WO2023180108A1

WO2023180108A1 - Method for demonstrating efficacy of oral care product

Info

Publication number: WO2023180108A1
Application number: PCT/EP2023/056267
Authority: WO
Inventors: Chixiang LI; Weining LIU
Original assignee: Unilever Ip Holdings B.V.; Unilever Global Ip Limited; Conopco, Inc., D/B/A Unilever
Priority date: 2022-03-24
Filing date: 2023-03-13
Publication date: 2023-09-28

Abstract

A method for measuring and/or demonstrating efficacy of an oral care product or a component thereof for protecting teeth from at least one feature, the method comprising: (i) selecting a substrate; (ii) applying an oral care product or a component thereof to the substrate; (iii) immersing each of the substrate in a medium; (iv) removing the substrate from the medium; (v) optionally, rinsing the substrate; and (vi) optionally, repeating steps (ii)-(iv) or (ii)-(v) at least once, wherein, following step (iv), (v), and/or (vi) the substrate may be assessed and/or measured for at least one attribute; wherein the oral care product or a component thereof is a first oral care product or a component thereof; wherein the first oral care product is an oral composition which comprises a calcium source and phosphate source together being precursors for in-situ hydroxyapatite formation on teeth and a component of an oral care product refers to the combination of the calcium and phosphate sources of the first oral care product; and wherein the at least one feature is acid erosion.

Description

METHOD FOR DEMONSTRATING EFFICACY OF ORAL CARE PRODUCT

Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method for measuring, demonstrating and/or comparing the efficacy of an oral care product, especially against acid erosion and/or tooth staining.

Background of the Invention

Oral care through use of everyday hygiene techniques like brushing of teeth at least two times a day, use of mouthwashes, regular flossing among others have now been understood by most of the consumers around the world. This has become a habit among most consumers primarily to kill bacteria present in the mouth so that problems like gingivitis, periodontal diseases of the teeth and gums as well as tooth decay (also known as caries) leading to dental cavities can be minimized. While the problems described above could lead eventually to the need for medical/dental treatments, they are believed to be preventable by use of everyday habits of oral hygiene described above like brushing, mouth rinsing and flossing.

Yet, even with everyday hygiene practices, one further problem facing consumers is that many products we consume, especially acidic foods and drinks, for example, tomato sauce, fruit juices, soda or pop, coffee and tea, can have a negative impact on teeth. In particular, such products can result in tooth erosion by attacking enamel that coats and protects teeth.

In addition, regardless of the acidity, many consumable products can stain teeth, especially making teeth look more yellow and/or brown which is not appealing or attractive to most consumers.

Given the popularity of acidic foods and drinks and products that may stain teeth as well as the plethora of oral care products available for consumers, there remains a need for methods which can easily and quickly measure, demonstrate and/or compare the efficacy of oral care products, especially against acid erosion and tooth staining, directly to consumers. The present inventors have thus identified a need to provide methods which can measure, demonstrate and/or compare the efficacy of an oral care product, especially against acid erosion and tooth staining, but which does not need specialized equipment and/or is easily related to consumer benefits.

Summary of the Invention

In one aspect, a method is provided for measuring and/or demonstrating efficacy of an oral care product or a component thereof for protecting teeth from at least one feature, the method comprising:

(i) selecting a substrate;

(ii) applying an oral care product or a component thereof to the substrate;

(iii) immersing the substrate in a medium;

(iv) removing the substrate from the medium;

(v) optionally, rinsing the substrate; and

(vi) optionally, repeating steps (ii)-(iv) or (ii)-(v) at least once, preferably about 2-10 times, more preferably about 4-8 times, most preferably about 4-6 times, wherein, following step (iv), (v) and/or (vi), the substrate may be assessed for at least one attribute; wherein the oral care product or a component thereof is a first oral care product or a component thereof; wherein the first oral care product is an oral composition which comprises a calcium source and phosphate source together being precursors for in-situ hydroxyapatite formation on teeth and a component of an oral care product refers to the combination of the calcium and phosphate sources of the first oral care product; and wherein the at least one feature is acid erosion.

