US 3927201 A
Dentifrice preparation comprising an alkali metal phosphate salt polishing agent having a refractive index between about 1.435 and about 1.465 and a biguanidohexane antibacterial agent. The dentifrice is typically a visually clear gel.
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Description (OCR text may contain errors)
United States Patent Baines et a1.
1 Dec. 16, 1975 DENTIFRICES Inventors: Eric Baines, Manchester; Edwin Cropper, Shaw; Sydney James Forshaw, Manchester, all of England Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company, New
Filed: Jan. 23, 1974 Appl. No.: 435,898
Foreign Application Priority Data References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 10/1935 Kuever 424/57 2,191,199 2/1940 Hall 424/57 X 3,227,617 1/1966 Manahan et al. 424/52 3,269,814 8/1966 Netherton et a1 424/57 X 3,562,385 2/1971 Block et a1 424/54 3,574,823 4/1971 Roberts et al. 424/49 3,711,604 1/1973 Colodney et a1... 424/52 3,803,301 4/1974 Cordon et a1...... 424/49 3,840,657 10/1974 Norfleet 424/49 3,842,167 10/1974 Block et a1 424/49 Primary Examiner-Shep K. Rose Attorney, Agent, or FirmHerbert S. Sylvester; Murray M. Grill; Robert L. Stone  ABSTRACT Dentifrice preparation comprising an alkali metal phosphate salt polishing agent having a refractive index between about 1.435 and about 1.465 and a biguanidohexane antibacterial agent. The dentifrice is typically a visually clear gel.
11 Claims, N0 Drawings DENTIFRICES This invention relates to a dentifrice. In particular, it relates to a dentifrice which may be visually clear in which a biguanidohexane antibacterial agent is present.
Visually clear gel dentifrices are very appealing to consumers. Recently polishing agents have been incorporated into such clear gel dentifrices in order to provide desirable cleaning effects. It has been suggested to also include antibacterial agents in these dentifrices. However. in the presence of polishing agents which have been previously found useful in clear gel dentifrices certain antimicrobial agents. particularly the biguanidohexanes. have been observed to have dimin ished antimicrobial activity.
It would therefore be desirable to provide a dentifrice containing polishing agents. which dentifrice may be visually clear and also retains a high degree of the antimicrobial activity of biguanidohexanes. l.6-di(pchlorophenyl-biguanido) hexane and salts thereof are biguanidohexanes known to inhibit the growth of many microorganisms such as lactobacillus acidophilus odontolyticus and have thus been recommended for incorporation in a dentifrice composition.
In co-pending application Ser. No. 435,899 of Kenneth Harvey and Sydney Lee which is commonly assigned and filed on even date herewith, the invention of employing an alkali metal phosphate salt polishing agent which has a refractive index between about 1.435 and about 1.465 has been described. These polishing agents include ones which when employed in dentifrices. permit the dentifrices to remain clear even when the gel vehicle of the dentifrice has a refractive index, which varies over a considerable range. Many of these phosphate salts are more water-soluble than polishing agents commonly used in dentifrices.
It is an advantage of this invention that biguanidohexane antibacterial agents retain substantial effectiveness in dentifrices containing the alkali metal phosphate polishing agents. Other advantages of this invention will be apparent from consideration of the following disclosure.
In accordance with certain of its aspects. this invention relates to a dentifrice comprising up to about 50% by weight of a dentally acceptable alkali metal phosphate salt polishing agent having a refractive index between about 1.435 and about 1.465, a water-soluble biguanidohexane antimicrobial agent in amount to provide about 0.0015% by weight of the freebase thereof and a dentifrice gel vehicle comprising (1) at least about by weight of said dentifrice of a liquid phase including humectant and 0 up to an amount of said visually clear dentifrice of free water in which not more than about 30% by weight of said polishing agent is soluble at 40C. and (2) about 05-20% by weight of a gelling agent, the refractive index of said dentifrice gel vehicle being between about 1.36 and about 1.47 when said phosphate salt is water-soluble and between 2 about 1.458 and about 1.463 when said phosphate salt is water-insoluble. said polishing agent and said antibacterial agent being homogeneously and invisibly distributed in said dentifrice gel vehicle.
