Oral Care Composition

Abstract

The present invention relates to an oral care composition for use in the treatment or prevention of erosive tooth demineralization, plaque, and caries. This oral care composition includes zinc lactate dihydrate, a stannous ion source, at least one phosphate salt, and a buffer system.

1 . An oral care composition, comprising an orally acceptable carrier and:
 zinc lactate;   a stannous ion source;   a phosphate salt; and   a buffer system.   
     
     
         2 . The oral care composition of  claim 1 , wherein the zinc lactate is zinc lactate dihydrate. 
     
     
         3 . The oral care composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises zinc lactate in an amount of from 0.05% to 10% by weight of the composition. 
     
     
         4 . The oral care composition of  claim 1 , wherein the stannous ion source comprises stannous fluoride, stannous chloride, stannous formate, stannous acetate, stannous gluconate, stannous lactate, stannous tartrate, stannous oxalate, stannous malonate, stannous citrate, stannous ethylene glyoxide, or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The oral care composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a fluoride ion source. 
     
     
         6 . The oral care composition of  claim 1 , wherein the stannous ion source comprises stannous fluoride. 
     
     
         7 . The oral care composition of  claim 1 , wherein the stannous ion source is present in an amount of from 0.01% to 5% by weight of the oral care composition. 
     
     
         8 . The oral care composition of  claim 1 , wherein the phosphate salt is selected from the group consisting of alkali metal phosphate salts with one to six phosphate groups. 
     
     
         9 . The oral care composition of  claim 1 , wherein the phosphate salt is selected from sodium phosphate dibasic, potassium phosphate dibasic, sodium phosphate tribasic, potassium phosphate tribasic, tetrasodium pyrophosphate, tetrapotassium pyrophosphate, sodium tripolyphosphate, potassium tripolyphosphate, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The oral care composition of  claim 1 , wherein the phosphate salt is selected from sodium tetrasodium pyrophosphate and/or tripolyphosphate. 
     
     
         11 . The oral care composition of  claim 1 , wherein the amount of the phosphate salt is from 0.5% to 15% by weight of the oral care composition. 
     
     
         12 . The oral care composition of  claim 1 , wherein the buffer system comprises at least one of an organic acid or an alkali metal salt thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 12 , wherein the organic acid is citric acid. 
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 12 , wherein the buffer system comprises a mixture of citric acid and trisodium citrate. 
     
     
         15 . The oral care composition of  claim 1 , wherein the amount of water is from 10 to 40% by weight of the oral care composition. 
     
     
         16 . The oral care composition of  claim 1  which is a single phase composition. 
     
     
         17 . An oral care composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises:
 from 0.5 to 5% by weight of zinc lactate;   from 0.05 to 3% by weight of stannous fluoride;   from 0.5 to 10% by weight one of a phosphate salt; and   a buffer system.   
     
     
         18 . An oral care composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises:
 a) About 2.5% zinc lactate;   b) About 3.6% citrate buffer;   c) About 0.45% stannous fluoride;   d) About 3% sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP); and   e) About 2% tetrasodium pyrophosphate (TSPP).   
     
     
         19 . The oral care composition of  claim 1 , wherein the oral care composition is a toothpaste or dental gel. 
     
     
         20 . A method of treating or reducing dental enamel erosion, plaque, and caries comprising administering a composition according to  claim 1  to the oral cavity of a subject in need thereof.