Anticalculus oral composition

Claim 1

A method of inhibiting dental calculus comprising applying to teeth a calculus-inhibiting amount of a dentifrice composition having a pH of about 4.5 to about 9 containing, in an orally acceptable vehicle, approximately by weight, 0.1 to 7% of one or a mixture of linear molecularly dehydrated polyphosphate salts selected from the group consisting of water soluble alkali metal pyrophosphates, tripolyphosphates and hexametaphosphates, a dentally acceptable silica polishing material, and for the purpose of inhibiting hydrolysis of P-O-P bonds in said polyphosphate salts by phosphatase enzymes in saliva to orthophosphates which are relatively ineffective as inhibitors of hydroxyapatite formation, an amount of a fluorine ion source sufficient to supply 25 ppm. to 2,000 ppm. of fluoride ions and 0.05% to 3% of a water-soluble alkali metal or ammonium synthetic anionic linear polymeric polycarboxylate salt having a molecular weight of about 1,000 to about 1,000,000 said composition when so applied to teeth being effective to inhibit dental calculus.

Claim 2

A method of inhibiting dental calculus comprising applying to teeth a calculus-inhibiting amount of a dentifrice composition having a pH of about 4.5 to about 9 containing, in an orally acceptable vehicle, approximately by weight, 0.1 to 7% of one or a mixture of linear molecularly dehydrated polyphosphate salts selected from the group consisting of water soluble alkali metal pyrophosphates, tripolyphosphates and hexametaphosphates, a dentally acceptable silica polishing material, and for the purpose of inhibiting hydrolysis of P-O-P bonds in said polyphosphate salts by phosphatase enzymes in saliva to orthophosphates which are relatively ineffective as inhibitors of hydroxyapatite formation, an amount of a fluorine ion source sufficient to supply 25 ppm. to 2,000 ppm. of fluoride ions and 0.05% to 3% of a water-soluble alkali metal or ammonium synthetic anionic linear polymeric polycarboxylate salt having a molecular weight of about 1,000 to about 1,000,000 said composition when so applied to teeth being effective to inhibit dental calculus.

Claim 3

A method effective for inhibiting dental calculus comprising applying to teeth a calculus-inhibiting amount of a toothpaste, gel or cream formulation made with, approximately by weight: (a) 2-6% of water soluble tetraalkali metal pyrophosphate, (b) an amount of a fluoride ion source sufficient to supply 300 ppm. to 2,000 ppm of fluoride ions, (c) 0.1 to 2% of a water soluble alkali metal or ammonium salt of a copolymer of vinyl methyl ether and maleic acid or anhydride having a molecular weight of about 30,000 to about 500,000, and (d) an orally acceptable vehicle containing water, humectant and about 10 to 75% of silica dental polishing material, said formulation when so applied to teeth being effective for inhibiting dental calculus.

Claim 4

A method effective for inhibiting dental calculus comprising applying to teeth a calculus-inhibiting amount of a toothpaste, gel or cream formulation made with, approximately by weight: (a) 2-6% of water soluble tetraalkali metal pyrophosphate, (b) an amount of a fluoride ion source sufficient to supply 300 ppm. to 2,000 ppm of fluoride ions, (c) 0.1 to 2% of a water soluble alkali metal or ammonium salt of a copolymer of vinyl methyl ether and maleic acid or anhydride having a molecular weight of about 30,000 to about 500,000, and (d) an orally acceptable vehicle containing water, humectant and about 10 to 75% of silica dental polishing material, said formulation when so applied to teeth being effective for inhibiting dental calculus.

Claim 5

A method effective for inhibiting dental calculus comprising brushing teeth with a calculus-inhibiting amount of a toothpaste, gel or cream formulation made with, approximately by weight: (a) 6% of water soluble tetraalkali metal pyrophosphate, (b) an amount of a fluoride ion source sufficient to supply 800 ppm to 1,500 ppm. of fluoride ions, (c) 1% of a sodium salt of a hydrolyzed copolymer of vinyl methyl ether and maleic acid or anhydride having a molecular weight of about 70,000, and (d) an orally acceptable vehicle containing water, humectant and about 10 to 75% of silica dental polishing material, said formulation when so used for brushing teeth being effective for inhibiting dental calcus.

Claim 6

A method effective for inhibiting dental calculus comprising brushing teeth with a calculus-inhibiting amount of a toothpaste, gel or cream formulation made with, approximately by weight: (a) 6% of water soluble tetraalkali metal pyrophosphate, (b) an amount of a fluoride ion source sufficient to supply 800 ppm to 1,500 ppm. of fluoride ions, (c) 1% of a sodium salt of a hydrolyzed copolymer of vinyl methyl ether and maleic acid or anhydride having a molecular weight of about 70,000, and (d) an orally acceptable vehicle containing water, humectant and about 10 to 75% of silica dental polishing material, said formulation when so used for brushing teeth being effective for inhibiting dental calcus.