Alkali metal phosphate salt polishing agents which are useful in the practice of the instant invention are characterized by having a refractive index between about 1.435 and 1.465. They typically comprise up to about 50% by weight. preferably about 550% and most preferably about l0 30% of the dentifrice. These include the water-insoluble salt. potassium metaphosphate. as well as the relatively more soluble pyroand orthophosphate hydrates. sodium pyrophosphate decahydrate. dibasic sodium orthophosphate di-. heptaand dodecahydrate. These polishing agents can be desirably homogeneously and invisibly dispersed in a dentifrice gel vehicle, the refractive index of which can vary over a range and still remain visually clear. that is translu cent and even transparent. The particles of polishing agent are macroscopically invisible in the dentifrice and are typically below about 74 microns in size and often below about 10 microns in size. The term watersoluble when applied to phosphate polishing agents herein indicates that they are at least a few percent. such as at least about 4%, soluble in water at room temperature. Such salts are generally almost twice or more soluble in water at about 40C.
The alkali metal phosphate in the Table below with the exception of potassium metaphosphate are significantly water-soluble. Therefore. if water is employed in the gel vehicle. the amount present which is free to dissolve the polishing agent should be no more than that which would dissolve about 30% by weight of the polishing agent at 40C. It is noteworthy that some water which may be present in a dentifrice wouldnot be free to solubilize the polishing agent. For instance. only a small portion of water in a solution or in a solution of sodium N-lauroyl sarcosinate. which may contain 2% of the sarcosinate. 2.9% glycerine and 4.6% water is free to partially solubilize the polishing agent.
Water has a refractive index of 1.33. which is lower than other liquid components typically employed in a dentifrice gel vehicle. Therefore. its presence tends to lower the refractive index of the gel vehicle. This accounts for the desirable minimum refractive index values of polishing agents 2-6 in the Table. Lower refractive indices to 1.36 remain clear in the presence of polishing agents 2-6; although if water is employed to achieve such refractive indicies below the desirable range. an undue amount of polishing agent may dissolve. The water and other liquid contents of the gel vehicle are discussed in more detail below..
In the following table polishing agents of the invention are indicated. together with their water solubilities at room temperature and at 40C.. their refractive indices are the refractive index ranges of gel vehicles in which they are visually clearest and not overly solubilized (that is. more than about 30% solubilized at 40C.).
TABLE DESIRABLE REFRAC- PARTS SOLUBLE PER REFRACTIVE INDEx TIVE INDEX RANGE I00 PARTSOF H O OF POLISHING OF GEL VEHICLE POLISHING AGENT I I ROOM AGENT TEMP. 40C.
1. Potassium Metaphosphate (KPOII) l.l l.l 1.458 l.458-l.463
TABLE-continued DESIRABLE REFRAC- PARTS SOLUBLE PER REFRACTIVE INDEX TIVE INDEX RANGE POLISHING AGENT 11H) PAR I'S OF H O OF POLISHING OF GEL VEH'CLE ROOM AGENT TEMP. 40C.
2. Sodium Pyrophosphate Dodecachydratc (Na,P ,O;.lOH O) 6.2 11.5 1.450 1.370-1.470 3. Dilmsic sodium Orthophosphate Dihydrate (Na:HPO,.2H. .OJ 5 40 1.463 1.444-1.470 4. Dihasic sodium Orthophosphule Heptahydrate (NAI HP();1 71-1 50 1.436 1.444-1 .470 5. Dihasic sodium Orlhophosphate Dodccuhydrale (Nani-IP0 IZH O) 4 43 1.436 l.444l .470 o. I'rihasic sodium Orthophosphalc Dodccahydratc lNu; PO,. I EH 0] Z0 70 1.446 1458-1470 The refractive index ranges of gel vehicles in the table above particularly for polishing agents 26 may be broadened to about 1.360 to about 1.472. When this is done, the amount of water to be employed in the gel vehicle should be controlled since its presence dissolves a portion of the polishing agents.
