Oral compositions for calculus retardation

Claim 1

A process for the intentional ingestion of an oral composition which is ingested with contact with exposed dental surfaces by humans or lower animals and which is effective in inhibiting the formation of dental calculus without adversely affecting tooth structure comprising intentionally ingesting a dental calculus inhibiting amount effective in amounts much too small to chelate any appreciable quantities of calcium, to retard the conversion of amorphous calcium phosphate to crystalline calcium hydroxyappatite, which amount is about 0.01% to about 10% by weight, of a physiologically acceptable polyamine polyphosphonate selected from the group consisting of those of the formula: ##STR2## wherein n is a number from 1 to 10, or a pharmaceutically acceptable water soluble salt thereof selected from the group consisting of alkali metal, ammonium and mono-, di- and tri-ethanolammonium salts; the pH of the oral composition being within the range of at least about 5.0 to about 11.0, in order to thereby avoid occurrence of damage to dental enamel below about pH 5.0 and in order to retard the development of dental calculus without removing calcium from dental enamel or otherwise damaging the tooth structure; said oral composition being free of sources of calcium which would yield enough soluble calcium to significantly impair the anticalculus activity of said polyphosponate.