Robert
HILL, et al.
Remineralization Toothpaste
The $3bn (£1.5bn) global market for toothpaste is on the verge
of a shake-up as new biotechnologies come through that not only
curtail sensitivity problems but will also enable teeth to
re-grow to fill in small cavities.
Today's toothpaste comes in a plethora of flavours and can of
course whiten teeth but from a medical viewpoint, little has
progressed in the 40 years since fluoride was added to fight
decay.
Now though scientists in various countries have developed
differing technologies that produce similar results to deaden
sensitivity and recalcify the teeth, problems that have
increasing significance as populations age.
Researchers have found fluoride ceases to be as effective with
older people. That's because the elderly have more difficulty
generating the large amounts of saliva – loaded with calcium and
phosphate - necessary to combine with fluoride to resist the
demineralisation of teeth.
Also, said Richard Bernholt, managing director of west
London-based dental care company Periproducts: "The older you
are the more likely you are to have gums receding and
sensitivity problems because of what you eat."
Periproducts, which sells Retardex products in the UK, has
licensed NovaMin technology from a Florida firm of the same name
and hopes to be the first company to have it formulated in a
retail brand in the UK later this year.
Periproducts plans to launch its new toothpaste in October at
the British Dental Trade Association exhibition at NEC
Birmingham. The company wants to get its as-yet-unnamed
toothpaste with dentists and into the retail chain before the
big names in oral hygiene – Colgate-Palmolive, GlaxoSmithKline,
Johnson & Johnson, Unilever and Procter & Gamble
reformulate their products with NovaMin or competing calcium
phosphate compounds.
Periproducts chose NovaMin because it had a long history of
successful clinical trials. "It's a product that actually
works," said Mr Bernholt.
It differs from market leader Sensodyne because it doesn't
deaden a tooth's nerve-endings but builds a calcium shell to
protect the nerves from potentially painful hot and cold
liquids. NovaMin repairs the tiny holes in teeth that allow the
pain to happen, instead of just covering the sensation of pain.
For its part NovaMin the company is in serious discussions with
two of the Big Five, said its CEO, Randy Scott. It is also
discussing licensing deals with another 50 or more companies
around the world and Mr Scott expects growth to explode in the
next nine to 12 months.
The genesis of the technology goes back to the Vietnam War era.
American scientists developed a material that helped in bone
regeneration for combat-wounded troops. Later two dental
scientists at the University of Maryland took that bioactive
compound and found a way to adapt the same technology for
renewing teeth.
That bioactive glass was eventually licensed by a company called
US Biomaterials, which then spun off NovaMin, the company, to
capitalize on what Scott says is a $2bn opportunity. The company
is backed with $8m in venture capital.
Ironically, interest in NovaMin has grown as competitors have
emerged with other types of calcium phosphate formulae. One such
product is Recaldent, which was developed at the University of
Melbourne in Australia.
Britain's Cadbury Schweppes has acquired the worldwide rights to
that technology but at the moment seems more interested in using
it in chewing gum than in toothpaste. The company says that last
year, largely driven by Recaldent gum, it was the fastest
growing gum company in Japan, which is the world's second
largest gum market.
Recaldent-based gums under Cadbury's Trident brand are also big
sellers in Thailand and Mexico.
The company has licensed companies in Australia and the US to
make dental products with Recaldent but spokesman Rowan Pearman
says there are no plans for such products in the UK.
He added though: "As more dental professionals become aware of
Recaldent and its benefits, you might expect the number and
variety of applications to increase exponentially."
MULTICOMPONENT
ORAL CARE COMPOSITION
CA2863674
Inventor(s): HILL ROBERT [GB]; COLLINGS ALAN J [GB]; BAYNES IAN
[GB]; GILLAM DAVID G [GB] +
Applicant(s): PERIPRODUCTS LTD [GB] +
Also published as: GB2499317 / WO2013117913
The present invention relates to a multicomponent oral health
care composition, comprising a source of a fluoride ion, a
source of a calcium ion, a source of a phosphate ion, and
stabilised chlorine dioxide, that can be used as a toothpaste,
oral spray or a mouth wash/oral rinse formulation. The different
components in the composition act synergistically together to
clean the teeth and mucous membranes of an oral cavity of a
subject, perfuming them or protecting them in order to keep them
in good condition, change their appearance or correct unpleasant
odours. They achieve this by inhibiting caries, promoting teeth
remineralisation, and helping to alleviate dentine
hypersensitivity, gingivitis and periodontal disease.
Multicomponent
Oral Care Composition
The present invention relates to a multicomponent oral health
care composition that can be used as a toothpaste, oral spray or
a mouth wash/oral rinse formulation. The different components in
the composition act synergistically together to clean the teeth
and mucous membranes of an oral cavity of a subject, perfuming
them or protecting them in order to keep them in good condition,
change their appearance or correct unpleasant odours. They
achieve this by inhibiting caries, promoting teeth
rernineralisation, and helping to alleviate dentine
hypersensitivity, gingivitis and periodontal disease.
Tooth mineral in humans and animals is based on calcium apatite,
Ca5(P04)3OH.
