MXPA97009313A - Preparation of a visualmente gel dentiram - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to the preparation of a visually clear gel dentifrice comprising a precipitated silica polishing agent having a refrigerant index of about 1.44, a water-swellable synthetic amionic polycarboxylate polymer which is added in solid form and a carrier liquid comprising exorbital water wherein (a) when the total water content is from above 30% to about 33% by weight of said dentifrice, sorbitol on a pure basis is present in an amount of above 30% around 36% by weight of said dentifrice, (b) when the total water content is from about 27% to below 30% by weight of said dentifrice, sorbitol on a pure basis is present in an amount of about 20% by weight. below 30% by weight of said dentifrice and another humectant if present is in a pure amount of up to 15% by weight of said dentifrice and also by adding said liquid carrier about 1-4 % by weight of synthetic water-swellable synthetic ammonium polycarboxylate polymer in solid water

Description

THE SEPARATION OF A VISIONALLY CLEAR GEL DENTÍFRICO This invention relates to the preparation of an antiplaque gel dentifrice which is visually clear.

Toothpastes, which are usually clear, are attractive to consumers. Numerous visually clear products have been sold commercially as dentifrices.

Occasionally, as described, in the United States Patent No. 3,906,090 issued to Colodney, it is quite possible to achieve a very high degree of clarity and transfer in a gel tooth gel. Frequently, however, due to the need to apply amounts of balance and types of dentifrice components for optimum effectiveness and for cosmetic considerations other than translucency, clarity is sacrificed in gel dentifrice, while it is still translucent, it is translucent, cloudy or cloudy and not transparent. In truth, the gel dentifrice can be either pacified and not clear at all.

Prior art considerations to achieve a variety of clarity from turbid to translucency for high transparency have generally been based on the use of a dentifrice buffing agent having a refractive index of about 1.41 about 1.47, suitably balanced with water (refringent index of 1333) and humectant, more usually glycerin (refractive index 1473) and sorbitol (refractive index 1.457, as a 70% aqueous solution). Since the restraining index of the classes of siliceous polishing agents, the most frequently used type of polishing agents in gel dentifrices, is usually around 1.41 to about 1.47, even when the water ranges in dentifrices such as about 30% by weight have been described, the amount of water is generally kept low, say about 3% by weight, when the transfer is desired and not merely the turbid translucency.

An exception that allows more water to be used in clear gel dentifrices is described in U.S. Patent No. 4,877,602 to Uetmatsu et al., Wherein a special class of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose binder having a viscosity of 5-20 cps measured as 19% aqueous solution at 25 ° C is indicated to provide transfer to gel dentifrices wherein the vehicle components of the liquid can vary over a wide range.

In more recent years, water-swellable synthetic semionic polymeric polycarboxylates have been introduced into oral compositions, particularly as agents which improve the effectiveness to combat negative conditions such as tartar and plaque. In antiplaque dentifrices, a water-insoluble non-cationic antibacterial agent such as triclosan (2 ', 4,6' -trichloro-2-hydroxy-diphenyl ether) is desirably present. Such polycarboxylates are described in British Patent Publications 2235133A, 2227660A and 2200551A, issued to Colgate Palmolive Company in U.S. Patent 4,894,220 issued to Nabi et al., Whose descriptions of each are incorporated herein by reference. These descriptions establish guidelines for preparing visually clear antiplaque dentifrices wherein gel dentifrices containing a siliceous polishing agent are described; the ranges of broad water and humectant weight are indicated. This general guide and specific illustrative examples within its parameters can guide the craftsman to some visual translucence but not to high transparency.

In antiartar dentifrices such as US Pat. No. 4,627,977 issued to Gaffar and others whose description is incorporated herein by reference, and antiplaque dentifrices such as those of the aforementioned and incorporated British Patent Publications 2235133A; 2227660A; 2200551A and in U.S. Patent 4,894,220, polymeric materials have been described as present in a range of amounts up to about 3% or 4% by weight.

In practice, it has been observed that high visual clarity has been difficult to achieve when the amount of polymer is at least about 1% by weight, and particularly when it is present in amounts of about 2% by weight or more. Indeed, even the liquid carriers described in US Pat. No. 4,877,602 have not been employed in conjunction with the water-swellable polymers which markedly affect the liquid carrier.

