Compositions and methods of delivering bleaching agents to teeth

Abstract

The present invention relates to compositions and methods of whitening teeth of a subject in need thereof, by applying a safe and effective amount of a composition to a plurality of teeth, the composition comprising: a. a safe and effective amount of a bleaching agent; b. a safe and effective amount of a water insoluble solid phase; c. a safe and effective amount of a water soluble liquid phase; wherein the ratio of the water insoluble solid phase to the water soluble liquid phase is from about 1:4 to about 4:1; wherein the composition is applied for a sufficient period of time to achieve whitening; and wherein in one embodiment the composition has a Whitening Index of from about 0.5 to about 4. The composition optionally comprises a hydrophobically modified polymer. The present invention also relates to a delivery system comprising the present compositions used with an integral carrier, e.g. a strip material, dental tray or sponge material.

1 . A oral care delivery system comprising: 
 a. an integral carrier; and    b. a safe and effective amount of a composition comprising: 
 1. a safe and effective amount of a bleaching agent;  
 2. a safe and effective amount of a water insoluble solid phase; and  
 3. a safe and effective amount of a water soluble liquid phase;  
 wherein the ratio of the water insoluble solid phase to the water soluble liquid phase is from about 1:4 to about 4:1; wherein the composition is applied for a sufficient period of time to achieve whitening; and wherein the delivery system is capable of adhesion to hard or soft tissue of the oral cavity.  
   
     
     
         2 . The delivery system of  claim 1  wherein the composition has from about 20% to about 80% by weight of the water soluble liquid phase.  
     
     
         3 . The delivery system of  claim 2  wherein the ratio is from about 1:1.5 to about 1.5:1.  
     
     
         4 . The delivery system of  claim 3  wherein the ratio is from about 1:1.25 to about 1.25:1.  
     
     
         5 . The delivery system of  claim 2  wherein the composition comprises from about 45% to about 65% by weight water soluble liquid phase.  
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 5  wherein the composition comprises from about 45% to about 60% by weight of the water insoluble solid phase.  
     
     
         7 . The delivery system of  claim 2  wherein the water insoluble solid phase is selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyisoprenes, polyester, silicas, talc, mica, magnesium carbonate, calcium carbonate, magnesium silicate, aluminum magnesium silicate, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, nylon powder, methacrylate powder, polystyrene powder, silk powder, crystalline cellulose, titanated mica, calcium phosphate, calcium pyrophosphate, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         8 . The delivery system of  claim 7  wherein the water insoluble solid phase is polyethylene.  
     
     
         9 . The delivery system of  claim 2  wherein the water insoluble solid phase is selected from the group consisting of organic additives and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         10 . The delivery system of  claim 1  wherein the composition comprises from about 0.1% to about 20% by weight bleaching agent wherein the bleaching agent is selected from the group consisting of peroxides, metal chlorites, perborates, percarbonates, peroxyacids, persulfates, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         11 . The delivery system of  claim 1  further comprising a Whitening Index of from about 0.5 to about 4.  
     
     
         12 . The delivery system of  claim 11  wherein the Whitening Index is from about 1.3 to about 3.5.  
     
     
         13 . The delivery system of  claim 1  wherein the integral carrier is a strip of material.  
     
     
         14 . The delivery system of  claim 13  wherein the strip of material and the composition applied thereon have an overall thickness of less than about 1 mm.  
     
     
         15 . The delivery system of  claim 13  wherein the strip of material has shallow pockets on a composition-coated side of the strip of material, the shallow pockets having at least some of the composition located therein.  
     
     
         16 . The delivery system of  claim 13  wherein the strip of material is a polyethylene film having a film thickness of less than about 0.1 mm.  
     
     
         17 . The delivery system of  claim 13  wherein the composition is applied as a substantially uniform continuous coating on the strip of material.  
     
     
         18 . The delivery system of  claim 13  wherein the strip of material is held in place by an adhesion means that is independent of the composition.  
     
     
         19 . The delivery system of  claim 17  wherein the amount of composition per square centimeter (cm) of material is less than about 1 gram/cm 2 .  
     
     
         20 . The delivery system of  claim 1  wherein the integral carrier is a tray.  
     
     
         21 . The delivery system of  claim 1  wherein the integral carrier is a sponge material.  
     
     
         22 . The delivery system of  claim 1  wherein the composition further comprises a dye, colorant, pigment, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         23 . The delivery system of  claim 1  wherein the composition further comprises an associative thickener.  
     
     
         24 . The delivery system of  claim 23  wherein the associative thickener is an acrylate/C10-C30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer.  
     
     
         25 . A method of increasing the efficacy of a bleaching agent in an aqueous oral care composition comprising: 
 1. combining an oral care delivery system comprising: 
 a. an integral carrier; and  
 b. a safe and effective amount of a composition comprising: 
 1. a safe and effective amount of a bleaching agent;  
 2. a safe and effective amount of a water insoluble solid phase; and  
 3. a safe and effective amount of a water soluble liquid phase;  
 
    wherein the ratio of the water insoluble solid phase to the water soluble liquid phase from about 1:4 to about 4:1; and    2. thereafter applying a safe and effective amount of the composition to a plurality of teeth of a subject in need thereof for a sufficient period of time to achieve whitening.