Preferably, the steps of the method are carried out in sequence.

In another aspect, a method is provided for measuring, demonstrating and/or comparing the efficacy of two or more oral care products or components thereof against acid erosion and/or tooth staining by conducting the method, the method comprising:

(i) selecting a first substrate and a second substrate;

(ii) applying a first oral care product or a component thereof to the first substrate and a second oral care product or no oral care product to the second substrate;

(iii) immersing each of the first and the second substrates in a medium;

(iv) removing each of the first and second substrates from the medium; (v) optionally, rinsing each of the first and second substrates; and

(vi) optionally, repeating steps (ii)-(iv) or (ii)-(v) at least once, preferably about 2-10 times, more preferably about 4-8 times, most preferably about 4-6 times for each substrate, wherein, following step (iv), (v) and/or (vi), each of the first and second substrates may be assessed for at least one attribute.

Preferably, the steps of the method are carried out in sequence.

In another aspect, a method is provided for displaying images and/or videos on visible display units for measuring and/or demonstrating the efficacy of an oral care product or a component thereof for protecting against at least one feature, the method comprising:

(i) selecting a substrate;

(ii) applying an oral care product or a component thereof to the substrate;

(iii) immersing the substrate in a medium;

(iv) removing the substrate from the medium;

(v) optionally, rinsing the substrate;

(vi) optionally, repeating steps (ii)-(iv) or (ii)-(v) at least once, preferably about 2-10 times, more preferably about 4-8 times, most preferably about 4-6 times, and

(vii) displaying images and/or videos of any previous step(s) in order to assess at least one attribute of the substrate.

Preferably, the steps of the method are carried out in sequence.

In yet another aspect, a method is provided for displaying images and/or videos on visible display units for measuring, demonstrating and/or comparing the efficacy of an oral care product or a component thereof for protecting against at least one feature, the method comprising:

(i) selecting a first substrate and a second substrate;

(iii) immersing each of the first and the second substrates in a medium;

(iv) removing each of the first and second substrates from the medium;

(v) optionally, rinsing each of the first and second substrates; (vi) optionally, repeating steps (ii)-(iv) or (ii)-(v) at least once, preferably about 2-10 times, more preferably about 4-8 times, most preferably about 4-6 times for each substrate, and displaying images and/or videos of any previous step(s) in order to assess at least one attribute of the first substrate and/or the second substrate.

Preferably, the steps of the method are carried out in sequence.

All other aspects of the present invention will more readily become apparent upon considering the detailed description and examples which follow.

Detailed Description

Except in the examples, or where otherwise explicitly indicated, all numbers in this description indicating amounts of material or conditions of reaction, physical properties of materials and/or use may optionally be understood as modified by the word “about”.

All amounts are by weight of any of the oral care products or components thereof, unless otherwise specified. It should be noted that in specifying any ranges of values, any particular upper value can be associated with any particular lower value.

For the avoidance of doubt, the word “comprising” is intended to mean “including” but not necessarily “consisting of’ or “composed of”. In other words, the listed steps or options need not be exhaustive.

The disclosure of the invention as found herein is to be considered to cover all embodiments as found in the claims as being multiply dependent upon each other irrespective of the fact that claims may be found without multiple dependency or redundancy.

As used herein, “acid erosion” refers to the erosion of enamel by acidic sources on, for example, the surface of teeth, and protection against acid erosion, refers to being able to reduce or inhibit acid erosion of enamel, especially on the surface of teeth.

As used herein, “tooth staining” refers to tooth discoloration caused by an extrinsic stain which is a type of discoloration that affects the outermost layer of a tooth, e.g., enamel, and the discoloration is typically yellow and/or brown in color. As used herein, “oral care” refers to providing a benefit in the mouth, especially to the teeth.

As used herein, the “oral care product” refers to any product that is used in the mouth. For example, an oral care product may be use used on teeth, such as a product used with a toothbrush to clean teeth.

