GB644339A - Improvements in and relating to preparations for use in contact with the teeth - Google Patents

Abstract

Preparations for use in contact with the teeth and which depress the solubility of tooth enamel in acids, comprise an aqueous solution of an alkali metal or ammonium salt of a fluoride complex of a Group IV element of the Periodic Table having an atomic number from 22 to 72 inclusive, the said salt being stable in water and soluble therein to the extent of at least 0.05 per cent at 70 DEG F, and a flavouring material. Such fluoride complexes include potassium fluotitanate, fluohafniate and fluorgermanate, ammonium fluozirconate, sodium fluostannate and lithium fluozirconate. Flavouring materials include salt, sugar, saccharin, vanillin and essential oils such as peppermint, spearmint, cinnamon, anise and clove. The preparations may be in the form of tooth paste, tooth powder, liquid dentifrice, mouth wash or chewing gum. Preferred concentration of fluoride complex in such preparations is 0.2 to 2 per cent, except in the case of the mouth wash in which 0.1 to 1 per cent may be employed. The tooth preparations contain a non-toxic cleansing agent, which is stable in aqueous solution below pH7, and an abrasive such as calcium sulphate and pumice, such materials being compatible with the fluoride complex. Suitable cleansing agents are water soluble alkyl sulphonates, e.g., sodium lauryl sulphonate; salts of high molecular weight, mono-fatty acid esters of lower molecular weight, hydroxy alkyl sulphonic acids, e.g., sodium salt of the coconut oil, fatty acid monoester of 1,2-dihydroxy-propane-3-sulphonic acid and the oleic acid ester of the sodium salt of isethionio acid; salts of high molecular weight fatty acid amides of lower molecular weight amino alkyl sulphonic acids, e.g., potassium salt of oleic acid amide of N-methyl-taurine; salts of high molecular alcohol esters of sulphocarbonylic acids, e.g., sodium salt of the lauryl alcohol ester of sulphoacetic acid; salts of lower molecular sulphocarbonylic acid amides of alkylolamine amine esters of high molecular weight fatty acids, e.g., sodium salt of the sulphoacetamide of amino ethyl laurate; higher alkylated aromatic sulphonic acids, e.g., potassium salt of the sulphonic acid derived from the condensation product of benzene and a chlorinated kerosene fraction containing predominately 12 carbon atoms per molecule; ethers of higher molecular weight alcohols and lower molecular weight hydroxysulphonic acids, e.g., monolauryl ether of 1, 2-dihydroxypropane-3-sodium sulphonate and monolauryl ether of the sodium salt of isethionic acid; non ionic alkyl or alkyl-aryl polyglycol ethers (see Specification 380,431). Where the preparations can be buffered at not lower than pH6 without precipitating the fluoride complex sulphuric acid ester detergents may be employed. In the examples the compositions for a liquid dentifrice, mouth wash and topical application respectively contains ethyl alcohol, while a tooth paste contains glycerin and tragacanth, in addition to a selection from the above ingredients.