Oral care composition

Abstract

An aqueous composition with a higher-than-neutral pH includes a significant amount of one or more surfactants and large amounts of osmotically active solutes. This composition, as well as an acidic counterpart and solid materials, can be used in a variety of applications such as wound care, oral care, medical equipment reprocessing, healthcare acquired infection and implant treatment.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An oral care composition useful for treating a microbe-induced condition of the oral cavity of a subject in need thereof, said oral care composition consisting of (1) an oral rinse containing eucalyptol, thymol, menthol, and methyl salicylate in an alcohol vehicle, (2) an aqueous composition consisting of dissociation products of at least one acid and at least one salt of an acid in water, and (3) from 0.5 to 1.8 g/L of at least one surfactant. 
     
     
         2 . The oral care composition of  claim 1  having an osmolarity of at least about 300 mOsm/L. 
     
     
         3 . The oral care composition of  claim 2  having an osmolarity of at least about 500 mOsm/L. 
     
     
         4 . The oral care composition of  claim 3  having an osmolarity of at least about 700 mOsm/L. 
     
     
         5 . The oral care composition of  claim 1  wherein said at least one surfactant comprises a non-ionic surfactant. 
     
     
         6 . The oral care composition of  claim 1  wherein said at least one surfactant is a non-ionic surfactant. 
     
     
         7 . The oral care composition of  claim 1  wherein said at least one surfactant comprises an ionic surfactant. 
     
     
         8 . The oral care composition of  claim 1  wherein said at least one surfactant is an ionic surfactant. 
     
     
         9 . The oral care composition of  claim 8  wherein said cationic surfactant is present at from 0.75 to 1.5 g/L. 
     
     
         10 . The oral care composition of  claim 9  having an osmolarity of at least about 300 mOsm/L. 
     
     
         11 . The oral care composition of  claim 10  having an osmolarity of at least about 500 mOsm/L. 
     
     
         12 . The oral care composition of  claim 11  having an osmolarity of at least about 700 mOsm/L. 
     
     
         13 . The oral care composition of  claim 1  wherein said surfactant is present at from 0.75 to 1.5 g/L. 
     
     
         14 . The oral care composition of  claim 13  having an osmolarity of at least about 300 mOsm/L. 
     
     
         15 . The oral care composition of  claim 14  having an osmolarity of at least about 500 mOsm/L. 
     
     
         16 . The oral care composition of  claim 15  having an osmolarity of at least about 700 mOsm/L. 
     
     
         17 . A process for treating a microbe-induced condition of the oral cavity of a subject in need thereof, said process comprising administering to said subject the oral care composition of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         18 . The process of  claim 17  wherein said oral care composition has an osmolarity of at least about 300 mOsm/L. 
     
     
         19 . The process of  claim 18  wherein said oral care composition has an osmolarity of at least about 500 mOsm/L. 
     
     
         20 . The process of  claim 18  wherein said oral care composition has an osmolarity of at least about 700 mOsm/L.