Such high visual clarity was achieved for the gel dentifrice containing about 1% or 2% by weight or more of the synthetic water-swellable amionic polycarboxylates and a polishing source having a refractive index of about 1.41 to 1.47 in the Los Angeles patent. United States of North America 5,252,313 and in its continuing patent of the United States of North America 5,354,550 with use of particular levels of liquid vehicle, which is about 25-30% by weight of water and about 30-45% by weight of pure humectant with at least about 30% by weight of pure sorbitol being present.

It is an advantage of this invention that excellent visual clarity is achieved in a dentifrice containing a synthetic amionic polymer swellable in water in dry form. amount of about 1-4% with a particular liquid vehicle when the polishing agent is a precipitated silica having a refractive index of about 1.44, this is 1.435 1. 444. The liquid carrier according to this invention includes a water-sorbitol combination different from that of US Pat. Nos. 5,252,313 and 5,354,550 to provide gel dentifrice with superior visual clarity.

Other advantages of the invention will be apparent from the consideration of the following description.

According to certain aspects thereof, this invention relates to a method for preparing a visually clear gel dentifrice which comprises adding to a liquid vehicle about 5-50% by weight of a precipitated silica polishing agent of dentally acceptable dentifrice. having a refractive index of about 1.44, about 0.1-10% by weight of a gelling agent to provide a gel consistency to the toothpaste, said liquid vehicle comprises water and sorbitol wherein (a) when the total water content is about 30% about 33% by weight of said dentifrice, sorbitol on a pure basis is present in amounts of about 30% of about 36% by weight of said dentifrice, (b) when the total water content is from about 27% to below 30% by weight of said dentifrice, sorbitol on a pure basis is present in an amount of about 20% up to below 30% by weight of said toothpaste and another humectant is present, is in a pure amount of up to 15% by weight of the dentifrice and also adds to said liquid carrier about 1-4% by weight of the synthetic amionic polycarboxylate polymer swellable in solid water.

The silica polishing agent precipitated from dentally acceptable dentifrice has a refractive index of about 1.44, this is from 1435 to 1444. Such precipitated silica is currently available from J.M. Huber Corporation under the Zeodent® brand. It is notable that visually transparent gels are not satisfactorily obtained when the liquid phase of the gel dentifrice is in accordance with the present invention but the precipitated silica polishing agent is a Zeodent® silica which has a refractive index of 1.45.

The polishing agent is present in an amount of about 5-50% by weight, preferably about 10-30% and more preferably about 15-25%.

The water has a refractive index of 1,333. Since this is essentially lower than the refractive index of the polishing agent, low amounts of water, for example about 3% by weight, have usually been employed when high visual clarity is desired. However, since the synthetic amionic polymeric water-swellable polycarboxylate is swollen and hydrated by water and more when the polymer is present in an amount of at least 1% by weight, substantial amounts of water have been used in such formulas Indeed, in such formulas, 35% of water has been used to hydrate about 1-2% by weight of said polymer.

In the present description it has been found that in a gel dentifrice containing about 5-30% by weight of precipitated silica polishing agent having a refractive index of about 1.44, a particular balance of liquid carrier components, specifically water and sorbitol even when outside of the parameters of US Pat. Nos. 5,252,313 and 5,354,550, allows the polymer to be hydrated satisfactorily while still providing a refractive index of the liquid vehicle so that that of the gel dentifrice It is highly transparent.

The liquid vehicle of the dentifrice comprises about 30% about 33% by weight of the total water of about 30% about 36% by weight of pure sorbitol or about 27% up to about 30% by weight of total water and about from 20% to below 30% by weight of pure sorbitol. Sorbitol is the main or only humectant component. This is commercially available in an aqueous solution of 70% (refractive index of 1457) and is employed in an amount such that as the aqueous solution of 70% it is present in an amount by weight corresponding to about 31 to below about 42.7. %, corresponding around 22% to less than 30% by weight of pure sorbitol. When the total water content is above 30% about 33% by weight, preferably about 32% about 33%, about 30% about 36% by weight, preferably about 33.5% to about 36% of pure sorbitol is present. When the total water content is about 27% to below 30% by weight, preferably about 29% to 29.8%, about 20% about 36% by weight, preferably about 20% about 24% by weight. weight the sharp sorbitol is present. Other humectants may be present or, if present, they are in an amount up to % by weight on a pure basis preferably of about 3-15%. These include glycerin (typically available in an aqueous solution of about 99% about 99.7%), propylene glycol, polyglycol gly and polyethylene glycol. Glycerin (Refractive index of 1473) is preferred. It is preferred not to use the polyethylene glycol when the non-cationic antibacterial agent is present which is essentially insoluble in water, such as triclosan.

