Plaque disclosing dentifrice compositions with solid microcapsules of dye

Claim 2

In a method for visualizing plaque formation in the oral cavity and for the self-evaluation and motivation of oral hygiene practices, said method comprising the introduction of a dental plaque disclosing substance into said oral cavity, the improvement therein comprising: (a) applying a portion of a diagnostic plaque disclosing dentifrice composition comprising: a continuous water soluble phase, and a discontinuous water insoluble phase dispersed in said water soluble phase; said water insoluble phase comprising selectively rupturable dye elements, with said dental plaque disclosing substance dispersed in said rupturable dye elements; wherein each of said selectively rupturable dye elements comprises a water insoluble substance, and wherein said water insoluble substance is a solid, said solid microencapsulating said plaque disclosing substance; to the teeth, so that said rupturable elements are adsorbed by plaque formations; and (b) brushing said composition on said teeth so as to rupture said rupturable elements and disclose said plaque formations with said plaque disclosing substance but without appreciably staining other parts of the oral cavity; without excessively staining the nondental portions of the oral cavity.

Claim 3

The method according to claim 1, wherein said improvement further comprises the subsequent step of further brushing said teeth with said composition so as to remove the plaque disclosed by said disclosing substance.

Claim 4

The method according to claim 1, wherein said application step comprises the application of a composition formed as a homogeneous paste, to the teeth.

Claim 5

The method according to claim 1, wherein said application step comprises the application of a composition formed as a homogeneous gel, to the teeth.

Claim 6

The method according to claim 1, wherein said application step comprises the application of a composition wherein said water soluble phase forms at least two-thirds, by weight, of said composition, to the teeth.

Claim 7

The method according to claim 1, wherein said application step comprises the application of a composition wherein said water soluble phase comprises water and at least one member selected from the group consisting of flavorings, nonstaining colors, sweeteners, alcohols, abrasives, humectants, thickening and emulsifying agents, fluorides and preservatives, to the teeth.

Claim 8

The method according to claim 1, wherein said application step comprises the application of a composition wherein said water insoluble substance is a substance derived from plant origin selected from the group consisting of resins derived from plant origin, Canadian balsam, Peruvian balsam, copal, mastic, rosin, and benzoin, to the teeth.

Claim 9

The method according to claim 1, wherein said application step comprises the application of a composition wherein said dental plaque disclosing substance is a member selected from the group consisting of FD & C Red No. 3, FD & C Yellow No. 5, FD & C Yellow No. 6, FD & C Green No. 3, FD & C Blue No. 1, and FD & C Blue No. 2, to the teeth.

Claim 10

The method according to claim 1, wherein said application step comprises the application of a composition wherein said water soluble phase comprises about 0.5 to 75% water, about 1 to 65% abrasives, about 0.05 to 5% thickeners and emulsifiers, and about 0.05 to 5% surface active agents, to the teeth.

Claim 11

The method according to claim 1, wherein said application step comprises the application of a composition wherein said water soluble phase comprises a conventional toothpaste.

Claim 12

The method according to claim 1, wherein said application step comprises the application of a composition wherein said water insoluble substance comprises at least one member of the class consisting of: polymerized acrylonitrile; butadiene and styrene monemers; acetal copolymers; acetal homopolymers; acrylic resins; allylic resins; amino resins; cellulosic resins; epoxy resins; fluoroplastic resins; Furan polymers; ionomer resins; nitrile barrier resins; nylon polymers; phenolic resins; phenylene-oxide based resins; poly (amide-imide) resins; polyaryl ethers; polyaryl sulfones; polybutadienes; polybutylenes; polycarbonates; polyesters; polyethersulfones; polyethylenes; polyimides; polyphenylene sulfides; polypropylenes; polystyrenes; polysulfones; polyurethanes; polyvinyl polymers and resins; silicones; salts of heavy metal cellulose sulfates; gelatin derivatives of which gelatin is the main radical; colloidal albumins; hydrolysed polyvinyl acetate; hydrolysed cellulose esters exemplified by cellulose acetate hydrolysed to an acetyl content of 19 to 26 percent; polyacrylamides; imidized polyacrylamides; polyvinyl alcohol; vinyl alcohol polymers containing urethane carboxylic acid groups, exemplified by vinyl alcohol-cyanoacetate vinyl copolymer; the polymer materials resulting from polymerizing proteins with monomers having a vinyl group; and naturally occurring and synthetic alginates, exemplified by salts of water soluble heavy metals such as sodium, potassium and magnesium, and combinations and mixtures thereof; to the teeth.

Claim 13

The method according to claim 1, wherein said application step comprises the application of a composition wherein said water insoluble substance comprises at least one member of the class consisting of: tributyl phosphate; poly (vinyl methylether/maleic anhydride) copolymer half amide, ammonium salt; polyethylene oxide; and ethylenemaleic anhydride copolymer, half ethyl ether, containing concentrated ammonia; to the teeth.