Thickener systems for oral care compositions and a method for preparing the same

An oral care composition comprising:

• i) a substantially anhydrous thickener system in the form of a gel comprising:
• (a) carboxymethyl cellulose, or a salt thereof, present in an amount from about 0.1% to about 2.0% of the thickener system;
• (b) a chelating agent consisting of disodium pyrophosphate, present in an amount from about 0.01% to about 2.0% of the thickener system;
• (c) hydroxyethyl cellulose, present in an amount from about 0.1% to about 1.0% of the thickener system;
• (d) a solvent or solvent system;
• and
• (e) water in an amount from about 0.1% to about 10% by weight of the solvent system,
• wherein the solvent system is first combined with the carboxymethyl cellulose or salt thereof, the hydroxyethyl cellulose, and the water and heated to an elevated temperature ranging from about 70° C. to about 120° C. before the chelating agent is added at the elevated temperature to form a gel;
• and
• ii) one or more acceptable oral acceptable additives.