The gel or liquid vehicle of the dentifrice preferably forms a mass of a consistency which desirably can be extruded from a collapsible tube. such as an aluminum. a lead or a plastic tube.
The vehicle contains liquid and solids. The liquid portion comprises at least about and typically 20-94.5% by weight of the dentifrice and includes humectant and-may include water. If present, water or at least water which is free to dissolve the polishing agent. should preferably be present in no greater amount than would dissolve about by weight of the polishing agent at 40C. or reduce the desired clarity of the finished dentifrice. Thus. substantial amounts of free water may be employed, while desirably keeping the refractive index of the gel vehicle between about 1.458 and 1.463 when the polishing agent is the only substantially insoluble potassium metaphosphate. The dentifrice may contain as much as about 50% of free water when the polishing agent is sodium pyrophosphate dodecahydrate without dissolving more than about 30% of that salt at 40C. The hydrated dibasic sodium orthophosphates and tribasic sodium orthophosphate dodecahydrate are more watersoluble and preferably lesser amounts of free water are employed when they are present. About 12-15% by weight of free water in the dentifrice would dissolve about 30% of the dibasic salts at 40C. and about 8.4% of free water in the dentifrice would dissolve about that amount of the tribasic salt. The refractive index of water is 1.33 and thus it may be employed, if desired and insofar as it is tolerated, to lower the refractive index of the gel vehicle since commonly employed humectants may comprise a large portion of the gel vehicle and they generally have refractive indices of about 1.44 to 1.47. The refractive index of sorbitol as a 70% solution in water is 1.45 and the refractive index of glycerine is 1.47. The
refractive index of the gel vehicle corresponds approximately to the average refractive index of water and humectant if the vehicle contains no opacifying component. In other words, a vehicle containing equal weight amounts of glycerine (refractive index 1.47) and water (refractive index 1.33) would have a refractive index of about 1.40.
Water may also be employed if it is desired to thin the gel. When present, free water generally does not exceed about 15% by weight of the dentifrice and is generally substantially less.
Either sorbitol aqueous solution) or glycerol, or a mixture of both may constitute up to by weight of the dentifrice. Other humectants such as low average molecular weight polyethylene glycols (e.g. an average molecular weight of about 400) and propylene glycol are also desirable as at least part of the humectant.
The solid portion of the vehicle is a gelling agent or binder such as the natural and synthetic gums and gumlike materials, such as Irish moss, gum tragacanth, alkali metal carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxymethyl carboxyethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, starch, water-soluble hydrophilic colloidal carboxyvinyl polymers such as those sold under the trademark Carbopol 934 and 940 and synthetic inorganic silicated clays such as those sold under the trademark Laponite CP and Laponite SP. These grades of Laponite have the formula (Si Mg Li I-I O *Na fi. The solid portion of the vehicle is typically present in an amount up to 20% by weight of the dentifrice, generally about 05-10% and preferably about 0.55%. Gelling agents or binders promote gelling or thickening or increase viscosity of the dentifrice formulations. Thickening binding agents may be present in amount up to about 20% by weight of the dentifrice. Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, Irish moss and hydroxyethyl cellulose are preferred gelling agents.
It is a desirable advantage of this invention that dentifrices comprising the particular phosphate salt polishing agents and the biguanidohexane antimicrobial agent gel well with gelling agents as indicated. Dentifrices containing previously described polishing agents for visually clear dentifrices did not gel well if the biguanidohexane antimicrobial agent was present and a gelling agent such as sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, Irish moss or hydroxyethyl cellulose was employed.
The refractive index of the dentifrice gel vehicle is affected to only a minor degree by the gelling agent, in view of the relatively small amount in which it is typically used and since the refractive indices of the various gelling agents in common dentifrices use are generally close to or within the range in which visually clear dentifrices of the invention are formed;
Organic surface-active agents may be used in the compositions of the present invention to achieve increased prophylactic action, assist in achieving thorough and complete dispersion of the instant composition throughout the oral cavity, and render the instant compositions more cosmetically acceptable.