Natural tooth apatites are heavily solid substituted, and the Ca
cations in the crystal lattice may be replaced by, for example,
Sr<2+>, Mg<2+> or Zn<2+>, or by two
Na<+> cations. The phosphate (P04)<3"> anions may be
replaced by carbonate ions (C03<2">), with an associated
Na<+> cation replacing a Ca cation or the associated loss
of a hydroxyl ion (OH<">). The hydroxyl ion may also be
replaced by a fluoride ion (F<">). This latter
substitution occurs readily in tooth enamel and has several
beneficial effects. In the crystal structure of calcium apatite,
the hydroxyl ion is displaced slightly above the plane of a
triangle of Ca(II) ions (as depicted in Figure 3), whilst the
smaller fluoride ion sits in the centre of the Ca(II) triangle.
This results in hydroxyapatite (HA) having a slightly distorted
monoclinic crystal structure, whilst fluorapatite has a more
symmetric hexagonal crystal structure. This difference leads to
fluorapatite being:
i) More stable to acid dissolution and more resistant to the
acids produced bycaries forming bacteria; and
ii) Formed more readily, since fluorapatite has a lower
solubility product than hydroxyapatite.
As a consequence of these two factors, soluble fluoride salts
have been added to toothpastes, mouth rinses and drinking water
for over fifty years, and fluoride has a well- documented and
recognised role in anti-caries treatment. The use of fluoride as
a preventive measure is well established.
It is generally recognised that plaque that forms on teeth as a
result of the activity of bacteria is not completely removed by
the act of brushing teeth. The plaque may act as a reservoir for
fluoride in the mouth, where it is thought to form fluorite-like
species, such as calcium fluoride (CaF2). The accumulation of
dental plaque biofilms, whilst it may possibly be desirable as a
fluoride reservoir, is also the source of the acid-producing
bacteria that cause caries and gingivitis, which can progress to
become periodontal disease. Their presence is therefore
undesirable. However, fluoride becomes integrated within the
hydroxyapatite crystals, creating enlarged and less soluble
crystals. Because these crystals are less soluble and less
reactive, as they are more stable to acid dissolution and more
resistant to the acids produced by caries-forming bacteria,
dissolution of tooth structure by acid by-products of
microorganism metabolism cannot occur as readily. The action of
fluoride on hydroxyapatite crystals therefore makes it an aid in
the prevention or minimisation of dental caries and periodontal
disease.
In contrast, free fluoride in saliva is rapidly diluted by
salivary flow and exchange. Salivary flow rates vary enormously
from individual to individual and vary during the course of the
day, reducing almost to zero during sleep. Salivary flow rates
are typically about 0.25 to 1.2 ml/min during the day, while the
salivary volumes are typically about 1-10 ml. Additionally,
salivary flow rates are observed to reduce with age and with
smoking.
Fluoride uptake into enamel, and into incipient caries lesions
and the resulting formation of fluorapatite, is retarded by the
presence of plaque. The plaque acts as a barrier to fluoride
uptake. In the absence of plaque, fluoride uptake into enamel is
extremely rapid. It is important to note that remineralisation
requires a source of both Ca and P04 <"> ions in addition
to fluoride in order to form fluorapatite. Fluoride is proposed
to enhance the precipitation of fluorapatite crystals in
solutions containing calcium and phosphate and therefore tends
to prevent the demineralisation of teeth. Evidence has linked
fluorite to enhancing iron absorption. The calcium and phosphate
may come from the saliva itself. However, particularly in
individuals with low salivary flow rates, such as the elderly
and smokers, or during night times when salivary flow rates are
reduced, it is preferable to have an additional source of
F<">, Ca<2+>, and P04<3"> within the
toothpaste itself. This may be provided by soluble forms of
F<">, Ca , and P04 or more preferably particulate,
sparingly soluble forms that give rise to controlled release of
calcium and phosphate as a result of the particles adhering to
the teeth and gingivae and slowly dissolving. Examples include
bioactive glasses, and particularly hydroxyapatite.
Studies have demonstrated that oral gram-negative anaerobic
bacteria and several species of other oral bacteria can produce
volatile sulphur compounds (VSC), such as hydrogen sulphide
methyl mercaptan and dimethyl sulphide. Malodorous VSC are
generated primarily through the putrefactive action of oral
microorganisms on sulphur-containing amino acids, peptones or
proteins found in the oral cavity of a human or animal subject.
These substrates are readily available in saliva and dental
plaque, or may be derived from proteinaceous food particles, as
well as exfoliated oral epithelium food debris.
Stabilised chlorine dioxide (C102) is an aqueous solution
containing chlorite ions and stabilisers. The stabilisers may
comprise, for example, a carbonate or bicarbonate buffering
system. When the pH of stabilised chlorine dioxide falls below a
neutral pH, the molecular chlorine dioxide radical is released.