As used herein, a “first oral care product” is an oral composition which comprises a calcium source and phosphate source, together, being precursors for in-situ hydroxyapatite formation on teeth. Preferably, the first oral care product in accordance with the present invention includes the oral compositions described in applications WO 2011/110414, WO 2011/160996, WO 2012/143220, WO 2013/017665,

WO 2015/007503 each of which is incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. The first oral care product may be a paste, powder, gel, liquid (like mouthwash), spray, foam, balm, carried on a mouthstrip or a buccal adhesive patch, chewable tablet (or pastille), lozenge, cream or a strip of gum, but preferably a paste. For example, the first oral care product may be Regenerate™.

As used herein, a “component” of an oral care product refers to the combination of the calcium and phosphate sources of the first oral care product, as described herein.

As used herein, a “calcium source” refers to, for example, calcium phosphate, calcium gluconate, calcium oxide, calcium lactate, calcium carbonate, calcium hydroxide, calcium sulfate, calcium carboxymethyl cellulose, calcium alginate, calcium salts of citric acid, calcium silicate, and/or mixtures thereof or the like.

As used herein, a “phosphate source” refers to, for example, a source of phosphate that may be used in a composition suitable for use in an oral cavity. Examples of the types of phosphate source suitable for use in this invention include monosodium phosphate, sodium dihydrogen phosphate, disodium hydrogen phosphate, sodium pyrophosphate, tetrasodium pyrophosphate, sodium tripolyphosphate, sodium hexametaphosphate, potassium dihydrogenphosphate, trisodium phosphate, tripotassium phosphate, mixtures thereof or the like. The phosphate source is preferably one which is water soluble.

In addition to the calcium and phosphate sources, the first oral care product may include other ingredients common in the art such as: antimicrobial agents, anti-inflammatory agents, anti-caries agents, plaque buffers, vitamins, plant extracts, desensitizing agents, anti-calculus agents, biomolecules, flavors, proteinaceous materials, preservatives, opacifying agents, coloring agents, pH-adjusting agents, sweetening agents, surfactants, particulate abrasive materials, fluoride sources, polymeric compounds, and buffer, all which are described in, for example, WO 2011/110414.

As used herein, a “second oral care product” refers to oral care products other than the first care product or components thereof which can be used in the mouth. A second oral care product may be a paste, powder, gel, liquid (e.g., mouthwash mouth rinse and/or oral rinse, including antiseptic and/or antibacterial mouthwash), spray, foam, balm, carried on a mouthstrip or a buccal adhesive patch, chewable tablet (or pastille), lozenge, cream and/or or a strip of gum which do not contain the calcium source and phosphate source, as described herein. For example, a second oral care product may be a “conventional toothpaste” or “toothpaste”, which is a single-phase or multi-phase composition which is intended to be used to clean teeth, preferably with a toothbrush which does not contain the combination of calcium and phosphate sources, as described herein.

The methods described herein for measuring and/or demonstrating and/or comparing and/or assessing efficacy of an oral care product or a component thereof for protecting teeth from at least one feature, the at least one feature may be acid erosion and/or tooth staining. In order to measure and/or demonstrate and/or compare and/or assess the efficacy of an oral care product, this does not require specialized equipment and can be determined by visually evaluating the change to the substrate.

In order to measure and/or demonstrate the efficacy of an oral care product or a component thereof against the at least one feature, the method includes the step of selecting a substrate. A substrate, as used herein, refers to, for example, hydroxyapatite, calcium sulphate, hemihydrate gypsum, calcium sulfate hemihydrate, amorphous calcium phosphate, a-tricalcium phosphate, p-tricalcium phosphate, calcium deficient hydroxyapatite (Cag(HPO4)(PO4)sOH), dicalcium phosphate (CaHPOt), dicalcium phosphate dehydrate (CaHPO4'2H2O), hydroxyapatite (Caio(P04)e(OH)2), monocalcium phosphate monohydrate (Ca^PO^TW), octacalcium phosphate (Cas^PC Oe S W), tetracalcium phosphate (Ca4(PC>4)20, bovine tooth, human tooth, marble, chalk, pearl, shell or a combination thereof. As used herein, “shell” refers to, for example, an eggshell, seashell or snail shell. The substrate may be a cylinder, sphere, disc, platelet, cube or irregular shape form, and be in a variety of sizes. The substrate should be visible to the naked eye.

