Oral care compositions and methods

Abstract

A composition comprising a film or a plurality of film fragments entrained in a carrier. The film or plurality of film fragments can comprise a functional material. The film or plurality of film fragments can comprise repeated shapes. Also disclosed is a composition comprising a plurality of discernable lamellar fragments entrained in a carrier. Also disclosed is a method for administering a functional material to a human or animal subject in need thereof, the method comprising applying to the subject a composition comprising a film or a plurality of film fragments entrained in a carrier, wherein the film comprises the functional material.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An oral or personal care composition, comprising a film entrained in a carrier, wherein said film comprises a functional material.  
     
     
         2 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said film comprises a water soluble polymer selected from the group consisting of cellulose ethers, methacrylates, polyvinylpyrollidone, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         3 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein either or both of said carrier and said functional material comprises a therapeutic active selected from the group consisting of abrasives, anticaries agents, tartar control agents, antiplaque agents, periodontal actives, breath freshening agents, malodour control agents, whitening agents, stain prevention actives, salivary stimulants, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         4 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said film comprises a plurality of first film fragments having one or more of a first therapeutic active, a first dissolution rate, a first shape and a first color, and a plurality of second film fragments having one or more of a second therapeutic active, a second dissolution rate, a second shape and a second color.  
     
     
         5 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said functional material is a flavorant.  
     
     
         6 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said carrier is suitable for use in a dentifrice, and said film comprises a compatibility enhanced active selected from the group consisting of cationic antimicrobials, calcium salts, fluoride salts, proteins, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         7 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said film comprises a controlled release composition comprising said functional material and said film has a Dissolution Value of at least about 5 seconds and not more than about 200 sec.  
     
     
         8 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said carrier comprises a gel, paste, a colloid, or a fibrillar network.  
     
     
         9 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said film are substantially lamellar, having a thickness of from about 0.1 mils to about 10 mils and a length of at least about 0.2 mm and not more than about 2.5 mm.  
     
     
         10 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said film has an aspect ratio of at least about 5:1 and not more than about 500:1.  
     
     
         11 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said film is visibly discernable.  
     
     
         12 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said fragments are either or both of a non-random shape or of a repeating shape.  
     
     
         13 . A composition according to  claim 12 , wherein said shape is substantially square.  
     
     
         14 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said film comprises a formulation colorant selected from the group consisting of pigments, lakes, dyes, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         15 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said film comprises a plurality of layers, and wherein said film comprises a polymeric film and a coating on at least one surface of said film.  
     
     
         16 . An oral or personal care composition, comprising a plurality of film fragments in a carrier, wherein said fragments are visibly discernable and have either or both of a non-random shape or a repeating shape.  
     
     
         17 . A composition according to  claim 16 , wherein said film fragments comprise a water soluble polymer selected from the group consisting of cellulose ethers, methacrylates, polyvinylpyrollidone, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         18 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein either or both of said carrier and said film fragments comprise a therapeutic active selected from the group consisting of abrasives, anticaries agents, tartar control agents, antiplaque agents, periodontal actives, breath freshening agents, malodour control agents, whitening agents, stain prevention actives, salivary stimulants, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         19 . A composition according to  claim 16 , wherein said film comprises a plurality of first film fragments having one or more of a first therapeutic active, a first dissolution rate, a first shape and a first color, and a plurality of second film fragments having one or more of a second therapeutic active, a second dissolution rate, a second shape and a second color.  
     
     
         20 . A composition according to  claim 16 , wherein said film fragments comprise a flavorant.  
     
     
         21 . A composition according to  claim 16 , wherein said carrier is suitable for use in a dentifrice, and said film comprises a compatibility enhanced active selected from the group consisting of cationic antimicrobials, calcium salts, fluoride salts, proteins, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         22 . A composition according to  claim 16 , wherein said film comprises a controlled release composition comprising a functional material and said film has a Dissolution Value of at least about 5 seconds and not more than about 200 sec.  
     
     
         23 . A composition according to  claim 16 , wherein said carrier comprises a gel, paste, a colloid, or a fibrillar network.  
     
