JP2015227362A - Dentifrice composition with reduced astringency - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a dentifrice composition which contains, in combination, a high level of soluble zinc and halogenated diphenyl ether as an antibacterial enhancing agent (e.g., triclosan), and is reduced in astringency, which is too strong in the prior art resulting in an unpleasant flavor.SOLUTION: A dentifrice composition comprises, in combination, a) an orally acceptable vehicle, b) a soluble zinc salt selected from zinc citrate, zinc acetate, zinc lactate and zinc gluconate, and c) a chelating agent, where the chelating agent is a polyvinyl phosphonate.

Description

Background Zinc ions are known to be effective antimicrobial agents. These ions provide the benefits of anti-gingivitis and anti-plaque and can improve breath and reduce sensitivity. In particular, zinc has been shown to have anti-plaque, anti-gingivitis and anti-calculus effects. Furthermore, zinc has been shown to be effective as an anti-odor agent.

  Dentifrice compositions have been developed that combine multiple therapeutic benefits by combining zinc and other active ingredients in a single composition. However, dentifrice compositions containing a combination of high levels of soluble zinc and a halogenated diphenyl ether (eg, triclosan) as an antibacterial enhancer can have an unpleasant taste for consumers due to increased astringency.

SUMMARY One object of the present invention is to provide a dentifrice composition comprising a combination of a halogenated diphenyl ether; a soluble zinc salt; and a chelating agent to reduce astringency. Another object of the present invention is to provide such a dentifrice composition comprising triclosan.

  A further object of the present invention is to provide such a dentifrice composition comprising a chelating agent for reducing astringency selected from the group consisting of: gluconate, citrate ( citrate, tartrate, anionic polymeric carboxylate, polyvinyl phosphonate, and phytate.

  It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method for the treatment and prevention of bacterial plaque accumulation comprising administering to the oral cavity a dentifrice composition comprising a combination of a halogenated diphenyl ether; a soluble zinc salt; and a chelating agent.

Detailed Description Ranges are used herein as a shorthand notation for describing any and all values within a range. Any value within the range can be selected as the end of the range. Moreover, all references cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. In the event that the definitions in this specification contradict the definitions in the cited references, the description in this specification prevails.

  In order to provide improved efficacy over current dentifrice formulations containing antibacterial potentiators in the areas of tartar control, clean breath benefits and plaque / gingivitis reduction, zinc and other substances such as triclosan It is desirable to use in combination.

  As described herein, a preferred embodiment of the present invention is a dentifrice that provides multiple therapeutic benefits by combining zinc ions, such as zinc citrate, and triclosan, with chelating agents to reduce astringency. Can be provided.

  Unless otherwise noted, all percentages and amounts set forth in this place and elsewhere herein should be understood to mean weight percentages and all measurements are taken at 25 ° C. It is. The amount stated is based on the active weight of the substance. The description of a specific value in this specification is intended to explain the error in the measurement, regardless of whether it refers to the amount of each component or other features of the embodiment. It is intended to mean a value that is plus the variability of, or a value that is minus the variability from that value. For example, an amount of 10% may include 9.5% or 10.5% considering the degree of error in the measurement that will be recognized and understood by those skilled in the art. All percentages used herein are by weight of the dentifrice composition unless otherwise noted. All unless otherwise noted.

  As used herein, an “effective amount” is sufficient to significantly induce positive benefits, preferably oral health benefits, but low enough to avoid serious side effects. That is, the amount of a compound or composition that provides a reasonable benefit-to-risk ratio within the sound judgment of those skilled in the art.

  The dentifrice composition of the present invention may be in the form of a toothpaste or dentifrice. The term “dentifrice” as used herein means a paste formulation or a gel formulation, unless otherwise specified. The dentifrice composition may be in any desired form, e.g. deep striped, surface striped, multilayer, with gel surrounding the paste, or any of these It can be a combination of

  A dentifrice composition is not intended to be swallowed in the normal course of administration for the purpose of systemic administration of a particular therapeutic agent, but for the purpose of oral activity and is substantially the surface of the tooth and / or oral tissue. A product that is held in the oral cavity for a time sufficient to contact all.

