Anticalculus oral composition

Claim 1

In a method of effectively inhibiting crystal growth of hydroxyapatite associated with calculus by employing on teeth, without substantially decalcifying or otherwise damaging dental enamel, phosphono and carboxylic group-containing compounds, the improvement. characterized by the step of contacting the teeth in the oral cavity and then removing an oral mouthwash, toothpaste, gel or cream composition comprising an orally acceptable vehicle having a pH of about 4.5 to about 9, said composition being selected from the group consisting of such: A. Compositions containing in an effective amount, in the range of about 0.01% to about 10% by weight, as an anticalculus agent phosphonoformic acid or an orally acceptable salt thereof, and an effective anticaries amount, in the range of about 0.01% to about 3.0% by weight, of a fluorine-providing anticaries compound, and B. Compositions containing in an effective amount, in the range of about 0.01% to about 10% by weight, as an anticalculus agent phosphonoformic acid or an orally acceptable salt thereof, and devoid of an effective anticaries amount of a fluorine-providing anticaries compound.