In one aspect, the substrate may be polished with an abrasive paper prior to treating the substrate with an oral care product or component thereof.

In one aspect, the method may use more than one substrate. When two substrates are used, the first and second substrates may be the same or different material, preferably, the first and the second substrates are the same material. Preferably, the substrates are the same size and shape. In another aspect, more than two substrates may be used, for example, three substrates, or four substrates, or five substrates, or more, where each substrate may be the same or different material, preferably, each substrate is the same material. Preferably, each substrate is the same size and shape.

Then, an oral care product or a component thereof is applied to the substrate(s). As used herein, applying an oral care product or a component thereof to the substrate(s) means at least a portion of the substrate is coated with the oral care product or component thereof, for example smearing or spreading a layer of the oral product on the substrate by using a finger/hand or an applicator, for example, a swab, brush and/or toothbrush, to apply the oral care product or component to the substrate. In one aspect, about 0.001g to about 5g, or about 0.01g to about 4g, or about 0.1g to about 3g, or about 0.1g to about 2g, or about 0.5g to about 3g, or about 0.5g to about 2g, or about 1g to about 3g, or about 1g to about 2g of an oral care product or component thereof is applied to the substrate(s).

Additionally or alternatively, the oral care product or component thereof may be applied to the substrate(s) by immersing, soaking and/or dipping at least a portion of the substrate in the oral care product or component thereof such that at least one surface is contacted with the oral care product or component thereof.

In one aspect, if more than one substrate is used, a different oral care product or a component thereof is applied to each substrate. In one aspect, if more than one substrate is used, one substrate may be a control substrate, such that no oral care product is applied to that substrate. In one aspect, the first oral care product or a component thereof is applied to the first substrate and the second oral care product is applied to the second substrate. In one aspect, the first oral care product or a component thereof is applied to the first substrate and the second oral care product is applied to the second substrate, and the second oral care product is applied to a third substrate, with the proviso that the second oral care product applied to the second substrate is different than the one applied to the third substrate. In one aspect, the first oral care product is applied to the first substrate and the second substrate is a control substrate. In one aspect, the first oral care product is applied to the first substrate and the second oral care product is applied to the second substrate, and the third substrate is a control substrate. Once the oral care products or components thereof are applied to the substrate(s), the substrate(s) is immersed in a medium, preferably an acidic medium. As referred to herein, immersing a substrate in a medium is such that at least a portion of the substrate is submerged or soaked in the medium for at least 1 second, preferably such that all surfaces of the substrate are coated in the medium. The medium, as used herein, is preferably an acidic medium, such as an acidic liquid or solution, including but is not limited to: sauces (e.g., tomato sauce, barbeque sauce, steak sauce, soy sauce), carbonated liquids, sport drinks, alcoholic beverages (e.g., wine and beer), juice, coffee, tea and mixtures thereof. As used herein, “carbonated liquids” include carbonated beverages such as cola and soda (or pop). As used herein, “juices” include fruit and vegetable juices, for example, orange juice, lemon juice, apple juice, or tomato juice. Alternatively, if the desired acidic product is not in the form of a liquid or solution, for example, artificial sweeteners, sugars, and certain meats, fish and dairy products, it is possible for the acidic product to be included in a slurry with a liquid, for example, water, in order to create an acidic medium.

In one aspect, if more than one substrate is used, each substrate is immersed in the same or different medium, preferably the same medium, in the same or different container. A “container”, as used herein, is something which can hold at least the substrate(s) and the medium.