  As used herein, the term “carrier” means any material that is safe and effective for use in the compositions of the present invention. Such materials include thickeners, humectants, ionic active ingredients, buffers, anticalculus agents, abrasives, peroxide sources, alkali metal bicarbonates, surfactants, titanium dioxide, colorants. , Flavor systems, sweeteners, antimicrobial agents, herbal agents, desensitizing agents, stain reducing agents, and mixtures thereof.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a dentifrice containing both zinc and triclosan having different and complementary methods of action can be made, which can be achieved, for example, by the use of a dentifrice gum system comprising xanthan gum. it can. Dentifrices can use a high level of soluble or slightly insoluble zinc component, for example, by using a relatively high level of zinc citrate of 1 to 2% by weight based on the weight of the composition. A particularly preferred amount of zinc citrate for use against plaque and gingivitis is 2% by weight, based on the weight of the composition. However, such high levels of soluble zinc can present a taste problem for consumers due to increased astringency.

  Without being bound by any theory, the inventors of the present invention have shown that the addition of a relatively small amount of chelating agent to trap zinc ions does not significantly affect efficacy but improves consumer taste. We believe that the solubility / convergence of the formulation can be reduced to the desired level. Appropriate chelating agents can be selected that have been demonstrated to be triclosan compatible, as evidenced by triclosan stability and triclosan bioequivalence after aging.

  One example of the present invention is a dentifrice composition comprising a medium that is acceptable in the oral cavity; an antimicrobial agent, such as a halogenated diphenyl ether; a soluble zinc salt; and a chelating agent.

  A variety of antibacterial agents have been suggested in the art to delay plaque formation and oral infections and dental diseases associated with plaque formation. For example, halogenated hydroxydiphenyl ether compounds such as triclosan are well known in the art for their antibacterial activity and are used in oral compositions to combat plaque formation due to bacterial accumulation in the oral cavity.

  Based on anti-plaque efficacy and safety considerations, antibacterial halogenated diphenyl ether compounds useful for the preparation of the compositions of the present invention include 2,4,4'-trichloro-2'-hydroxy-diphenyl ether (triclosan) and 2,2'-dihydroxy-5,5'-dibromo-diphenyl ether. In one embodiment, the antimicrobial compound is 2,4,4′-trichloro-2′-hydroxy-diphenyl ether (“triclosan”).

  Non-limiting examples of other suitable antimicrobial compounds include phenol and its homologues, mono and polyalkyl and aromatic halophenols, resorcinol and its derivatives, and bisphenol compounds. Such phenolic compounds are fully disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,368,844. Phenol compounds include n-hexyl resorcinol and 2,2'-methylenebis (4-chloro-6-bromophenol).

  The antimicrobial halogenated diphenyl ether or phenolic compound is present in a therapeutically effective amount in the oral composition of the present invention. In one embodiment, the therapeutically effective amount ranges from 0.05% to 2% by weight, based on the weight of the composition. In another embodiment, the therapeutically effective amount ranges from 0.1% to 1% by weight based on the weight of the oral composition.

  The effectiveness of the antibacterial agent depends on the delivery of the antibacterial agent to the soft tissue area of the teeth and gingiva and the absorption by the tooth and soft tissue area. Thus, the present invention may include antibacterial agents and adhesive agents.

  Antibacterial enhancers can also be included in combination with antibacterial agents such as triclosan. One particularly preferred class of triclosan antibacterial enhancers includes a 1: 4 to 4: 1 copolymer of maleic anhydride or acid and another polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer. For example, one typical maleic anhydride copolymer includes a methyl vinyl ether / maleic anhydride copolymer having a molecular weight ("MW") in the range of 30,000 to about 5,000,000 g / mol, or 30,000 to 500,000 g / mol. . These copolymers are commercially available, for example under the trademark Gantrez, and are Gantrez AN 139 (molecular weight 500,000 g / mol), AN 119 (molecular weight 250,000 g / mol); and Gantrez S-97 pharmaceutical grade (molecular weight) from ISP Corporation. 700,000 g / mol). In one aspect, the maleic anhydride copolymer typically comprises a methyl vinyl ether / maleic anhydride copolymer having a molecular weight in the range of 30,000 to about 1,000,000 g / mol.