The chlorine dioxide has bacteriocidal and bacteriostatic
effects on the bacteria in the oral cavity of a human or animal
subject. Stabilised chlorine dioxide reacts with the cell walls
of microorganisms (changing the proteins and fats in the cell
wall membrane), acts as a strong oxidising agent (oxidising the
polysaccharide matrix that keeps the biofilm together) and
effectively kills pathogenic microorganisms such as fungi,
bacteria and viruses.
Chlorine dioxide has a well proven role in destroying the
bacteria involved in plaque formation, caries, gingivitis and
periodontal disease, as well as eliminating halitosis. As
chlorine dioxide destroys the plaque-forming bacteria, it is
particularly effective in plaque removal, in conjunction with
physical tooth brushing. Removal of this plaque will remove the
physical barrier to fluoride, calcium and phosphate ions being
able to reach the demineralised tooth surface, and thus promotes
and enhances remineralisation of the tooth surface.
However, there is always a need and a desire in the technical
field to provide oral care compositions which are more effective
still in effecting the minimisation of the amount of plaque
within the oral cavity and facilitating the remineralisation of
teeth.
Therefore, in accordance with the present invention there is
provided an oral care composition comprising:
i) A source of a fluoride ion;
ii) A source of a calcium ion;
iii) A source of a phosphate ion; and
iv) stabilised chlorine dioxide.
These components have, to date, never been employed together in
a single oral care composition. The combination of the
components is surprisingly able to exhibit a synergistic effect
over and above the effects observed when using each component on
an individual basis, or when using a composition which does not
contain all of the components.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the source of a
fluoride ion is typically a soluble fluoride salt. Exemplary
sources of fluoride ions which are envisaged by the present
invention include, but are not limited to, sodium fluoride,
potassium fluoride, disodium monofluorophosphate, tin (II)
fluoride (stannous fluoride), dipotassium fluorophosphates,
calcium fluorophosphates, calcium fluoride, ammonium fluoride,
aluminium fluoride, hexadecyl ammonium fluoride,
3-(N-hexadecyl-N-2-hydroxy- ethylammonio) ammonium difluoride,
N,N ,N -Tris(polyoxyethylene)-N-hexadecyl-
propylenediarrrinedihydrofluoride disodium hexafluorosilicate,
dipotassiumhexafluorosilicate, ammonium hexafluorosilicate,
magnesium hexafluorosilicate, or ammonium fluorophosphates, or
any combinations of two or more thereof.
According to one embodiment, the source of fluoride ions has a
concentration of fluoride between about 20 and about 1500 ppm as
fluorine.
The source of fluoride ions may have a concentration in the
range of between about 0.1% to about 3.0% (w/v) in the oral care
composition, typically between about 0.25% to about 2.0%) (w/v),
more typically between about 0.50% to about 1.5% (w/v), still
more typically between about 1.00% to about 1.2% (w/v).
According to another embodiment of the invention, both the
calcium ions and the phosphate ions are typically provided by an
apatite species, such as a nano-crystalline apatite.
Nano-crystalline is defined herein as where the crystallites
have a size of less than about 100 un.
In the present invention, the crystallite sizes of the apatites
are determined from X-ray diffraction line width data using the
Scherrer Line broadening method. In this method, the width at
half height of the 002 reflection ß002 is inversely proportional
to crystallite length in the c-axis direction (Cullity 1956) and
is given by the equation:
Where D is the crystallite size in nm; ? is the wavelength of
the incident X-rays, 0.154nm; ß002 is the width at half height
of the 002 reflection and cos6 is the cosine of the X- ray
incident angle (25.85°). The 002 reflection is a term well known
to a person skilled in the art, and is explained in, for
example, the textbook 'Elements of X-Ray Diffraction', (3rd
Edition); B.D. Cullity (2001); Addison- Wesley Chapter 2;
ISBN-10: 0201610914.
It is to be noted that this method neglects instrumental line
broadening which is negligible for small nm sized crystals, and
also neglects strain effects in the lattice and solid
substitution effects. It is the unique combination of fluoride,
calcium, phosphate, and stabilised chlorine dioxide, in one
single oral care composition, that is able to act
synergistically together to inhibit caries, promote
remineralisation of the teeth, and help with dentine
hypersensitivity, gingivitis and periodontal disease.
According to one embodiment, the composition contains an
appropriate buffering system. Exemplary buffer systems which are
envisaged by the present invention include, but are not limited
to, those comprising one or more of acetate, carbonate, citrate
or phosphate salts.
The oral care composition may be contained within, for example,
a toothpaste, oral spray or a mouth wash/oral rinse formulation,
or in any other formulation which may be used for the
improvement of oral hygiene. Such formulations will of course be
readily apparent to a person skilled in the art.
The oral care composition of the invention is able to achieve
remineralisation of incipient caries lesions much more
effectively than when the components therein are utilised
individually or separately. The fluoride source provides
fluoride ions for forming fluorapatite, whilst the
hydroxyapatite can provide both the calcium and phosphate ions,
and the chlorine dioxide kills the bacteria forming the plaque.
Use of this composition substantially elnriinates the plaque and
facilitates the uptake of Ca<2+>, P04<3"> and
F<"> ions into the tooth structure and enables
remineralisation to occur. The effect of the composition is
further enhanced when employed in combination with physical
brashing of the teeth.