The substrate(s) can be immersed for a duration of less than one minute to 48 hours or more, or about 1 hour to about 30 hours, or about 3 hours to about 28 hours, or about 5 hours to about 26 hours, or about 10 hours to about 26 hours, or about 15 hours to about 26 hours, or about 20 hours to about 26 hours, or about 22 hours to about 25 hours, to or about 15 hours, or about 20 hours, or about 22 hours, or about 24 hours. In one aspect, if more than one substrate is used, each substrate may be immersed for the same or different duration, preferably each substrate is immersed for the same duration. Preferably, this step is conducted simultaneously with each substrate. Then, the substrate(s) is removed from the medium. Once the substrate(s) is removed from the medium, the substrate(s) is optionally rinsed such that any remaining residue from the applied oral care product is rinsed with a liquid, preferably water, spring water, distilled water, deionized water or water containing mineral cations (e.g., mineral water). Other liquids that may be used to rinse the substrate include but are not limited to: real or artificial saliva, simulated oral/body fluid, phosphate buffered saline (PBS) or phosphate solution (Na or K phosphate water solutions). By rinsing the substrate, the substrate can be, for example, submerged or flushed with liquid, or residue can be removed by mechanical means, e.g., by brushing using a toothbrush, and then the substrate can be flushed with liquid.

In one aspect, once the substrate(s) is removed from the medium, and optionally rinsed, the steps of the method, as disclosed herein, may be repeated, e.g., applying an oral care product to the substrate(s), immersing the substrate(s) in a medium, removing the substrate(s) from the medium, and optionally, rinsing the substrate(s). These steps may be repeated at least once, preferably about 2-10 times, more preferably about 4-8 times, most preferably about 4-6 times. In one aspect, the steps are repeated twice, or three times, or four times, or five times, or six times, or seven times or more. Preferably, if more than one substrate is used, the method is conducted simultaneously with each substrate. Preferably, throughout the method, the same oral care product or component thereof is used each time the method is repeated, e.g., if a first oral care product is applied to the substrate, the same oral care product is applied to the substrate if/when the method is repeated.

Following either the removing step (from the medium) or the rinsing step (if conducted), the method includes a step of assessing and/or measuring at least one attribute of the substrate(s), where the attribute may be, for example, surface roughness and/or surface stain. In one aspect, the step of assessing and/or measuring may be conducted each time the steps of the method are performed. In one aspect, the assessing and/or measuring step occurs the final time the method is performed (e.g., if the method is repeated four times, the step of assessing and/or measuring occurs after the removal from the medium for the fourth time and/or the optional rinsing step).

“Surface roughness”, as used herein, refers to the structural texture on the surface of the substrate. In one aspect, roughness can be assessed and/or measured visually and/or tactilely by evaluating features of the substrate(s), e.g., irregular, ragged, jagged, grainy, course and/or uneven texture. By assessing and/or measuring visually, this can be by the naked eye or by means of magnifying the surface of the substrate through, for example, a microscope, by taking images and/or videos with magnification of no greater than 100 times, preferably less than 10 times. The more distinct and/or evident the feature(s) of roughness are on the surface of the substrate means that the surface is rougher, and more damage has occurred due to, for example, acid erosion. For example, when comparing two or more substrates, when surface texture of one substrate has more distinct and/or evident features of roughness, that substrate is considered rougher than the comparative substrate. In other words, the comparative substrate has less distinct and/or evident the feature(s) of roughness, meaning the comparative substrate surface is smoother, and less damage has occurred due to, for example, acid erosion.

Additionally or alternatively, surface roughness can be assessed and/or measured by techniques known in the art, including, but not limited to, average surface roughness, Ra; Rq (also called RMS; root mean square roughness); Rt (maximum roughness depths on the sample surface); Rz (average maximum peak to valley heights); and Rmax (maximum surface roughness).

Surface stain, as used herein, refers to an extrinsic tooth stain as described herein. In one aspect, surface stain can be assessed and/or measured visually by evaluating the substrate(s) color. By assessing and/or measuring visually, this can be by the naked eye or by means of magnifying the surface of the substrate through, for example, a microscope, by taking images and/or videos with magnification of no greater than 100 times, preferably less than 10 times. The more distinct and/or evident the color is on the substrate, e.g., greater amount of yellow and/or brown color, means that the surface has sustained more staining.

