Method of reducing staining of stannous in dentifrice compositions

• Main Authors: Glandorf, William Michael, Bacca, Lori Ann
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 23.12.2003

The present invention relates to a method of reducing the staining caused by dentifrice compositions containing stannous. The present inventors have discovered that the use of a polyphosphate will help to reduce the staining that is associated with stannous. It has also been discovered that certain polyphosphates, in particular, linear polyphosphates with average chain lengths of about 4 or more will reduce the staining of the stannous without reducing the efficacy of the stannous. Disclosed are methods for reducing the staining of dentifrice composition containing stannous comprising administering to a subject the dentifrice composition. The dentifrice composition is a dual phase dentifrice and is contained in physically separated compartments of a dentifrice dispenser. The first dentifrice composition comprises an effective amount of one or more linear polyphosphates having an average chain length of about 4 or more and has a total water content of up to about 20%. The second dentifrice composition comprises an effective amount of stannous ions. The molar ratio of polyphosphate anion to stannous ion is from about 0.2:1 to about 5:1 and the efficacy of the stannous ion in the dentifrice is not reduced by the polyphosphate. The dentifrice composition may alternatively be a single phase dentifrice. The single phase dentifrice will comprise an effective amount of one or more linear polyphosphates having an average chain length of about 4 or more and an effective amount of a stannous anion. The single phase dentifrice has a total water content of up to about 20%, the stannous ion is not delivered from stannous fluoride, a molar ratio of polyphosphate anion to stannous ion is from about 0.2:1 to about 5:1, and the efficacy of the stannous ion in the dentifrice is not reduced by the polyphosphate.