  The composition of the present invention further comprises at least one zinc ion source. The zinc ion source can be a soluble or slightly insoluble compound of zinc. Zinc ions have been found to be useful in gingivitis, reduced plaque and sensitivity, and improved breath benefit.

  Zinc ions are obtained from a metal ion source found in an effective amount in the dentifrice composition. An effective amount is defined as at least 1000 ppm, preferably 2,000 to 15,000 ppm zinc ions. More preferably, the zinc ions are present in an amount from 3,000 ppm to 13,000 ppm, even more preferably from 4,000 ppm to 10,000 ppm. This is the total amount of zinc ions present in the composition for delivery to the tooth surface. The zinc ion source is present in an amount of 0.25% to 11% of the weight of the final composition. Preferably, the zinc ion source is present in an amount of 0.4 to 7%, more preferably 0.45% to 5%.

  Examples of suitable zinc ion sources are zinc oxide, zinc sulfate, zinc chloride, zinc citrate, zinc lactate, zinc acetate, zinc gluconate, zinc malate, zinc tartrate, zinc carbonate, zinc phosphate, and US Patent No. Other salts described in US Pat. No. 4,022,880. The zinc salt may be present, for example, in an amount of 0.5 to 2.5% by weight based on the weight of the composition, typically 1 to 2% by weight based on the weight of the composition.

  In further examples, the invention includes a chelating agent such as gluconate, citrate, tartrate, anionically polymerizable carboxylate, polyvinyl phosphonic acid, or phytate. Preferably, the chelating agent is sodium phytate. The chelating agent can be present in an amount up to 1% by weight based on the weight of the composition.

  In one embodiment, the chelating agent selected is 12 sodium phytate, a generally considered safe “GRAS” component derived from inositol. Other chelating agents that are compatible with triclosan can also be used as described in the present invention. Some examples of these chelating agents are gluconate, citrate and tartrate, for example, rather than polyphosphate (which is not triclosan compatible).

  Anionic polymerizable carboxylates and polyvinyl phosphonic acids can also help scavenge free zinc. Any chelator considered should preferably not capture zinc ions to the extent that the product is no longer effective and is sufficient to capture calcium and promote enamel demineralization. It should not be strong (or present well in the formulation).

  In yet another example, the present invention includes polysaccharide thickeners such as xanthan gum and hydroxyethylcellulose. Thickeners provide the necessary rheological properties to the dentifrice so that the dentifrice can be stored in the dispensing container for a period of time and then reliably dispensed from the container by the user. The dentifrice must have the proper viscosity to not only be dispensed but also to show acceptable consistency in the mouth during brushing. Typical thickeners include modified celluloses such as carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), and other polysaccharide or gum components. Preferably, the polysaccharide thickener consists of xanthan gum present in an amount of 0.1 to 1.5 wt%, preferably 0.5 to 1 wt%, based on the weight of the composition. However, small amounts of additional thickeners such as carrageenin, gum tragacanth, starch, polyvinylpyrollidione, hydroxyethylpropylcellulose, hydroxybutylmethylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC sodium) and colloidal silica May be present. In one embodiment, the thickener concentration ranges from 0.1 wt% to 5 wt% based on the weight of the composition. In another embodiment, the thickener concentration ranges from 0.5 wt% to 2 wt% based on the weight of the composition.

  In a further example, the present invention includes a dentifrice composition comprising a chelating agent consisting of a medium acceptable in the oral cavity; triclosan; a soluble zinc salt; and sodium phytate. The chelating agent is present in an amount of 0.1 to 0.5 wt% based on the weight of the composition, the soluble zinc salt is present in the amount of 0.5 to 2.5 wt% based on the weight of the composition, and triclosan is 0.1% based on the weight of the composition. To 1 wt%.

  In another example, the present invention includes a method for the treatment and prevention of bacterial plaque accumulation comprising administering the dentifrice composition of the present invention to the oral cavity.

  The composition of this invention contains an essential component and an arbitrary component. The essential and optional components of the composition of the present invention are described in the following paragraphs.

  In preparing the compositions of the present invention, it is desirable to add one or more aqueous carriers to the composition. Such materials are well known in the art and are readily selected by those skilled in the art based on the physical and aesthetic properties desired for the composition being prepared. Aqueous carriers usually comprise 40% to 99%, preferably 70% to 98%, more preferably 90% to 95%, based on the weight of the dentifrice composition.