The water-swellable synthetic amionic polymeric polycarboxylate having a molecular weight of about 1,000 about 1,000,000, preferably about 30,000 of about 500,000 is used in optimizing the anticalculus effectiveness of the molecularly linear rehydrated phosphate salts, as described in U.S. Patent 4,627,977 issued to Gaffar et al. and already incorporated.

The water-swellable synthetic amionic polymeric polycarboxylates are preferably used as a partially or completely neutralized water-swellable alkali metal salt (or ammoniums) but can also be used as their free acids. These are incorporated in the liquid carrier as solids, that is, in dry form, for example as powders. Preferably these are copolymers of maleic anide or maleic acid of 4: 1 to 1: 4 with another polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer, which is most preferably methyl vinyl ether, and the copolymer will have a molecular weight in the range of about 5,000. -2,000,000, preferably around 30,000-1,500,000, more preferably around 50,000-1,100,000 and more preferably around 50,000-100,000, was determined by the vapor pressure osmometry. A preferred range of molecular weights, by gel permeation chromatography against a polyethylene glycol standard is about 500,000-1,500,000, more preferably about 1,000,000-1,100,000, for example about 1,090,000. The AN3® Solid classes of GAF AN 169, AN 139 are useful, AN 119 and S-97 pharmaceutical class. The polycarboxylates of Gantrez have been reported by their manufacturer as having molecular weights of around 750.00, 500,000, 250,000 and 70,000, respectively, but by gel permeation chromatography (against a polyethylene glycol standard) determinations Pharmaceutical S-97 is of a molecular weight in the range of about 1,000,000-1,100,000 (the lowest molecular weight of 70,000 was determined by vapor pressure osmometry). Polymers such as Gantrez polymers are incorporated in gel dentifrices in solid form. The Gatreces mentioned are all linear copolymers. However, crosslinked polymers, such as those sold under the Carbopol trademark, of B.F. Goodrich, for example, Carbopoles 934940, and 941 can be replaced, at least in part (for example by about 1% or more).

Other water-swellable polymeric polycarboxylates include the 1: 1 copolymers of maleic anhydride with ethyl acrylate, hydroxyethyl methacrylate, N-vinyl-o-2-pyrrolidone. or ethylene, the latter being available for example as Monsanto EMA No. 1103, 10,000 molecular weight and EMA class 61, and 1: 1 copolymers of acrylic acid with methyl or hydroxyethyl methacrylate, methyl or ethyl acrylic acid with methyl or hydroxyethyl methacrylate , methyl or ethyl acrylate, isobutyl vinyl ether or N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone.

Additional water-swellable polymeric polycarboxylates include copolymers of maleic anhydride with styrene, isobutylene or ethyl vinyl ether, polyacrylic, polyhitaconic and polymaleic acids, and sulfoacrylic oligomers of a molecular weight as low as 1,000 available as Uniroyal ND-2.

Also generally suitable are olefinic or ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids containing an olefinic double bond of carbon to activated carbon and at least one carboxyl group, which is an acid containing an olefinic double bond which functions easily in the polymerization due to its presence in the monomerol molecule either in either the alpha-beta position with respect to the carboxyl group or as part of the terminal methylene group. Acrylic, metracrylic, heptacrylic, alpha-chloroacrylic, crotonic, beta-acryloxypropionic, sordic, alpha-chlorosordic, synnamic, beta-steryl acrylic, muconic, heptaconic, sitraconic, esoaconic, glutaconic, aconitic, alpha-phenylacrylic, 2-benzylacrylic, 2-cycloexilacrylic, angelic, umbelic, fumaric, maleic acids and anhydrides. Other different soliagenic monomers copolymerizable with such carboxylic monomers include vinyl acetate, vinyl chloroleate, malleable dimethyl, and the like. The copolymers contain sufficient carboxylic salt groups for water solubility.

The synthetic amionic polymeric polycarboxylate component is primarily a hydrocarbon with an optional halogen and substituents containing -0 and linkages as present in, for example, the ester, ether and OH groups and when present is used in the present compositions in amounts by weight about 1-4% by weight on its pure base or polycarboxylate, preferably about 2-3%, more preferably about 2-2.5%.