According to another embodiment, the apatite is based on the
formula M5(P04)3X, wherein M may be Ca, Sr, Zn or Mg, and X may
be F, CI or OH. Specific apatite compounds used in accordance
with the invention may therefore include, but are not limited
to, substituted or unsubstituted hydroxyapatites, substituted or
unsubstituted fluorapatites, or substituted or unsubstituted
hydroxycarbonated apatites, such as calcium hydroxyapatite,
strontium hydroxyapatite, calcium hydroxycarbonated apatite,
strontium hydroxycarbonated apatite, calcium fluorapatite,
strontium fluorapatite, mixed strontium/calcium apatites or a
mixed hydroxyfluorapatite, zinc substituted hydroxyapatite, zinc
carbonated hydroxyapatite, zinc fluorapatite, or octacalcium
phosphate.
The stabilised chlorine dioxide solution may have a
concentration in the range of between about 0.05% to about 2.0%
(w/v) in the oral care composition, typically between about
0.075% to about 1.0% (w/v), more typically between about 0.10%
to about 0.5% (w/v), still more typically between about 0.12% to
about 0.2% (w/v), and/or may have a pH or be buffered to a pH of
between about 6.0 and about 8.0, typically between about 7.0 and
about 8.0.
When the composition is to be used as toothpaste formulation,
the source of fluoride ions may have a fluoride ion
concentration of between about 300 ppm and about 1500 ppm.
When the composition is to be used as mouth wash or oral rinse
formulation, the source of fluoride ions may have an active
fluoride ion concentration of between about 5 and about 500 ppm.
By 'active' fluoride ion concentration is meant the amount of
fluoride ion that is free and available for reaction and
involvement in the remineralisation process. Depending upon the
fluoride ion source used, this may be less than the total
fluoride ion concentration in the overall oral composition.
Also provided in accordance with the present invention is the
use of a stabilised chlorine dioxide solution in combination
with a source of calcium ions, a source of phosphate ions and a
source of fluoride ions, to generate gaseous chlorine dioxide
within the oral cavity without the use of extra oral sources of
acidification. The calcium ions and phosphate ions may be
provided together by an apatite species as detailed hereinabove.
According to another embodiment, the apatite may be present in
an amount of from about 0.5 to about 30 weight percent of the
oral care composition. Alternatively, or in addition, the
apatite may have a particle size distribution such that at least
about 3% of the mass of the particles have a size less than
about 5 microns and where the apatite has a crystallite size of
less than about 200 nm.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the apatite
may be present in an amount of from about 0.5 to about 25 weight
percent of the composition. Alternatively, or in addition, the
apatite particle size distribution may have at least about 15%
of the mass of the particles below about 5 microns and where the
apatite crystallite size is from about 30 to about 50 nm.
According to another embodiment, the apatite may be present from
about 0.5 to about 15 weight percent of the composition.
Alternatively, or in addition, at least about 50% of the mass of
the particles may have a particle size less than about 5
microns.
The composition of the invention may also contain other
components selected from one or more of a solvent, a thickening
agent or viscosity modifier, an abrasive, a flavour, an aromatic
component, a humectant, a sweetener, a carrier, a remineralising
agent, a film forming agent, a buffering agent, a cooling agent,
a pH adjusting agent, an oxidizing agent, and a colorant.
Exemplary such compounds which may be added to the composition
of the invention may include, but are not limited to, glycerol,
water, hydrated silica, cellulose gum, trisodium phosphate,
sodium saccharin, mentha extracts, citric acid, limonene,
linalool, and titanium dioxide.
According to one embodiment of the mouth wash or oral rinse
foraiulation of the invention, this formulation may also
comprise a linear polysaccharide polymer with a high yield value
that exhibits pseudoplastic flow to stabilise the HA in
suspension. Typically, a linear polysaccharide gum where one or
more hydroxyl groups on the monosaccharide is substituted with a
functional group that comprises a carboxyl group (R-COOH), an
acyl group (RCO-) or a sulphate group (R-OS03<">) is used.
Examples of such types of substituted polysaccharide include,
but are not limited to, algin, xanthan gum, gellan gum and
carrageenan.
Also provided in accordance with the present invention is the
use of an oral care composition in the cleaning of teeth and
mucous membranes of the oral cavity of a subject, perfuming them
or protecting them in order to keep them in good condition,
change their appearance or correct unpleasant odours.
A second aspect of the invention deals with dentine
hypersensitivity. Dentine hypersensitivity is felt when nerves
inside the dentin of the teeth are exposed, and results in pain
associated with mechanical stimuli, such as that caused by the
intake of hot or cold foodstuffs into the mouth. This typically
affects more than 40% of the population. It is a result of fluid
flow in exposed open dentinal tubules that results in pressure
changes that trigger nerve transmission within the pulp chamber
of a tooth. Dentinal tubules become exposed as a result of three
causes:
i) Gingival recession where the gums recede exposing the
dentine;
ii) Loss of the enamel as a result of caries or acid erosion; or
iii) Loss of the enamel as a result of abrasive wear
accompanying tooth brushing.