  In the preparation of oral compositions according to the practice of the present invention, there is an acceptable medium in the oral cavity that includes an aqueous phase with a humectant. Examples of the humectant include one or more of glycerin, sorbitol, propylene glycol, and mixtures thereof. In one embodiment, the water is present in an amount of at least 10 wt% based on the weight of the composition. In another embodiment, the water is present in an amount of at least 30 wt% to 60 wt%, based on the weight of the composition. In yet another embodiment, the concentration of humectant is typically 40-60 wt% of the oral composition in total.

  Dentifrice compositions, such as toothpastes and gels, typically also include an abrasive. In one embodiment, the abrasive includes crystalline silica having a particle size up to 20 microns, such as commercially available Zeodent 115 or Zeodent 165, silica gel or colloidal silica. In another embodiment, the abrasive includes a composition such as a complex amorphous alkali metal aluminosilicate, hydrated alumina, sodium metaphosphate, sodium bicarbonate, calcium carbonate, calcium pyrophosphate, dicalcium phosphate and A calcium diphosphate dihydrate is mentioned. In one embodiment, the abrasive is included in the dentifrice composition of the present invention in a semi-solid or paste form in an amount of 15 wt% to 60 wt%. In another embodiment, the composition of the present invention comprises an abrasive having a concentration in the range of 20 wt% to 55 wt% based on the weight of the composition.

  The oral composition can also include a source of fluoride ions or a compound that provides fluoride as an anticaries agent. In one embodiment, the fluoride ion composition is provided in an amount sufficient to provide fluoride ions in the range of 25 ppm to 5,000 ppm of the oral composition. In another embodiment, the fluoride ion composition is provided in an amount sufficient to provide fluoride ions in the range of 500 to 1500 ppm of the oral composition. Representative compounds that provide fluoride ions include inorganic fluoride salts, such as soluble alkali metal salts such as sodium fluoride, potassium fluoride, sodium fluorosilicate, ammonium hexafluorosilicate (ammonium). fluorosilicate) and sodium monofluorophosphate, and tin fluorides such as stannous fluoride and stannous chloride.

  Any suitable flavoring or sweetening material may be used in preparing the oral composition of the present invention. Examples of suitable flavor ingredients include flavor oils such as spearmint, peppermint, wintergreen, clove, sage, eucalyptus, marjoram, cinnamon, lemon and orange oils, and methyl salicylate. Suitable sweeteners include sucrose, lactose, maltose, xylitol, sodium cyclamate, aspartylphenylalanine methyl ester, saccharin and the like. Suitably, the flavoring and sweetening agents may each comprise 0.1 wt% to 5 wt% of the oral composition, or both.

  Treatment of various other substances such as white peroxide containing urea peroxide, calcium peroxide and hydrogen peroxide, preservatives, vitamins such as vitamins B6, B12, E and K, silicones, chlorophyll compounds, and dental sensitivity Potassium salts such as potassium nitrate and potassium citrate may be incorporated into the oral preparation of the present invention. These materials, when present, are incorporated into the compositions of the present invention in amounts that do not have a substantially deleterious effect on the desired properties and characteristics.

  The dentifrice composition dispenser can be a tube, pump, or any other container suitable for dispensing toothpaste.

  In practicing the present invention, in order to obtain a desired effect, such as whitening, clearing breath, caries prevention, pain relief, gingival health, calculus control, etc., the user can use the dentifrice composition of the present invention. The object need only be applied to the tooth surface of a human or lower animal in the desired area. Although benefits are believed to be best achieved when the dentifrice composition is applied to the teeth, the composition may be applied to other oral surfaces, such as gingival or mucosal tissue. The dentifrice composition may be in direct or indirect contact with the tooth and / or oral surface; however, it is preferred that the dentifrice composition be applied directly. The dentifrice composition may be applied by any means, but is preferably applied by rinsing with a brush or with a dentifrice slurry.

  Production of the oral composition of the present invention is accomplished by any of a variety of standard techniques for producing such compositions. To make a dentifrice, a medium containing a humectant such as one or more of glycerin, glycerol, sorbitol and propylene glycol, a thickener, and an antibacterial agent such as triclosan is prepared, and the medium and surfactant are Add, then mix abrasive and fluoride salt with the premix. Finally, add flavoring and adjust the pH between 6.8 and 7.

