| abstract |
Stabilized aqueous toothpaste composition capable of producing or, in the presence of saliva, leading to the production of effective antimicrobial concentrations of hypothiocyanite ions (OSCN-). The composition contains both an oxidoreductase enzyme and its specific substrate, in order to produce hydrogen peroxide of at least the minimum effective concentration. The aqueous toothpaste compositions of the invention can be stabilized against the premature enzyme / substrate interaction by regulating the level of dissolved oxygen in the excipient of the aqueous toothpaste. Optionally, a peroxidase enzyme can be added to act on the aforementioned hydrogen peroxide, thereby oxidizing the thiocyanate ions to produce the antimicrobial concentrations of hypothioxyanate ions (OSCN-). Thiocyanate ions can also optionally be added to the compositions of the invention in a sufficient dose, along with the other ingredients of said invention, to produce more than about 100 micromoles / liter / minute of hypothiocyanite ions during use. The amount of water contained in the toothpaste compositions is not important for the stability of the composition, provided that the oxygen level is controlled. The invention also relates to the process for producing the dentifrice composition with minimum oxygen contents. |