Dentifrice containing visible agglomerated particles of polishing agents

Abstract

Dentifrice containing visible, palpable and esthetically pleasing substantially water-insoluble agglomerated particles of polishing agents. The particles are reduced to smaller impalapable size by mild mechanical action such as by toothbrushing. The agglomerates include water-insoluble polishing agent such as insoluble sodium metaphosphate or dicalcium phosphate and may also contain a binding agent such as gum acacia, gelatin, starch, carboxymethyl cellulose or the like.

We claim: 
     
       1. A .Iadd.transparent .Iaddend.toothpaste comprising (I) a dental vehicle comprising water, a humectant and a gelling agent and (II) about 5-75% by weight of said .Iadd.transparent .Iaddend.toothpaste of visible, palpable particles of substantially water-insoluble agglomerated material consisting essentially of material selected from the group consisting of (a) water-insoluble dental polishing agent; (b) mixtures of about 75-98% by weight of water-insoluble dental polishing agent with (b-1) water-soluble binding agent, (b-2) water-soluble binding agent and a lubricant, (b-3) water-soluble binding agent and a non-abrasive diluent, and (b-4) water-soluble binding agent, a lubricant and a non-abrasive diluent; and (c) mixture of about 99% by weight of water-insoluble dental polishing agent with a lubricant. 
     
     
       2. The toothpaste claimed in claim 1 wherein said particles of agglomerated material have particle sizes between 420 microns and 840 microns. 
     
     
       3. The toothpaste claimed in claim 1 wherein said water-insoluble polishing agent is dicalcium phosphate. 
     
     
       4. The toothpaste claimed in claim 1 wherein said .[.toothpaste is transparent and said.].  dental vehicle has a liquid content of water and humectant of about 20-89.5% by weight of said toothpaste. 
     
     
       5. The toothpaste claimed in claim 4 wherein said dental vehicle contains as humectant sorbitol and as gelling agent sodium carboxymethyl cellulose. 
     
     
       6. The toothpaste claimed in claim 1 wherein said substantially water-insoluble agglomerated material consists essentially of a mixture of about 75-98% by weight of water-insoluble dental polishing agent with water-soluble binding agent,   water-soluble binding agent and a lubricant,   water-soluble binding agent and a non-abrasive diluent, or water-soluble binding agent, a lubricant and non-abrasive diluent.   
     
     
       7. The toothpaste claimed in claim 6 wherein said water-insoluble dental polishing agent is calcium carbonate. 
     
     
       8. The toothpaste claimed in claim 6 wherein said water-insoluble dental polishing agent is hydrated alumina. 
     
     
       9. The toothpaste claimed in claim 6 wherein said water-soluble binding agent is gum acacia. 
     
     
       10. The toothpaste claimed in claim 6 wherein said water-soluble binding agent is polyvinyl pyrrolidone. 
     
     
       11. The toothpaste claimed in claim 6 wherein said water-soluble binding agent is polyethylene glycol. 
     
     
       12. The toothpaste claimed in claim 11 wherein said substantially water-insoluble agglomerated material consists essentially of a mixture of about 75-98% by weight of water-insoluble dental polishing agent with water-soluble polyethylene glycol binding, agent and a lubricant or with   water-soluble polyethylene glycol binding agent, a lubricant and a non-abrasive diluent.   
     
     
       13. The toothpaste claimed in claim 6 wherein said water-insoluble dental polishing agent comprises an insoluble phosphate salt. 
     
     
       14. The toothpaste claimed in claim 13 wherein said insoluble phosphate salt is insoluble sodium metaphosphate. 
     
     
       15. The toothpaste claimed in claim 13 wherein said insoluble phosphate salt is dicalcium phosphate. .Iadd. 
     
     
       16.  A speckled transparent toothpaste comprising (I) a transparent dental vehicle including water, humectant and a gelling agent, and, blended therewith and dispersed therein, (II) individually visible palpable particles of substantially water-insoluble agglomerated material consisting essentially of individually invisible impalpable water-insoluble agglomerated powder particles of dental polishing agent, said powder particles being so agglomerated that said visible palpable particles retain their visibility and palpability in the toothpaste but are mechanically reduced to impalpability when the toothpaste is rubbed on the teeth during brushing with a toothbrush, the maximum amount of said palpable particles being about 75 percent by weight and the amount of said palpable particles being such that said toothpaste when viewed with the naked eye has the visual effect of having said palpable particles distributed therein, the content of dental polishing agent in said toothpaste being sufficient to provide a dental polishing action on use of said toothpaste, said toothpaste when viewed with the naked eye having the visual effect of being speckled by virtue of having said palpable particles distributed in said transparent vehicle. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 
     
