Tooth whitening hydrogels

Abstract

This invention relates generally to compositions for whitening human teeth, and more particularly, to compositions that do not contain hydrocarbon humectants and which, when applied onto the surface of teeth, act to whiten without damage to tooth surfaces. It does contain a hydrogel, defined as a gel that does not contain a hydrocarbon humectant. A hydrocarbon humectant is defined as a carbon, hydrogen and oxygen compound which is used to prevent the oral care composition from hardening upon exposure to air or a carbon, hydrogen and oxygen compound which is used as a carrier for ingredients of an oral care composition. The tooth whitening of the present invention is free of a humectant and contains a peroxide, in combination with a mixed surfactant system; a mixed metal chelating system consisting of peptilytic condensed pyrophosphate chelating agent; an organic chelating agent, and a metal precipitating chelating agent; a catalase inhibiting compound and a non ionic polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene block copolymers surfactant thickening agent as hereinafter defined. As will hereinafter be illustrated, the oral compositions of the present invention are in the form of gels that exhibit better whitening effect, do not cause dental hypersensitivity and can be used both in the dental office and in-home brushing or splint applications.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.