Treatment generally involves sealing or blocking the dentinal
tubules. This is often achieved using specialised toothpastes
that are designed to occlude the dentinal tubules. The dentinal
tubule openings are typically about 2-5 microns in diameter.
One way these tubules can be blocked is to precipitate a
material onto the surface over the top of the tubules. Another
approach, i.e. that used by the present invention, is to have
particles comparable in size to the openings of the dentinal
tubules, so the particles are able to enter into the tubules and
occlude them. It is important that there are sufficient
particles of the required size present to give effective numbers
penetrating the dental tubules.
Also provided in accordance with the present invention is an
oral care composition as defined herein above in the
remineralisation of teeth or in the treatment of dentine
hypersensitivity.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, there is
provided a method of cleaning teeth and mucous membranes of the
oral cavity of a subject, or perfuming them or protecting them
in order to keep them in good condition, comprising applying an
oral care composition as defined hereinabove.
According to another embodiment, the apatite may be present in
an amount of from about 0.5 to about 30 weight percent of the
oral care composition. Alternatively, or in addition, the
apatite may have a particle size distribution such that at least
about 3% of the mass of the particles have a size less than
about 5 microns and where the apatite has a crystallite size of
less than about 200 nm.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the apatite
may be present in an amount of from about 0.5 to about 25 weight
percent of the composition. Alternatively, or in addition, the
apatite particle size distribution may have at least about 15%
of the mass of the particles below about 5 microns and where the
apatite crystallite size is from about 30 to about 50 nm.
According to another embodiment, the apatite may be present from
about 0.5 to about 15 weight percent of the composition.
Alternatively, or in addition, at least about 50% of the mass of
the particles may have a particle size less than about 5
microns.
Also provided by the present invention is a toothpaste
comprising an oral care composition of the invention as defined
hereinabove. The apatite species in the toothpaste, such as a
nano-crystalline hydroxyapatite, comprises small crystallites
having a size of less than about 100 nm and a large surface area
to facilitate dissolution. However, the larger particles which
can occlude the dentinal tubules comprise many hundreds of
crystallites aggregated together to form an approximately
spherical particle with dimensions in the range 0.1 to 5
microns, and thus are similar in size to the openings to the
dentinal tubules.
Table 1 summarises the particle size data from a range of
nano-crystalline hydroxyapatites in terms of the D10, D50 and
D90 values which represent the volume fractions below the
specified values. It can be seen from the particle sizes in the
Table that they are of a similar size to the openings to the
dentinal tubules, and are therefore able to occlude dentinal
tubules.
Table 1
All carbonate contents were <1%, and are so low they are not
quantifiable. The carbonate detected is purely derived from
atmospheric contamination during synthesis.
The invention will now be described further by way of example
with reference to the following Figures which are intended to be
illustrative only and in no way limiting upon the scope of the
invention.
Figure 1
shows a scanning electron micrograph of open dentinal tubules.
Figure 2 shows a scanning electron micrograph of dentinal
tubules being blocked by precipitate of a material over the
top of the tubules.
Figure 3 shows a scanning electron micrograph of acid-
etched dentine. Figure 4 shows a scanning electron micrograph
of dentinal tubules following blocking with a composition
according to the invention.
Figure 5 shows the crystal structure of hydroxyapatite.
Figure 6 shows X-ray powder diffraction patterns of a
nano-crystalline hydroxyapatite (nHA) and of a
micro-crystalline hydroxyapatite.
Figure 7a shows an etched dentine surface of a
mid-coronal section of a human molar.
Figure 7b shows a mucin-coated dentine surface to mimic
biofilm.
Figure 7c shows a tooth surface after treatment with a
chlorine dioxide toothpaste according to the invention, but
containing silica powder instead of hydroxyapatite.
Figure 8 shows the hardness values of the tooth surfaceof
the molars after applying a toothpaste according to the
invention.
Figure 9 shows NMR spectra for enamel samples;
non-treated, demineralised and treated with a toothpaste
according to the invention.
Figure 10 shows NMR spectra for enamel samples
non-treated, demineralised and treated with a mouth wash
according to the invention.
Figure 11 shows a graph illustrating the amount of total
fluoride in a mouth wash according to the invention in
relation to the amount of active, or free, fluoride available
for remineralisation.
Figure 12 shows a graph illustrating the enamel weight
loss during the demineralisation and treatment with a
toothpaste according to the invention.
Figure 13 shows a scanning electron micrograph of a
dentine surface of a specimen treated for 1 day with a mouth
wash according to the invention (4 2 minutes of treatment,
followed by remineralisation).
Figure 14 shows a graph illustrating reduction in fluid
flow through dentinal tubules following tooth brushing with a
toothpaste according to the invention.
Figure 1 shows a scanning electron micrograph of open
dentinal tubules. One way these tubules can be blocked is to
precipitate a material onto the surface over the top of the
tubules. This is shown in Figure 2, which depicts a material (in
this instance, Colgate ProRelief) over the top of the tubules.
As can be seen, not many of the openings of the tubules are
blocked.
