprises an orally acceptable vehicle containing a combination of an enzyme and a cyclodextrin.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An oral care composition having enhanced oral hygiene lipophylic properties which comprises an orally acceptable vehicle containing a combination of an enzyme and a cyclodextrin compound.  
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the enzyme is a proteolytic enzyme.  
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 2  wherein the proteolytic enzyme is papain.  
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 3  wherein the papain is present in the composition at a concentration of about 0.1 to about 5.0% by weight of the composition.  
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the cyclodextrin is β-cyclodextrin.  
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the cyclodextrin is present in the oral composition at a concentration of about 0.1 to 5.0% by weight.  
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the weight ratio of cyclodextrin compound to enzyme present in the composition is 4:1.  
     
     
         8 . A method for effecting enhanced oral hygiene properties and lipophylic in an oral composition which comprises preparing a composition comprised of an orally acceptable vehicle containing a combination of an enzyme and a cyclodextrin and then applying the composition to the oral cavity.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the enzyme is a proteolytic enzyme  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein proteolytic enzyme is papain  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the papain is present in the composition at a concentration of about 0.1 to about 5.0% by weight of the composition.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the cyclodextrin is β-cyclodextrin.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the cyclodextrin is present in the oral composition at a concentration of 0.1 to 5.0% by weight.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the weight ratio of cyclodextrin compound to enzyme compound present in the composition is 4:1.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the enzyme is incorporated in the composition as an aqueous dispersion of a cyclodextrin and an enzyme.