Additionally or alternatively, surface stain can be assessed and/or measured by techniques known in the art, including, but not limited to a Cl ELAB protocol which evaluates color in terms of three axes of a color sphere, called L, a, and b. The “L” value is the axis in the color sphere which relates lightness and darkness on a scale from 0 (black) to 100 (white). The “a” value is the axis which relates color on a red to green scale, with a 0 value in the center of the sphere, positive values toward the red, and negative values toward the green. The “b” value is the axis which relates color on yellow to blue scale, with a 0 value in the center of the sphere, positive values toward the yellow, and negative values toward the blue. In an aspect, the higher the “a” value means that the substrate has more tooth staining.

In one aspect, the method is particularly effective for measuring, demonstrating and/or comparing the efficacy of oral care products or components thereof against acid erosion and/or tooth staining by performing the method described herein and comparing, for example, two or more oral care products and/or components thereof. Preferably, the method is conducted simultaneously with each substrate. For example, using the method described herein, should one substrate have less visible or measurable tooth staining and/or less visible, tactile or measurable surface roughness, this would thus provide a purposeful demonstration of the efficacy of one oral care product over another. Thus, such demonstrations would demonstrate superiority of protecting, e.g., teeth, against acid erosion and/or tooth staining based on one oral care product over another.

In one aspect, a method is provided to measure and/or demonstrate efficacy of an oral care product or a component thereof for protecting teeth from at least one feature, the method comprising: (i) selecting a substrate; (ii) applying an oral care product or a component thereof to the substrate, preferably wherein the oral care product is a first oral care product or a component thereof; (iii) immersing the substrate in a medium, preferably an acidic medium, where the substrate is immersed for a duration of about 1 hour to about 30 hours, or about 5 hours to about 26 hours, or about 10 hours to about 24 hours, or about 15 hours to about 26 hours, or about 20 hours to about 26 hours, or about 22 hours to about 25 hours; (iv) removing the substrate from the medium; (v) rinsing the substrate, preferably with water; and (vi) repeating steps (ii)-(iv) or (ii)-(v) at least once, preferably about 2-10 times, more preferably about 4-8 times, most preferably about 4-6 times, wherein, following steps (iv), (v), or (vi) the substrate may be assessed and/or measured for at least one attribute including but not limited to surface roughness and/or surface stain.

In one aspect, a method is provided to measure, demonstrate and/or compare efficacy of an oral care product or a component thereof for protecting teeth from at least one feature, the method comprising: (i) selecting a first substrate and a second substrate; (ii) applying a first oral care product or a component thereof to the first substrate and a second oral care product to the second substrate, preferably the second oral care product is a conventional toothpaste; (iii) immersing each of the first and the second substrates in a medium, preferably an acidic medium, where each substrate is immersed for a duration of about 1 hour to about 30 hours, or about 5 hours to about 26 hours, or about 10 hours to about 24 hours, or about 15 hours to about 26 hours, or about 20 hours to about 26 hours, or about 22 hours to about 25 hours; (iv) removing each of the first and second substrates from the medium; (v) rinsing each of the first and second substrates, preferably with water; and (vi) optionally, repeating steps (ii)-(v) at least once, preferably about 2-10 times, more preferably about 4-8 times, most preferably about 4-6 times for each substrate, wherein, following steps (iv), (v), or (vi) each of the first and second substrates may be assessed and/or measured for at least one attribute including but not limited to surface roughness and/or surface stain. In one aspect, this method can further include a control substrate, or additional substrates treated with different oral care products.

In one aspect, a method is provided to demonstrate and/or compare efficacy of an oral care product or a component thereof for protecting teeth from at least one feature, the method comprising: (i) selecting a first substrate and a second substrate; (ii) applying a first oral care product or a component thereof to the first substrate and no oral care product or a component thereof to the second substrate (e.g., control substrate); (iii) immersing each of the first and the second substrates in a medium, preferably an acidic medium, where each substrate is immersed for a duration of about 1 hour to about 30 hours, or about 5 hours to about 26 hours, or about 10 hours to about 24 hours, or about 15 hours to about 26 hours, or about 20 hours to about 26 hours, or about 22 hours to about 25 hours; (iv) removing each of the first and second substrates from the medium; (v) rinsing each of the first and second substrates, preferably with water; and (vi) optionally, repeating steps (ii)-(v) at least once, preferably about 2-10 times, more preferably about 4-8 times, most preferably about 4-6 times for each substrate, wherein, following step (iv), (v), or (vi) each of the first and second substrates may be assessed and/or measured for at least one attribute including but not limited to surface roughness and/or surface stain.