Figure 3 shows a scanning electron micrograph of acid etched
dentine, i.e. a molar tooth cut through the mid coronal section,
which has been acid etched using 6% citric acid for 2 minutes.
The tubules are clearly visible. The scanning electron
micrograph in Figure 4 shows these same tubules after a
composition according to the invention comprising 7.5 wt%
hydroxyapatite has been applied to the tooth. It can be seen
that the dentinal tubules are substantially blocked by the
particles in the composition, thus preventing the fluid flow
through the dentinal tubules and minimising pain for the
subject.
In Figure 5, the crystal structure of hydroxyapatite, it can be
seen that the smaller fluoride ion sits in the centre of the
Ca(II) triangle, while the hydroxyl ion is displaced slightly
above the plane of the triangle of Ca(II) ions.
In Figure 6, there is a comparison between the X-ray powder
diffraction patterns of a nano-crystalline hydroxyapatite (nHA)
and of a larger microcrystalline hydroxyapatite. It can be seen
that the diffraction pattern of the nHA shows pronounced line
broadening compared with that of the microcrystalline
hydroxyapatite. Using Sherrer line broadening analysis, the nHCA
has a crystallite size of 30 to 50nm.
Example 1
The method of manufacture of a typical toothpaste formulation
according to the invention may be carried out in accordance with
the following procedure:
To a vessel, purified water BP is added and stining commences.
Sodium saccharin, trisodium phosphate and sodium
monofluorophosphate are added and allowed to dissolve. Glycerin
and cellulose gum are premixed thoroughly and added to the main
vessel using high shear mixing. Hydrated silica, hydroxyapatite
and titanium dioxide are added and mixed under high shear until
a smooth homogenous paste is created. The vessel has a jacket
which is cooled with chilled water to ensure the contents remain
below 40°C.
Menthol, peppermint oil BP & spearmint oil BP are premixed
in a separate vessel to create the flavour blend. This is
subsequently added to the paste in the main vessel with mixing.
Chlorine dioxide 5% solution (proprietary blend) is added to the
paste with mixing, and the pH of the paste is adjusted to comply
with the specification using a citric acid/purified water BP
premix and adequate stirring.
The final toothpaste formulation contains 1250 ppm of chlorine
dioxide, 10900 ppm of sodium monofluorophosphate (which equates
to 1428 ppm of fluoride in the monofluorophosphate, calculated
by using the respective atomic and molecular weights of fluorine
and sodium monofluorophosphate, which are 19 and 145,
respectively), and 75000 ppm of hydroxyapatite. Example 2
The method of manufacture of a typical oral rinse or mouth wash
formulation according to the invention may be carried out in
accordance with the following procedure:
To a vessel, purified water BP/EP is added and is heated to 8o°c
(±5°C). The water is then stirred and recirculated through an
in-line high shear homogeniser.
Kelcogel HA (high acyl content gellan gum - a polysaccharide
consisting of glucose, rhamnose, and glucuronic acid repeat
units and with a substituent glycerate moiety on every glucose
unit and an acetate moiety on every second glucose moiety) and
Cekol 4000 (a carboxymethyl cellulose polymer, used to minimise
flocculation and aid bioadhesion) are pre-mixed in glycerol to
wet-out. The glycerol containing the pre-mix is then added to
the hot water. The resultant mixture is stirred and homogenised
for 15 minutes before cooling.
When the temperature of the water reaches <65°C, sodium
monofluorophosphate is then added to the vessel, followed by
sodium citrate, tridsodium citrate and sodium saccharin. The
introduction of Na<+> ions to the mixture causes the high
acyl content gellan gum to thicken and form a fluid, highly
mobile gel. The mixing and homogenising is continued.
When the temperature of the mixture in the vessel reaches
<55°C, hydroxyapatite is added. The stirring and homogenising
is continued until the mixture is fully dispersed and free from
lumps. The homogeniser is then turned off and the mixture is
stirred as it cools further.
In a separate vessel, a flavour pre-mix is prepared by adding
polysorbate 20, PEG-60 hydrogenated castor oil, Frescolat MGA
and Coolmint FL72627. These components are mixed thoroughly
until a clear solution is obtained.
When the temperature of the mixture in the vessel reaches
<40°C, sodium benzoate is added, and is allowed to fully
dissolve with mixing. The flavour pre-mix is then also added to
the main vessel, and the mixing continues.
When the temperature of the mixture in the vessel reaches
<35°C, chlorine dioxide solution is added. The homogeniser is
turned back on and the mixture is allowed to mix and homogenise
for at least 15 minutes.
Citric acid is then added, and the mixture is allowed to mix for
a further 15 minutes, to ensure that the pH of the product is
8.0-8.5. The homogenising and stirring then ceases, and the
resultant product is protected from exposure to sunlight.
The final mouth wash or oral rinse formulation contains 1250 ppm
of chlorine dioxide, 5000 ppm of sodium monofluorophosphate
(which equates to 655 ppm of fluoride in the
monofluorophosphate, again calculated by using the respective
atomic and molecular weights of fluorine and sodium
monofluorophosphate), and 50000 ppm of hydroxyapatite.
