Sulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) polymers as dental plaque barriers

An oral hygiene composition comprising an effective amount for preventing deposition of dental plaque on teeth of a sulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) polymer having a weight average molecular weight of from about 5,000 to about 200,000 and repeating units selected from the group consisting of structure (A),

• --Ar.sub.1 --SO.sub.2 --Ar.sub.2 --O-- (A)
• and structure (B),
• --Ar.sub.1 --SO.sub.2 --Ar.sub.2 --O--Ar.sub.3 --O-- (B)
• wherein Ar.sub.1 and Ar.sub.2 are each selected from ##STR17## provided further that Ar.sub.2 also can comprise one or more spacing units selected from --Ar.sub.4 --SO.sub.2 --Ar.sub.4 -- and Ar.sub.4 --SO.sub.2 --Ar.sub.4 --SO.sub.2 --Ar.sub.4 --, each Ar.sub.4 in said spacing units being separately selected from ##STR18## Ar.sub.3 is selected from Ar.sub.4 and ##STR19## where Y is selected from lower alkylene having 1-5 carbon atoms, lower alkylidine having 2-5 carbon atoms, ##STR20## O, S, and SO.sub.2 ;
• subscript c being an integer selected from 0, 1, and 2, the average quotient obtained by dividing the sum of the c's within each of repeating units (A) and (B) by the number of aromatic groups in said repeating unit being at least about 0.2;
• and M is selected from the group consisting of lithium, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, zinc, aluminum, hydrogen, ammonium, and substituted ammonium ions derived from pharmaceutically acceptable organic amines, in a pharmaceutically acceptable oral hygiene vehicle compatible with said polymer.