Oral malodor is caused by an overgrowth of oral microorganisms that produce volatile sulfur compounds. This condition, known as halitosis, typically is treated by reducing the levels of microorganisms in the oral cavity to mask the odors. However, this approach poses a number of challenges, such as actives not reaching the target site due to rinsing.
In addition, products that meet consumer approval require good aesthetic effects, in addition to the cosmetic and therapeutic benefits. Unfortunately, many compositions in the art lack these various attributes.
Therefore, there is still a need for aesthetically pleasing products that allow odor-controlling actives to remain in the oral cavity for extended periods of time to reduce or eliminate halitosis. This challenge appears to be met by Colgate-Palmolive inventors, as a new patent application explains.
Multilayer film to control oral malodor
U.S. Patent Application 9504857
Publication date: Nov. 29, 2016
Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
This patent describes oral care compositions comprising an orally acceptable carrier, a film that consists of an odor-controlling active, a muco-adhesive polymer, a release-rate modulating polymer, a polymeric base and optionally, a flavorant. Specifically, the mucoadhesive polymer comprises 2% to 5% w/w of the mucoadhesive layer and the multilayer film comprises 0.1% to 5% w/w of the oral care composition.
The film itself consists of multiple layers to moderate the release of the odor-controlling active. The active is a zinc-containing compound selected from: zinc oxide, zinc citrate, zinc lactate, zinc chlorite, zinc chloride, zinc zeolite and a combination of two or more thereof.
Furthermore, the mucoadhesive polymer is selected from a polyacrylic acid or polyacrylate, a cross-linked polyacrylic acid or polyacrylate, a polyalkyl acrylate, a cross-linked polyalkyl acrylate, polyvinylpyrrolidone, a copolymer of polyvinylpyrrolidone and polyacrylate, chitosan or a chemically odified chitosan, and a combination of two or more thereof. The release-modulating polymer is polyvinyl acetate or hydroxyl ethyl cellulose.