In one aspect, the method comprises a step of capturing images and/or shooting videos and/or storing and/or transmitting the images and/or videos of at least portion of the method described herein. The images may be, e.g., photographs or illustrations of one of more steps or results of one or more steps of the method described herein. The images and/or videos may, for example, be stored on a recordable medium such as CD, flash drive or other computer-readable memory. The images and/or videos may be transmitted, for example, for display on one or more visible display units. Suitable visible display units include, for example, posters, point-of-sale displays, brochures, advertisement handouts, monitors, TV screens and/or mobile device screens. As used herein, at least a portion of the method, may refer to at least one step or a combination of steps of the method described herein, or how the substrate(s) appears before, during and/or after conducting a step of the method described herein.

Additionally or alternatively, the method further comprises a step of capturing images and/or shooting videos of at least portion of the method (e.g., image/video of the substrate before, during and/or after any of the steps described herein) and storing the same on a recordable medium.

In one aspect, a method is provided for displaying images and/or videos on visible display units for measuring and/or demonstrating the efficacy of an oral care product or a component thereof for protecting teeth from at least one feature, the method comprising:

(i) selecting a substrate;

(ii) applying an oral care product or a component thereof to the substrate;

(iii) immersing the substrate in a medium;

(iv) removing the substrate from the medium;

(v) optionally, rinsing the substrate; and

(vi) optionally, repeating steps (ii)-(iv) at least once, preferably about 2-10 times, more preferably about 4-8 times, most preferably about 4-6 times,

In one aspect, a method is provided for displaying images and/or videos on visible display units for measuring, demonstrating and/or comparing the efficacy of an oral care product or a component thereof for protecting teeth from at least one feature, the method comprising:

(i) selecting a first substrate and a second substrate;

(iii) immersing each of the first and the second substrates in a medium;

(iv) removing each of the first and second substrates from the medium;

(v) optionally, rinsing each of the first and second substrates; and

(vi) optionally, repeating steps (ii)-(iv) or (ii)-(v) at least once, preferably about 2-10 times, more preferably about 4-8 times, most preferably about 4-6 times, (vii) displaying images and/or videos of any previous step(s) in order to assess at least one attribute of the first substrate and/or the second substrate.

In another aspect, more than two substrates may be used, for example, three substrates, or four substrates, or five substrates, or more, where each substrate may be the same or different material, preferably, each substrate is the same material.

As used herein, “displaying images and/or photos of any previous step(s)”, may refer to an image and/or video of conducting at least one step or a combination of steps of the method described herein, and/or how the substrate(s) appears before, during and/or after conducting a step or more than one step of the method described herein.

The following examples are provided to facilitate an understanding of the invention. The examples are not intended to limit the scope of the claims.

Examples

Example 1

This example demonstrated the efficacy of the oral composition against acid erosion.

Methods

The product tested was Regenerate™ toothpaste (e.g., a first oral care product). The comparative product was Closeup™ anticavity fluoride toothpaste, which is a conventional toothpaste or toothpaste, as described herein as a second oral care product.

Three identical hydroxyapatite discs were used. One of the discs was a control and no oral care product was applied. For the other discs, Regenerate™ was applied to one disc, and Closeup™ was applied to the other disc. Then, each disc was placed in a different container and immersed in the same medium, e.g., cola, for about 24 hours. Then each disc was removed from the medium, and each disc was rinsed with water. Each disc was measured and/or assessed for surface roughness and surface staining. Each of the steps of applying the oral care product to each disc, immersing each disc in the medium for about 24 hours, rinsing each disc, and then measured and/or assessing each disc was carried out for a total of five-times. Results

It was observed that the hydroxyapatite disc not treated with an oral care product had more surface roughness than the hydroxyapatite discs treated with Regenerate™ or Closeup™. Furthermore, hydroxyapatite disc treated with Closeup™ had more surface roughness compared to the hydroxyapatite disc treated with Regenerate™, showing that Regenerate™ was superior in protecting against acid erosion than Closeup™. The disc treated with Regenerate™ and the disc treated with Closeup™ each performed better (were less yellow) than the control disc.

