Oral Care Compositions With A Reduced Bitter Taste Perception

Abstract

An oral care composition with reduced bitterness containing polyquaternium-2, polyquaternium-17, and/or polyquaternium-18.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An oral care composition with reduced bitterness comprising:
 a. a polyquaternium selected from the group consisting of polyquaternium-2, polyquaternium-17, polyquaternium-18, and combinations thereof;   b. a bitter agent wherein the bitter agent is selected from the group consisting of a metal salt, an antimicrobial agent, a solvent, and combinations thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The oral care composition of  claim 1  wherein the bitter agent is the antimicrobial agent selected from the group consisting of cetyl pyridinium chloride, hops, zinc salt, peroxide, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The oral care composition of  claim 2 , wherein the antimicrobial agent is the zinc salt selected from the group consisting zinc chloride, zinc citrate, zinc oxide, zinc oxalate, zinc gluconate, zinc lactate, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The oral care composition of  claim 1  wherein the bitter agent is the solvent selected from the group consisting of propylene glycol, sorbitol, glycerin, xylitol, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The oral care composition of  claim 1  wherein the oral care composition is selected from the group consisting of dentifrice, mouthwash, whitening gel, denture cream, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The oral care composition of  claim 1  further comprising a surfactant wherein the surfactant is selected from the group consisting of sodium lauryl sulfate, cocoamidylpropyl betaine, alkyl phosphates, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The oral care composition of  claim 1  wherein an overall bitterness is reduced by at least about 25% as compared to an identical composition without the polyquaternium as determined by the in vitro Assay for Taste Receptors. 
     
     
         8 . The oral care composition of  claim 1  wherein an overall bitterness is less than about 6000 fluorescence units as determined by the in vitro Assay for Taste Receptors. 
     
     
         9 . The oral care composition of  claim 1  comprising from about 0.01% to about 1% polyquaternium. 
     
     
         10 . The oral care composition of  claim 1  comprising from about 0.05% to about 11% metal salt. 
     
     
         11 . The oral care composition of  claim 1  comprising from about 0.045% to about 1.0% antimicrobial agent. 
     
     
         12 . An oral care composition with reduced bitterness comprising: a polyquaternium selected from the group consisting of polyquaternium-2, polyquaternium-17, polyquaternium-18, and combinations thereof; wherein the oral care composition is a dentifrice. 
     
     
         13 . The oral care composition of  claim 12  wherein an overall bitterness is reduced by at least about 30% as compared to an identical composition without the polyquaternium as determined by the in vitro Assay for Taste Receptors. 
     
     
         14 . The oral care composition of  claim 12  wherein an overall bitterness is less than about 7000 fluorescence units as determined by the in vitro Assay for Taste Receptors. 
     
     
         15 . The oral care composition of  claim 12  comprising from about 0.01% to about 1% polyquaternium. 
     
     
         16 . The oral care composition of  claim 12  wherein the polyquaternium is polyquaternium-2.