초록 ▼

Toothpaste and other dentifrices formulated to include a volume increasing agent (density reducing agent) in order to significantly increase the volume of the toothpaste at the time it is dispensed onto a toothbrush. The inventive dental compositions preferably include a substantial quantity of entr

Toothpaste and other dentifrices formulated to include a volume increasing agent (density reducing agent) in order to significantly increase the volume of the toothpaste at the time it is dispensed onto a toothbrush. The inventive dental compositions preferably include a substantial quantity of entrained air or other gas in order to reduce the density, and hence the weight, of toothpaste actually placed within a person's mouth. The result is a reduction in the amount of active ingredients introduced into a person's mouth that might be ingested. The entrained air or other gas can also increase the availability of the active ingredient since the foamed composition increases the dispersibility of the active ingredients within saliva. The net effect is that a person decreases the actual amount of toothpaste without decreasing the volume, or visual amount, of toothpaste dispensed on the toothbrush. The density-reduction effect can be augmented using a low density filler in addition to, or instead of, entrained gas. The inventive dentifrices might be pre-foamed with a storage container or formulated to foam in situ when dispensed from the storage container.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:] [1.] In the fluoride delivering dental method for a child, one having the tendency to apply too much fluoride toothpaste onto its child-sized toothbrush, to lay out a solid strip of fluoride toothpaste across the length

[ What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:] [1.] In the fluoride delivering dental method for a child, one having the tendency to apply too much fluoride toothpaste onto its child-sized toothbrush, to lay out a solid strip of fluoride toothpaste across the length of the tops of the bristles of its child-sized toothbrush, as adults do on the entire length of their adult-sized toothbrush, instead of a pea-sized quantity laid on the child's toothbrush, said pea-sized amount being typically about 1/3 the amount of toothpaste needed to fully cover the tops of the bristles an adult-sized toothbrush, whereby the ingestion of too much fluoride can lead to the development of fluorosis, causing brown mottled enamel, said fluoride toothpaste having a quantity of fluoride that while safe when ingested by an adult might be harmful if ingested by a child, said toothpaste tasting good to encourage brushing, said good taste having the negative side effect of enticing children to swallow the toothpaste while they brush, the taste having a tendency to cause children to swallow substantial amounts of fluoride toothpaste, the improvement comprising the steps of:(1) providing an expanded dental composition which comprises:(a) a base composition including a fluoride source, an abrasive solid, and a carrier selected from the group consisting of liquids, gels, and mixtures thereof; and(b) a gaseous component dispersed throughout the base composition and included in an amount in order to increase the volume of the base composition so as to yield the expanded dental composition, the expanded dental composition having a volume in relation to the base composition so that an amount of the expanded dental composition sufficient to substantially cover the tops of the bristles of a child-sized toothbrush provides a quantity of fluoride that does not significantly exceed the quantity of fluoride that would be provided by a pea-size quantity of the base composition absent the gaseous component; and(2) contacting a child's teeth with the expanded dental composition.