Claims

1 . A method for measuring and/or demonstrating efficacy of an oral care product or a component thereof for protecting teeth from at least one feature, the method comprising:

(i) selecting a substrate;

(ii) applying an oral care product or a component thereof to the substrate;

(iii) immersing the substrate in a medium;

(iv) removing the substrate from the medium;

(v) optionally, rinsing the substrate; and

(vi) optionally, repeating steps (ii)-(iv) or (ii)-(v) at least once, preferably about 2- 10 times, more preferably about 4-8 times, most preferably about 4-6 times, wherein, following step (iv), (v), and/or (vi) the substrate may be assessed and/or measured for at least one attribute; wherein the oral care product or a component thereof is a first oral care product or a component thereof; wherein the first oral care product is an oral composition which comprises a calcium source and phosphate source together being precursors for in-situ hydroxyapatite formation on teeth and a component of an oral care product refers to the combination of the calcium and phosphate sources of the first oral care product; and wherein the at least one feature is acid erosion.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the substrate is selected from hydroxyapatite, calcium sulphate, hemihydrate gypsum, calcium sulfate hemihydrate, amorphous calcium phosphate, a-tricalcium phosphate, p-tricalcium phosphate, calcium deficient hydroxyapatite (Cag(HPO4)(PO4)sOH), dicalcium phosphate (CaHPOt), dicalcium phosphate dehydrate (CaHPO4'2H2O), hydroxyapatite (Caio(P04)e(OH)2), monocalcium phosphate monohydrate (Ca(H2PO4)2'H2O), octacalcium phosphate (CasH2(PO4)6-5H2O), tetracalcium phosphate (Ca4(PC>4)20, bovine tooth, human tooth, marble, chalk, pearl, shell or a combination thereof.

3. The method according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the calcium source refers to calcium phosphate, calcium gluconate, calcium oxide, calcium lactate, calcium carbonate, calcium hydroxide, calcium sulfate, calcium carboxymethyl cellulose, calcium alginate, calcium salts of citric acid, calcium silicate or mixtures thereof. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the phosphate source comprises monosodium phosphate, sodium dihydrogen phosphate, disodium hydrogen phosphate, sodium pyrophosphate, tetrasodium pyrophosphate, sodium tripolyphosphate, sodium hexametaphosphate, potassium dihydrogenphosphate, trisodium phosphate, tripotassium phosphate or mixtures thereof. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a duration of step (iii) is about 1 hour to about 30 hours, or about 5 hours to about 26 hours, or about 10 hours to about 24 hours, or about 15 hours to about 26 hours, or about 20 hours to about 26 hours, or about 22 hours to about 25 hours. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the medium is an acidic medium, preferably selected from carbonated liquids, sport drinks, alcoholic beverages, juice, coffee and tea and mixtures thereof. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one attribute is a surface roughness. The method according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising at least two substrates, or at least three substrates, or at least four substrates, or at least five substrates, or at least six substrates, preferably, where each substrate is the same. The method according to claim 8, wherein each substrate is treated with a different oral care product or component thereof or is a control substrate. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the method further comprises a step of capturing images and/or shooting videos of at least portion the method and storing the same on a recordable medium. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the method further comprises a step of displaying images and/or videos of any previous step(s) in order to assess at least one attribute of the substrate. The method according to claim 11 , further comprising at least two substrates, or at least three substrates, or at least four substrates, or at least five substrates, or at least six substrates, preferably, wherein each substrate is the same, and more preferably wherein each substrate is treated with a different oral care product or component thereof or is a control substrate.