When, as in the present invention, in water-swellable synthetic anionic polymeric polycarboxylate is used in an amount of at least 1% by weight, it is highly desirable to employ a non-cationic antibacterial agent essentially insoluble in water as written in the Publications. British Patent Documents 2235133A, 2227660A, and 2200551A; and in the United States of America patent 4,894,220 for antiplaque effectiveness. These include halogenated diphenyl ether such as triclosan and 2,2'-dihydroxy-5-5'-dibromo-diphenyl ether as well as the phenolic compounds, including phenol and its homologs, mono and poly-alphenols of alkyl and aromatics, resorcinol and its bisphenolic derivatives and compounds. The resorcinol hexyl is particularly valuable to mention. Other types include halogenated salicialinides, benzoic esters and halogenated carbanilides. When present, the antibacterial agent was employed in an effective antiplaque amount, typically about 0.01-5% by weight, preferably about 0.3-0.5%.

Optionally, the molecularly linear hydrophobic polyphosphate salt anticalculus agent may also be present or alternatively present in an amount of about 0.1-7% by weight, preferably about 2-5%. These include the ammonium or alkali metal salts (for example of potassium or preferably sodium) soluble in total or partially neutralized water such as sodium hexametaphosphate, sodium tripolyphosphate, diacid disodium pyrophosphate, trisodium monoacid pyrophosphate, trisodium monoacid pyrophosphate , tetrasodium pyrophosphate and tetrapotassium pyrophosphates as well as mixtures. When both the non-cationic antibacterial agent essentially dissolvable in water and the polyphosphate salt are present it is desirable that the ratio by weight of polymeric polycarboxylate to polyphosphate be at least about 1.6: 1 to about 2.7: 1.

The gel dentifrices have their gel consistency provided by a natural or synthetic binder, a thickener or a gelation agent in proportion to their from about 0.1 to about 10% by weight, preferably from about 0.5 to about 5%.

Suitable thickeners include Irish moss, carrageenan iota, tragacanth gum, starch, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, hydroxyl ethyl propyl cellulose, hydroxybutyl methyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose (for example available as in Natrosol), sodium carboxymethyl cellulose and colloidal silica as finely divided siloid (for example 244). Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose is preferred, even including the classes having a viscosity above 20 cps measured as an aqueous solution of 1% 25oC, for example, CMC-7MF and CMC-7MFX available from Hercules.

It will be understood that as is conventional, gel dentifrice preparations are to be sold or otherwise to be distributed in appropriately labeled collapsible tubes, typically aluminum, covered core or opaque or transparent plastic, another pressurized jet or squeeze pump to dose the contents, having a label that will describe in substance the product as a toothpaste or gel dentifrice.

Organic surfactants are used in the compositions of the present invention to achieve the enhanced prophylactic action, helping to achieve a complete and complete dispersion of the anticalculus agent through oral quality, and to make the present compositions more cosmetically acceptable. The organic surfactant material is preferably amionic, nonionic or afolithic in nature, and it is preferred to use a depersive material as the surfactant which in part to the composition depersive and foaming properties. Suitable examples of the ammonium refractants are the water-soluble salts of monoglyceride monosulfates of higher fatty acid, such as the sodium salt of the monosulfated monoglyceride of hydrogenated coconut oil fatty acids, higher alkyl sulfates such as sodium sulfate, arylalkyl sulfonates such as the sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate, the higher alkyl sulphoacetates, the higher fatty acid esters of 1,2-dehydroxypropane sulfonate, and the substantially saturated higher aliphatic asyl amides of lower aminoalisatic carboxylic acid compounds, such as those having 12 to 16 carbons in the fatty acid, alkyl or asyl radicals, and the like. Examples of the aforementioned amides are N-lauroyl sarcosine and the sodium, potassium and ethylamine salts of N-lauroyl, N-midistoil, or N-palmitoyl sarcosine which must be essentially free of soap or an acid material higher fat similar. The use of these sarcosine compounds in the oral compositions of the present invention is particularly advantageous since these materials exhibit a prolonged and marked effect in the inhibition of acid formation in the oral cavity due to the breakdown of the carbohydrate in addition to exerting some reduction in the solubility of the enzyme in the acid solutions.