     
       17.  Toothpaste as in claim 16 wherein said visible palpable particles are of a size to pass through a screen having uniform openings of 840 microns. .Iaddend. .Iadd.18. Toothpaste as in claim 16 wherein said agglomerated material further includes an agglomerating agent which is a binding agent or lubricant. .Iaddend. .Iadd.19. Toothpaste as in claim 18 wherein said agglomerated material further includes a non-abrasive diluent. .Iaddend. .Iadd.20. Toothpaste as in claim 16 wherein said agglomerated material further includes up to 10 percent by weight of a color dye or pigment. .Iaddend. .Iadd.21. Toothpaste as in claim 16 wherein said water-insoluble polishing agent constitutes the major portion of said agglomerated material. .Iaddend. .Iadd.22. Toothpaste as in claim 17 containing water-insoluble invisible polishing agent of particle size less than about 74 microns to increase polishing power beyond that provided by said 
     
     
        agglomerated powder. .Iadd.23.  Toothpaste as in claim 17 in which said visible palpable particles contain agglomerated powder particles of zirconium silicate polishing agent. .Iaddend. .Iadd.24. Toothpaste as in claim 23 in which water-insoluble polishing agent constitutes the major portion of said agglomerated material. .Iaddend. .Iadd.25. Toothpaste as in claim 18 in which the agglomerating agent comprises polyethylene glycol 6000. .Iaddend. .Iadd.26. Toothpaste as in claim 18 in which the 
     
     
        agglomerating agent comprises steric acid. .Iaddend. .Iadd.27.  A toothpaste as in claim 16 in which the amount of said palpable particles is up to about 50% by weight of sadi toothpaste and said visible palpable particles are of a size to pass through a screen having uniform openings of 840 microns. .Iaddend. .Iadd.28. A toothpaste as in claim 16 wherein said water-insoluble polishing agent constitutes the major portion of said agglomerated material, said toothpaste containing water-insoluble invisible polishing agent of particle size less than about 74 microns to increase polishing power beyond that provided by said agglomerated powder. 
     
     
        .Iaddend. .Iadd.29.  A transparent toothpaste comprising (I) a transparent dental vehicle including water, humectant and a gelling agent and, blended therewith and dispersed therein, (II) individually visible palpable particles of substantially water-insoluble agglomerated material consisting essentially of individually invisible, impalpable water-insoluble agglomerated powder particles of dental polishing agent, said powder particles being so agglomerated that said visible palable particles retain their visibility and palpability in the toothpaste but are mechanically reduced to impalpability when the toothpaste is rubbed on the teeth during brushing with a toothbrush, the amount of said palpable particles being such that said toothpaste when viewed with the naked eye has the visual effect of having all said palpable particles visibly distributed in said transparent vehicle, the content of dental polishing agent in said toothpaste being sufficient to provide a dental polishing action on use of said toothpaste, the amount of said water and humectant in said toothpaste being about 20 to 89.5% by weight of said toothpaste. 
     
     
        .Iaddend. .Iadd.30.  A toothpaste as in claim 29 wherein said water-insoluble polishing agent constitutes the major portion of said agglomerated material, said toothpaste contains water-insoluble invisible polishing agent of particle size less than about 74 microns to increase polishing power beyond that provided by said agglomerated powder, said dental vehicle is transparent and said toothpaste when viewed with the naked eye has the visual effect of being speckled by virtue of having said palpable particles distributed therein, the amount of said palpable particles being up to about 50% by weight of said toothpaste. .Iaddend. 
     
     
        .Iadd.31.  A toothpaste as in claim 16 in which said palpable particles are products prepared by a process in which pre-existing dry impalpable dental polishing agent powder articles are agglomerated together. .Iaddend. .Iadd.32. A toothpaste as in claim 31 in which said process comprises mixing said impalpable powder particles with an agglomerating agent which is a binding agent or lubricant. .Iaddend. .Iadd.33. A toothpaste as in claim 32 in which said agglomerating agent is a water-soluble binding agent. .Iaddend. .Iadd.34. Toothpaste as in claim 32 in which said agglomerating agent is a lubricant. .Iaddend. .Iadd.35. Toothpaste as in claim 32 in which said process comprises mixing said powder particles with said agglomerating agent to form a mass larger than said palpable particles and then subdividing said mass into said palpable 
     
     
        particles. .Iaddend. .Iadd.36.  A toothpaste comprising (I) a dental vehicle including water, humectant and a gelling agent, and, blended therewith and dispersed therein, (II) individually visible palpable particles of substantially water-insoluble agglomerated material consisting essentially of individually invisible, impalpable water-insoluble agglomerated powder particles of dental polishing agent, said powder particles being so agglomerated that said visible palpable particles retain their visibility and palpability in the toothpaste but are mechanically reduced to impalpability when the toothpaste is rubbed on the teeth during brushing with a toothbrush, the maximum amount of said palpable particles being about 75 percent by weight and the amount of said palpable particles being such that said toothpaste when viewed with the naked eye has the visual effect of having said palpable particles distributed therein, the content of dental polishing agent in said toothpaste being sufficient to provide a dental polishing action on use of said toothpaste, said impalpable powder particles being particles less than 10 microns in diameter and said dental vehicle being transparent or translucent so that all said agglomerated particles are visible to the naked eye. .Iaddend.