     
         24 . A composition according to  claim 16 , wherein said film fragments are substantially lamellar, having a thickness of from about 0.1 mils to about 10 mils and a length of at least about 0.2 mm and not more than about 2.5 mm.  
     
     
         25 . A composition according to  claim 16 , wherein said film fragments have an aspect ratio of at least about 5:1 and not more than about 500:1.  
     
     
         26 . A composition according to  claim 16 , wherein said shape is substantially square.  
     
     
         27 . A composition according to  claim 16 , wherein said film fragments comprise a formulation colorant selected from the group consisting of pigments, lakes, dyes, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         28 . A composition according to  claim 16 , wherein said film fragments comprise a plurality of layers, and wherein said film fragments comprise polymeric film fragments and a coating on at least one surface of said film fragments.  
     
     
         29 . A method for administering a functional material to a human or animal subject, comprising the step of topically applying to said subject a composition comprising a film entrained in a carrier, wherein said film comprises said functional material  
     
     
         30 . A method according to  claim 29 , wherein said film comprises a water soluble polymer selected from the group consisting of cellulose ethers, methacrylates, polyvinylpyrollidone, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         31 . A method according to  claim 29 , wherein either or both of said carrier and said functional material comprises a therapeutic active selected from the group consisting of abrasives, anticaries agents, tartar control agents, antiplaque agents, periodontal actives, breath freshening agents, malodour control agents, whitening agents, stain prevention actives, salivary stimulants, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         32 . A method according to  claim 29 , wherein said film comprises a plurality of first film fragments having one or more of a first therapeutic active, a first dissolution rate, a first shape and a first color, and a plurality of second film fragments having one or more of a second therapeutic active, a second dissolution rate, a second shape and a second color.  
     
     
         33 . A method according to  claim 29 , wherein said functional material is a flavorant.  
     
     
         34 . A method according to  claim 29 , wherein said carrier is suitable for use in a dentifrice, and said film comprises a compatibility enhanced active selected from the group consisting of cationic antimicrobials, calcium salts, fluoride salts, proteins, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         35 . A method according to  claim 29 , wherein said film comprises a controlled release composition comprising said functional material and said film has a Dissolution Value of at least about 5 seconds and not more than about 200 sec.  
     
     
         36 . A method according to  claim 29 , wherein said carrier comprises a gel, paste, a colloid, or a fibrillar network.  
     
     
         37 . A method according to  claim 29 , wherein said film are substantially lamellar, having a thickness of from about 0.1 mils to about 10 mils and a length of at least about 0.2 mm and not more than about 2.5 mm.  
     
     
         38 . A method according to  claim 29 , wherein said film have an aspect ratio of at least about 5:1 and not more than about 500:1.  
     
     
         39 . A method according to  claim 29 , wherein said film is visibly discernable.  
     
     
         40 . A method according to  claim 29 , wherein said fragments are either or both of a non-random shape or of a repeating shape.  
     
     
         41 . A method according to  claim 40 , wherein said shape is substantially square.  
     
     
         42 . A method according to  claim 29 , wherein said film comprises a formulation colorant selected from the group consisting of pigments, lakes, dyes, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         43 . A method according to  claim 29 , wherein said film comprises a plurality of layers, and wherein said film comprise a polymeric film or fragment and a coating on at least one surface of said film.  
     
     
         44 . A composition for enhancing personal health, hygiene or appearance, comprising a carrier having distributed therein a plurality of fragments having an aspect ratio of at least about 5:1, wherein said fragments comprise a matrix and a functional material.  
     
     
         45 . A composition according to  claim 44 , wherein said functional material comprises a therapeutic active which provides a systemic health benefit.  
     
     
         46 . An oral care composition, comprising a carrier having distributed therein a plurality of lamellar fragments, wherein said fragments comprise a matrix and a functional material.  
     
     
         47 . A process for making an oral care composition comprising a carrier having distributed therein a plurality of lamellar fragments, said process comprising: 
 (a) providing said carrier;    (b) adding said lamellar fragments to said carrier to form a mixture; and    (c) homogenizing said mixture.