Examples of the water-soluble nonionic surfactants are the condensation products of ethylene oxide with various compounds containing reactive hydrogen which react with them having the long hydrophobic chains (for example, aliphatic chains of about 12 to 20 carbon atoms) whose condensation products ("ethoxymers") contain hydrophilic polyethylene groups, such as the condensation products of poly (ethylene oxide) with fatty acids, fatty alcohols, fatty amides, polyhydric alcohols (for example sorbitan monostearate) and polypropylene oxide (for example pluronics materials).

Various other materials may be incorporated into the gel dentifrices of this invention such as condoms, silicones, other anticalculus agents, water-soluble t.intes, iridescent particles and / or ammoniated material such as urea, ammonium phosphate, and mixtures thereof. These auxiliaries, where they are present, are incorporated into the preparations in amounts which do not substantially adversely affect the desired properties and characteristics.

Any suitable sweetening or flavoring material can also be employed. Examples of suitable flavoring constituents are flavoring oils, such as, for example, peppermint oil, peppermint, pyrex, zazafras, clove, sage, eucalyptus, marjoram, cinnamon, lemon and orange, and methylpolysacrylate. Suitable sweetening agents include sucrose, d-tryptophan, dihydrochalcones, sodium cyclamate, perillartin, APM (aspartyl phenyl alanine, methyl esters), saccharin and the like. Suitably, the flavor and sweetener agents can together comprise from about 0.1% to 5% or more of the preparation.

Gel dentifrices can be prepared by mixing solid materials with liquids to obtain the consistency of the gel with uniform appearance or with rays. The polycarboxylate is mixed in solid, this is dry, such as a powder form. Gel dentifrices typically have a PH of about 4.5 to 9, generally about 5.5 to 8, preferably about 6 to 8.

The following examples are further illustrative of the nature of the present invention but it is understood that the invention is not limited thereto. All amounts of proportions mentioned herein and in the appended claims are by weight unless otherwise indicated.

EXAMPLE 1 The following gel dentifrice was prepared by the Viscarin dispersant in glycerin and adding the Gantrez S-97 to the dispersion, followed by the addition with mixing of the sorbitol solution, polyethylene glycol, deionized water and color solution and then the sodium fluoride. , sodium saccharin and tetrasodium pyrophosphate. The composition was then heated to 60 ° C at which time the sodium hydroxide solution was added and heating was stopped. The composition is mixed for an additional 10 minutes and transferred as a gel to a Ross mixer in which the Zeodent is added to the gel and mixed for about 20 minutes under a complete vacuum. Finally laurensodium sulfate and flavor are added with mixing for 10 minutes under complete vacuum. Parts Glycerin (99.5% solution) 14 .925 Glycerin 0 .075 Water Sorbitol (70% solution) 22 .195 Sorbitol 9 .512 Water Polyethylene glycol 600 3,000 Viscarine (Irish Moss) 0 .850 Sodium Floride 0 .243 Sodium Saccharin 0 .300 Polyvinylmethyl ether / maleic anhydride-Gantrez S-97 1, .500 Sodium Hydroxide (50% solution) 0. .500 Sodium Hydroxide 0., 500 Water Tetrasodium pyrophosphate 2,000 Precipitated silica-Zeodent-refractive index 1,440 23,000 Lauryl Sodium Sulphate 1,200 Flavor 0.950 Color solution (blue FD &C-1%) 0.002 Color 0.148 Water Deionized water 19.00 Total water 29,235 Parties The gel dentifrice is and remains very transparent.

The calculated refractive index of the components of the liquid vehicle, water, glycerin, polyethylene glycol 600, and 705 of sorbitol is 1.4271. Gel dentifrice has high visual clarity. An essential part of water hydrates the inflatable Gantrez copolymer. When the Zeodent silica with a refractive index of 1450 replaces the Zeodent silica with a refractive index of 1440, the gel dentifrice is turbid.

EXAMPLE 2 The following highly clear gel dentifrice was prepared according to the procedure set forth in Example 1 to mix liquids with solids.

Parts Sorbitol (70%) 34,095 Sorbitol 14,612 Water PO IETILEN GLIOOL 600 3,000 Viscarine (Irish Moss) 0.850 Sodium Fluoride 0.243 Sodium Saccharin 0.300 Polyvinylmethi1 Ether, Alendric Anhydride-Gantrez S-97 1.500 Sodium Hydroxide (50%) 0.500 Sodium Hydroxide 0.500 Water Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate 2,000 Precipitated Silica-Zeodent 113 23,000 Lauryl Sodium Sulphate 1,200 Flavor 0.950 Color Solution (FD &C blue-1%) 0.002 0.148 Deionized Water 17,000 Total Water 32,260 Parts In variants of the examples given above, highly clear gel dentifrices including triclosan and propylene glycol are prepared.