  The following examples are further illustrations of the invention, but it is understood that the invention is not limited thereto. All amounts and percentages set forth herein and in the appended claims are on a weight basis unless otherwise indicated.

Experimental Example Example 1:
The taste assessment of the prototype batch shows that the preferred level of sodium phytate for use in the dentifrice formulation of the present invention is 0.5% or less. The following table shows the level of soluble zinc (and long-term stability) in the three prototype formulations (0.25 and 0.5% sodium phytate):

  As shown above, by controlling the solubility of zinc (through chelation of excess zinc ions), the astringency of the formulation is reduced, thereby making the formulation more appealing to consumers, Optimization is no longer difficult. At the same time, as indicated above, the addition of phytate is soluble below the level determined to be effective (compared to comparative sample 3, which is a clinically tested 2% zinc citrate formulation). Does not reduce zinc.

SnF _2, are shown below the results of the zinc citrate and phytate (inositol hexaphosphate) formulations treated with hydroxyapatite (HAP) electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis for the disk (ESCA). The following table represents the average composition data for all samples of each treatment. Each sample is analyzed at two separate locations to confirm composition uniformity. Except for untreated controls, triplicate samples are analyzed for each treatment.

  The composition of the control HAP disc was typical of an untreated HAP surface. C concentration was low and N was not present on the surface. Ca, P and Mg were all observed in significant amounts, and P / Ca was consistent with that of the HAP disc. Saliva-treated HAP showed an increase in C and a significant surface N, suggesting the presence of surface proteins on the disk. Ca and P levels were reduced by the presence of the coating. In addition, the P / Ca ratio was slightly increased by phosphoric acid present in saliva.

  The disc treated with phytic acid also showed an increase in C and N due to the presence of salivary proteins on the surface. Ca and P were decreased by protein coating. In addition, a significant amount of Na was observed on the disk. Since the acid raw material is completely neutralized and actually becomes Na salt of phytic acid, the Na is derived from phytic acid. The P ESCA peak of phytic acid did not change from the P peak of HAP. Therefore, direct detection of phytic acid on HAP is not possible with ESCA. However, a significant increase in P / Ca was observed reflecting phytic acid deposition on the surface. Thus, detection of phytic acid on HAP by ESCA is only possible indirectly through an increase in P / Ca.

Samples treated with various toothpaste formulations showed an increase in C and N due to organics in the paste and saliva compared to untreated discs. The N level of the disc was lower than that in the saliva control, indicating that there was much less salivary protein on the treated disc. The Ca and P levels of the treated discs were lower than those of the untreated discs due to surface coverage with organic matter. The Ca / P concentrations in the base / SnF ₂ treated discs were higher than those in the other treated discs. The C concentration of the basic / SnF ₂ disk was lower than that of the other processed disks. The difference between such base / SnF ₂ discs and other discs may be due to the presence of citrate and / or phytic acid on the surface of the disc containing these components. F was detected on the surface of all treated samples. The concentration of F was highest in HAP treated with the basic / SnF ₂ formulation. The F concentration of the other disks was similar and within the range of data variation. The data did not suggest that phytic acid affects F deposition on the disk. Zn was detected on the surface of the disc treated with the formulation containing zinc citrate. The concentration of Zn on the disk varies slightly from sample to sample, indicating that each Zn-containing formulation deposits a similar amount of Zn on the disk surface. Phytic acid appeared to have no effect on Zn deposition. Sn was also detected in all processed samples. Sn concentrations were similar for HAP treated with a formulation without phytic acid and HAP treated with a formulation containing 0.25% phytic acid. Sn levels were slightly reduced in HAP treated with 0.5% or 1% phytic acid formulations. The data also suggests that Sn deposition decreases with increasing phytic acid concentration. That is, for formulations containing more than 0.25% phytic acid, phytic acid affects Sn deposition. Finally, the P / Ca ratio of the disc treated with the phytic acid formulation was slightly higher than that of the disc treated with the formulation without phytic acid. These results, together with slightly higher C concentrations of HAP treated with phytic acid formulations, suggest phytic acid deposition on the disk surface.

