Tooth whitening dentifrice

Claim 2

A stable hydrogen peroxide dentifrice free of abrasive constituents and having a toothpaste consistency, the dentifrice comprising about 0.2 to 10% by weight hydrogen peroxide tooth bleaching agent, about 0.25 to 4% by weight, carbomer 940 gelling agent, about 2 to 35% by weight, corn starch filler, a humectant, a sweetening agent, a surfactant, a preservative and a flavor.

Claim 3

A stable hydrogen peroxide dentifrice as constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein the humectant comprises about 5 to 30% by weight sorbitol.

Claim 4

A stable hydrogen peroxide dentifrice as constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein the sweetening agent comprises about 5 to 30% by weight sorbitol.

Claim 5

A stable hydrogen peroxide dentifrice as constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein the sweetening agent comprises about 0.2% by weight sodium saccharin.

Claim 6

A stable hydrogen peroxide dentifrice as constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein the surfactant comprises about 0.2 to 2% by weight sodium lauryl sulfate.

Claim 7

A stable hydrogen peroxide dentifrice as constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein the preservative comprises about 0.1 to 0.25% potassium sorbate.

Claim 8

A stable hydrogen peroxide dentifrice as constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein the preservative comprises about 0.1 to 0.25% sodium benzoate.

Claim 9

A tooth whitening dentifrice composition consisting essentially of, in percent by weight; ______________________________________ Corn Starch: 2 to 35% Sorbitol: 5 to 30% Hydrogen Peroxide: .2 to 10% Carbomer 940: .25 to 4% Flavor: .1 to 2% Sodium Lauryl Sulfate: .2 to 2% ______________________________________

Claim 10

A tooth whitening dentifrice composition consisting essentially of, in percent by weight; ______________________________________ Corn Starch: 2 to 35% Sorbitol: 5 to 30% Hydrogen Peroxide: .2 to 10% Carbomer 940: .25 to 4% Flavor: .1 to 2% Sodium Lauryl Sulfate: .2 to 2% ______________________________________

Claim 11

A tooth whitening dentifrice as constructed in accordance with claim 8 further including 0.2% by weight sodium saccharin.

Claim 12

A tooth whitening dentifrice as constructed in accordance with claim 8 further including water in an amount from 35% to 65% by weight.

Claim 13

A method of formulating the tooth whitening dentifrice as set forth in claim 10 comprising the steps of: a) mixing the carbomer 940 in a major portion of the water to form a first phase, b) separately mixing the sorbitol, the sodium saccharin and the flavor to form a second phase, c) mixing the first and second phases, d) adding the corn starch as a third phase and mixing until smooth, e) separately mixing the sodium lauryl sulfate and a preservative with the remaining portion of the water to form a fourth phase, f) mixing the fourth phase with the combined first, second and third phases and, g) adding the hydrogen peroxide as a fifth phase and mixing until well dispersed.

Claim 14

A method of formulating the tooth whitening dentifrice as set forth in claim 10 comprising the steps of: a) mixing and heating the carbomer 940, the sorbitol and approximately one-half of the corn starch with a major portion of the water until smooth and well dispersed to form a first phase, b) separately mixing the sodium saccharin and the flavor to form a second phase, c) mixing the first and second phases after cooling the first phase, d) adding the remaining corn starch as a third phase and mixing, e) separately mixing the sodium lauryl sulfate and a preservative with the remaining portion of the water to form a fourth phase, f) mixing the fourth phase into the mixed first, second and third phases, g) cooling the mixture of the first, second, third and fourth phases, and h) adding the hydrogen peroxide as a fifth phase and mixing until well dispersed.

Claim 15

A method of formulating a tooth whitening dentifrice as set forth in claim 12 wherein the first phase is heated to 80 degrees C.

Claim 16

A method of formulating a tooth whitening dentifrice as set forth in claim 13 wherein the first phase is cooled to approximately 45 degrees C. prior to adding the second phase and the third phase.

Claim 17

A method of formulating a tooth whitening dentifrice as set forth in accordance with claim 14 wherein the mixed first, second, third and fourth phases is cooled to 30 degrees C. prior to adding the hydrogen peroxide.