One of the key aspects of the present invention is the use of
chlorine dioxide combined with the use of an apatite and
fluoride. The chlorine dioxide role in the formulation is to
remove plaque and biofilm from the tooth surface and
particularly from exposed dentine surfaces; this serves to open
the dentinal tubules and facilitates the subsequent occlusion of
the dentinal tubules by the apatite particles. Conventionally,
in laboratory studies of dentinal tubule, occlusion of mid
coronal sections of human molars this is achieved using 6%
citric acid or 35% orthophosphoric acid. Chlorine dioxide
fulfils the same purpose within the toothpaste or oral rinse.
Figure 7a shows an SEM of a mid-coronal section of a human molar
treated with 6% citric acid for 2 minutes to open the dentinal
tubules then painted with a 2.5% solution of mucin, a common
salivary protein, air dried and then followed by a stabilisation
treatment with 10% formalin solution. The process was repeated
to produce a water stable protein biofilm. It can be seen
(Figure 7b) that following treatment the tubules are occluded
with the biofilm. A toothpaste based on Table 2, but where the
occluding agent in the formulation, hydroxyapatite, is replaced
by silica powder was then applied to the tooth surface for 2
minutes, followed by rinsing with distilled water. It can be
seen (Figure 7c) that the chlorine dioxide in the toothpaste
breaks down the protein layer and opens the dentinal tubules.
However, it must also be noted that the silica added to replace
the hydroxyapatite in the toothpaste acts in a negative manner
to partially occlude some of the dentinal tubules. Application
of formulations without the chlorine dioxide failed to result in
opening of the dentinal tubules.
One of the key aspects of the invention is the ability of the
apatite to work in conjunction with a source of fluoride to
promote ren ineralisation. This is particularly important with
regard to replacing lost tooth mineral due to acid erosion,
incipient caries, or to promote the conversion of the apatite
occluding the dentinal tubules to more durable fluoridated
apatite. This is illustrated by two techniques:
i) Surface micro-hardness measurements, since an increase in
mineral content results in an increase in hardness; or
ii) Direct evidence of the formation of the formation of
fluoridated apatite using <19>F solid state nuclear
magnetic resonance spectroscopy using enamel slices and
associated weight changes and fluoride measurements.
Quantification of the Enamel Remineralisation by Micro-hardness
Test
Studies were carried out according to the following experiment
protocol. Fifteen human molars were collected, disinfected,
embedded in resin, polished down to reveal longitudinal section
and finished with 1 micron diamond paste. Enamel hardness was
evaluated using a microhardness tester (Duramin-l/-2; Struers,
Copenhagen, Denmark) with a Vicker's indenter (a square pyramid
diamond shape indenter) under a load of 50 g for 15 seconds. 10
indentations per sample were taken. The two diagonal indentation
lengths were measured and then used for microhardness
calculation using the following equation:
F 1.85 F
HV
where F is in kilogram-force (kgf) , A is the area of the
point of the indenter, and d is the average length of the
diagonal left by the indenter in millimeters.
The teeth specimens were demineralised in a demineralisation
solution (pH = 4.5, 50 mM acetic acid to mimic an acidic
challenge during a caries attack) and the hardness was then
again measured.
The toothpaste of the invention was then applied to the tooth
surface and the hardness again measured. Figure 8 shows the
hardness values. Following the acid challenge the hardness
decreases significantly, but increases significantly after
exposure to the toothpaste providing clear evidence of
remineralisation.
F MAS-NMR
Study of the Fluorapatite Formation
Caries-free first molar and premolars were collected and stored
in 3% sodium hypochlorite solution for 24 hours. Teeth were
mounted in acrylic resin, and sliced using an annular diamond
blade (Microslice 2, Malvern Instrument, UK) to get enamel
sections (approximately 6 x 5 1 mm<3>). Excess dentine
area was removed by polishing against P600 silicon carbide
paper.
The enamel blocks were then rinsed off with de-ionized water,
dried in air for 30 minutes and weighed using a digital
microbalance. Each enamel section was immersed in 50 ml acetic
acid solution (0.1 M, pH = 4.0) and agitated at a rate of 60 rpm
in a 37°C incubator (KS 4000 I control, IKA) for 24 hours. The
enamel specimens were then immersed in the toothpaste according
to the invention, Ultradex Toothpaste (diluted 1 :10 with acetic
acid solution (pH = 4.0) to give a 0.1M final solution, to mimic
the real mouth situation), or in the mouth wash according to the
invention, Ultradex Recalcifying and Whitening Oral Rinse
treatment solution (diluted 1 :2 both with 0.2 M acetic acid
solution (pH = 4.0) to mimic the real mouth situation), placed
back in the incubator, and agitated at a rate of 60 rpm for 96
hours. After treatment, the enamel blocks were cleaned, dried
and weighed. The enamel weight loss was presented in
percentages. Enamel samples (no treatment, 24 hours
demineralised and demineralization followed by the treatments)
were ground to powder using a vibratory mill (MM200, Glen
Creston Ltd, UK) with a 25 ml zirconia grinding jar for 15
seconds under 20 Hz. The powder was then used for solid-state
NMR experiments using the 600 MHz (14. IT) Bruker spectrometer.