In order to provide further evidence of phytic acid deposition on the surface, static secondary ion mass spectrometry (sSIMS) is used to characterize the reference and treated HAP disks. However, because the molecular weight of phytic acid exceeds the mass range of the SIMS instrument, phytic acid deposition cannot be measured by molecular ion detection. Instead, detection of phytic acid needs to be accomplished by observing peaks in the mass spectrum of fragments of phytic acid molecules. Test of reference and treated discs reveals a dramatic increase in anionic phosphate peaks PO ^3- and PO ^{4- in} HAP treated with phytic acid formulation compared to discs treated with formulation without phytic acid It became. No specific mass peak was observed due to fragments of phytic acid molecules. Thus, the increase in phosphate ion peak intensity in samples treated with phytic acid formulations compared to a reference sample without phytic acid is used to provide further evidence of phytic acid deposition. In the test, a preparation having a phytic acid concentration in the range of 0 to 1% was used. Therefore, the phosphate peak intensity accompanying an increase in the phytic acid concentration in the preparation was also measured. A strong SO ³⁻ peak was observed in the anion mass spectrum from residual surfactant on the disk surface. Since the sulfuric acid peak was consistent in the intensity of each sample, it was used as a reference peak for measuring the phosphoric acid intensity. A table of the average PO ³ / SO ³ -peak intensity ratio of the treated discs and the phytic acid concentration in the formulation is shown below. The data shows an increase in intensity ratio with increasing phytic acid concentration. Therefore, the table shows that phytic acid is deposited on the surface and the amount of deposition increases with increasing concentration in the formulation.

  ESCA results show Sn and Zn deposition on the disk surface. Phytic acid in the formulation did not affect Zn deposition, but Sn deposition decreased with increasing phytic acid content in the paste. Both ESCA and sSIMS results suggest that phytic acid was deposited on the disc, and sSIMS data show that deposition increases with increasing phytic acid content in the paste.

Claims (18)

a) a medium acceptable in the oral cavity;
b) halogenated diphenyl ether;
a dentifrice composition comprising c) a soluble zinc salt; and d) a chelating agent.   The composition according to claim 1, wherein the chelating agent is at least one chelating agent selected from gluconate, citrate, tartrate, anionically polymerizable carboxylate, polyvinylphosphonic acid and phytate. .   The composition of claim 1, wherein the chelating agent comprises sodium phytate.   The composition of claim 1, wherein the chelating agent comprises 12 sodium phytate.   5. A composition according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the chelating agent is present in an amount up to 1% by weight, based on the weight of the composition.   6. A composition according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the chelating agent is present in an amount of 0.25 to 0.5% by weight, based on the weight of the composition.   The composition according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the halogenated diphenyl ether comprises triclosan.   8. A composition according to claim 7, wherein the triclosan is present in an amount of 0.1 to 1% by weight, based on the weight of the composition.   8. A composition according to claim 7, wherein the triclosan is present in an amount of 0.2 to 0.5% by weight, based on the weight of the composition.   The composition according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the soluble zinc salt comprises at least one zinc salt selected from zinc citrate, zinc acetate, zinc lactate, zinc chloride and zinc gluconate. .   The composition according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the soluble zinc salt comprises zinc citrate.   12. A composition according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the soluble zinc salt is present in an amount of 0.5 to 2.5% by weight, based on the weight of the composition.   13. A composition according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the soluble zinc salt is present in an amount of 1 to 2% by weight, based on the weight of the composition.   The composition according to any one of claims 1 to 13, further comprising a polysaccharide thickener.   15. The composition of claim 14, wherein the polysaccharide thickener comprises at least one thickener selected from xanthan gum and hydroxyethyl cellulose.   The composition of claim 1, wherein the halogenated diphenyl ether comprises triclosan and the chelating agent comprises sodium phytate.   The chelating agent is present in an amount of 0.1 to 0.5% by weight based on the weight of the composition, and the soluble zinc salt is present in an amount of 0.5 to 2.5% by weight based on the weight of the composition. And the triclosan is present in an amount of 0.1 to 1% by weight, based on the weight of the composition.   A method for treating and preventing bacterial plaque accumulation, comprising administering the dentifrice composition according to any one of claims 1 to 17 to the oral cavity.