Anticalculus dentifrices

A method of inhibiting the formation of dental calculus, which comprises applying to the teeth a tooth powder consisting essentially of,

• a. from 50 to 95% by weight of sodium bicarbonate having a mean particle size of about 5 to 200.mu. in diameter as an anticalculus adjuvant and as a principal abrasive;
• b. from 2.5 to 15% by weight of an alkali metal pyrophosphate salt having a mean particle size of about 5 to 200.mu. in diameter;
• and
• c. a soluble fluoride ion source in an amount sufficient to supply from 25 to 5,000 ppm by weight, said tooth powder being effective to inhibit calculus formation, and being free of noticeably undesirably gritty solid pyrophosphate particles, objectionably tasting tetrapotassium pyrophosphate, and unpleasant slick mouth feeling polymeric polycarboxylate salts.

A tooth powder, consisting essentially of:

• a. from 82 to 95% by weight of sodium bicarbonate having a mean particle size of about 5 to 200.mu. in diameter as an anticalculus adjuvant and as substantially the sole abrasive;
• b. from 2.5 to 15% by weight of one or more alkali metal pyrophosphate salts having a mean particle size of about 5 to 200.mu. in diameter;
• and
• c. a soluble fluoride ion source sufficient to supply about 25 to 5,000 ppm fluoride ion, said tooth powder, when applied to the teeth, being effective to inhibit calculus formation, and being free of noticeably undesirably gritty solid pyrophosphate particles, objectionably tasting tetrapotassium pyrophosphate, and unpleasant slick mouth feeling polymeric polycarboxylate salts.