This invention has been described with respect to certain preferred embodiments and it will be understood that modifications and variations thereof obvious to those skilled in the art should be included within the scope of this application and the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (19)

1. A method for preparing a visually clear gel dentifrice comprises adding to a liquid vehicle about 5-50% by weight of a dentally acceptable dentifrice precipitated silica polishing agent having a refractive index of about 1.44, about 0.1-10% by weight of a gelling agent to provide a gel consistency to said dentifrice, said liquid carrier comprises water and sorbitol wherein (a) when the total water content is above 30% about 33% by weight of said dentifrice , sorbitol on a pure basis is present in the amount of above 30% about 36% by weight of said dentifrice, and (b) when the total water content is from about 27% to below 30% by weight of said dentifrice sorbitol on a pure basis is present in an amount of from about 20% to below 30% by weight of said toothpaste, and another humectant if present, is in a clear amount of up to 15% by weight of said dentifrice and also to add to said liquid vehicle about 1-4% by weight of the dentifrice of a synthetic anionic polycarboxylate polymer swellable in solid water.

2. The visually clear gel dentifrice as indicated in clause 1 characterized in that said precipitated silica has a refractive index of 1435 to 1444.

3. The visually clear dentifrice as indicated in clause 1 characterized in that said polishing agent is present in an amount of about 10-30% by weight.

4. The visually transparent gel dentifrice as indicated in clause 2 characterized in that said precipitated silica polishing agent is present in an amount of about 15-25% by weight.

5. The visually clear gel dentifrice as indicated in clause 3 characterized in that the total water contents are above 30% around 36%.

6. The visually clear toothpaste as indicated in clause 4 characterized in that the total water content is around 32% around 33% and sorbitol on a pure basis is present in an amount of about 33.5% at about of 36%.

7. The visually clear gel dentifrice as indicated in clause 3, characterized in that the total water content is around 27% to below 30% by weight and sorbitol on a pure base is present in an amount of 20% by weight. around 24% by weight.

8. The visually clear gel dentifrice as indicated in clause 7 characterized in that the total water content is around 29% around 29.8% and sorbitol on a pure basis is present in an amount of about 20% around 24% by weight.

9. The visually clear gel dentifrice as indicated in clause 1 characterized in that said liquid carrier comprises up to about 15% by weight of an additional humectant material.

10. The visually clear gel dentifrice as indicated in clause 9 characterized in that said additional humectant material comprises about 3-15% by weight of at least 1 glycerin, propylene glycol, polypropylene glycol and polyethylene glycol.

11. The visually clear gel dentifrice as indicated in clause 10 characterized in that said additional humectant material comprises glycerin.

12. The visually clear gel dentifrice as indicated in clause 1 characterized in that about 0.1-7% by weight of a molecularly hydrated polyphosphate salt anticalculus agent is also present linearly.

13. The visually clear gel dentifrice as indicated in clause 12 characterized in that said polyphosphate salt is present in an amount of about 2-5% by weight and is tetrasodium pyrophosphate.

14. The visually clear gel dentifrice as indicated in clause 13 characterized in that said liquid carrier comprises up to about 15% by weight of an additional liquid humectant material which is at least one of glycerin, propylene glycol, polypropylene glycol and polyethylene glycol.

15. The visually clear gel dentifrice as indicated in clause 14 characterized in that said additional humectant material comprises about 3-10% by weight of at least 1 glycerin and polyethylene glycol.

16. The visually clear gel dentifrice as indicated in clause 1 characterized in that an effective antiplaque amount of a non-cateonic antibacterial agent essentially insoluble in water is present.

17. The visually clear gel dentifrice as indicated in clause 16 characterized in that said antibacterial agent is triclosan.

18. The visually clear gel dentifrice as indicated in clause 1 characterized in that said polycarboxylate polymer is present in an amount of about 2-3% by weight.

19. The visually clear gel dentifrice as indicated in clause 18 characterized in that said polycarboxylate polymer is polyvinyl methyl ether / maleic anhydride copolymer.