The <19>F solid state NMR measurements were run at the
resonance frequency of 564.7 MHz with a 2.5 mm rotor spun at 18
and 21 kHz. Spectra were obtained by overnight scans with 8
preliminary dummy scans and 60 seconds recycling delay. The
chemical shift was referenced using the signal from the 1M NaF
solution scaled to -120 ppm relative to the CF3C1 primary
standard.
The NMR. spectra showed flat lines for both the non-treated
enamel sample and the demineralised enamel sample (Figures 9 and
10).Therefore, there was no fluoride detected for both samples.
This indicated that no significant fluoride was present in the
original tooth samples. The spectra were then run for the
toothpaste and oral rinse samples. The toothpaste with both HA
and monofluorophosphate (MFP) showed the presence of
fluorapatite with a chemical shift of -103 ppm, the position
being almost identical to the chemical shift of the fluorine in
fluorapatite (-102 ppm), as did the toothpaste with MFP alone
treated samples. The HA toothpaste alone gave a very small
signal close to that of fluorite, which was probably present in
the original tooth. The oral rinse treated enamel sample showed
a broad peak centered at around -103 ppm, This demonstrates that
after demineralisation treatment, the Ultradex Recalcifying and
Whitening Toothpaste and Oral Rinse treatment of the invention
led to fluorapatite formation. The reference spectrum for the
fluorapatite was based on synthetic pure fluorapatite, which
demonstrates a distinct sharp peak with a chemical shift at -102
ppm. The apatite that comprises the tooth enamel is a solid
solution formed rather than stoichiometric. It could contain
different ions such as Magnesium (Mg ) and Manganese
(Mn<2+>) substituted for Ca<2+>, fluoride
(F<">) substituted for hydroxyl (OH<">), and
carbonate (C03 <">) substituted for phosphate (P04
<">). The crystal structure is therefore distorted. With
demineralisation and subsequent remineralisation, the
fluorapatite crystals formed could therefore be slightly
disordered. This may explain why the spectrum for the Ultradex
Recalcifying and Whitening Toothpaste and Oral Rinse of the
invention treated enamel showed broader peaks when compared with
the fluorapatite reference. Fluoride promotes remineralisation
and the fluorapatite formed is more acid resistant compared with
the hydroxyapatite and carbonated hydroxyapatite. However, high
concentrations of fluoride with insufficient phosphate ions may
result in the formation of the undesirable calcium fluoride
phase.
An Ultradex Recalcifying and Whitening Oral Rinse/mouth wash of
the invention contains 660 ppm F<"> in the form of
monofluorophosphate, with a 1:2 dilution, the total available
F<"> was 330 ppm. However, the actual available F<">
detected by a fluoride selective electrode (ORION 9609BN PH/ISE
meter model 710 A, USA) (Figure 11) was only 24.5 ppm. The
F<"> after the remineralisation was 19.5 and this gave an
F<'>loss of 5 ppm. This further confirms fluoride is being
incorporated into the apatite.
The weight loss of the sample toothpaste specimens are given in
Figure 12. Both MFP and HA acted to reduce weight loss and
enamel demineralisation. However the biggest reduction in weight
loss was found for the Ultradex Recalcifying and W tening Oral
Toothpaste treatment (z. e. the composition of Table 2). This
indicates that the fluoride acts synergistically with the HA to
inhibit demineralisation and promote remineralisation.
Further, the scanning electron micrograph in Figure 13 clearly
demonstrates that a tooth specimen that is treated over a period
using the mouth wash of the invention - in this case over 1 day,
with 4 lots of 2 minutes' worth of treatment with the mouth
wash, followed by the remineralisation - achieves the aim of
successfully occluding the dentinal tubules, and thus reduce
dentine hypersensitivity.
In Figure 14, it can be seen from the graph that there is a
reduction in fluid flow through dentinal tubules following tooth
brushing with a toothpaste according to the invention, thus
indicating that the tubules have been successfully blocked by
the action of the fluoride in the remineralisation process. This
is a test that is routinely used as a measure of the efficacy of
a hypersensitivity toothpaste.
Therefore, in summary, it can be seen that the composition of
the invention provides technical advantages over existing
formulations lacking any one of the defined components.
Application to the surface of teeth of formulations containing
no chlorine dioxide results in a failure to break down the
biofilm and open up the dentinal tubules to be filled, as
illustrated in relation to Figure 7c above. Application of
formulations containing no hydroxyapatite (i.e. a source of both
calcium and phosphate ions) and using another component instead
results in the opened tubules being undesirably partially
occluded, thus Mndering their refilling during the
remineralisation process, and thus hindering the treatment of
dentine hypersensitivity. Finally, it is clear that formulations
lacking any fluoride ion source would not be able to provide any
remineralisation of the tooth at all.
It is of course to be understood that the present invention is
not intended to be restricted to the foregoing examples which
are described by way of example only.
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