Organic surface-active agents used in the compositions of the present invention to achieve increased 7 prophylactic action. assist in achieving thorough and complete dispersion of the instant compositions throughout the oral cavity. and render the instant compositions more cosmetically acceptable. When an anionic surface-active material is desired, substantially saturated higher aliphatic acyl amides of lower aliphatic acyl amides of lower aliphatic amino, carboxylic acid, compounds such as those having 12 to 16 carbons in the fatty acid, alkyl or acyl radicals are particularly preferred. Examples of the last mentioned amides are N-lauroyl sarcosine, and the sodium, potassium and ethanolamine salts of N-lauroyl, N-myristoyl, or N-palmitoyl sarcosine which should be substantially free from soap or similar higher fatty acid material which tends to substantially reduce the effect of these compounds. The use of these sarcosinate compounds in dentifrice 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 carbohydrates breakdown in addition to exerting some reduction in the solubility of tooth enamel in acid solutions.
Other particularly suitable surface-active materials include nonionic agents such as condensates of sorbitan monostearate with approximately 60 moles of ethylene oxide, condensates of ethylene oxide with propylene oxide condensates of propylene glycol (available under the trademark Pluronics) and amphoteric agents such as quaternized imidazole derivatives which are available under the trademark Miranol such as Miranol C. ,M. Cationic surface-active germicides and antibacterial compounds such as di-isobutylphenoxyethoxyethyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride, benzyl dimethyl stearyl ammonium chloride, tertiary amines having one fatty alkyl group (of from 12 to 18 carbon atoms) and two (poly) oxyethylene groups attached to the nitrogen (typically containing a total of from about 2 to 50 ethenoxy groups per molecule) and salts thereof with acids and compounds of the structure to 18 carbon atoms, and .r, y and z total 3 or higher, as well as salts thereof with mineral or organic acids, may
also be used. It is preferred to use from about 0.05 to 5% by weight of the foregoing surface-active materials in the instant oral preparations.
Any suitable flavouring or sweetening materials may be employed in formulating a flavour for the compositions of the present invention. Examples of suitable flavouring constituents include the flavouring oils, e.g.. oils of Spearmint. peppermint, Wintergreen, Sassafras. clove, sage, eucalyptus, marjoram. cinnamon. lemon and orange, as well as methylsalicylate. Suitable sweetening agents include sucrose, lactose, maltose, sorbitol, sodium cyclamate, perillartine and saccharine. Suitably, flavour and sweetening agents may together comprise from about 0.01 to 5% or more of the composition of the instant invention. Chloroform may also be used.
The compositions of the present invention may also contain a fluorine-containing compound having a beneficial effect on the care and hygiene of the oral cavity. e.g., diminution of enamel solubility in acid and protection of the teeth against decay which do not substantially detract from the'clarity of the dentifrice. Examples of known fluorine materials include sodium fluoride, potassium fluoride, stannous fluoride stannous chlorofluoride, potassium stannous fluoride (SnF. ,.KF). and complex fluorides such as sodium fluorozirconate and particularly sodium monofluorophosphate. These materials, which dissociate or release fluorine-containing ions, suitably may be present in an effective but non-toxic amount. usually within the range of about 0.01 to 1% by weight of the water-soluble fluorine content thereof. Sodium fluoride and sodium monofluorophosphate are particularly preferred, as well as mixtures thereof.
Various other materials may be incorporated in the oral preparations of this invention. Examples thereof are colouring or whitening agents or dyestuffs, preservatives, silicones, chlorophyll compounds, ammoniated materials such as urea, diammoniumphosphate and mixtures thereof, and other constituents. The adjuvants are incorporated in the instant compositions in amounts which do not substantially adversely affect the properties and characteristics desired and are selected and used in proper amounts depending upon the particular type of preparation involved. For instance. colouring or whitening agents would reduce clarity of the dentifrice.
When the gelling agent employed is an alkali metal such as sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, it is desirable to prepare the dentifrice by adding a water-soluble salt of the antimicrobial agent to the carboxymethyl cellulose, water and a humectant. A surface-active agent such as sodium N-lauroyl sarcosinate is typically added simultaneously with or after the antimicrobial agent salt.
An alternative method when an alkali metal carboxymethyl cellulose is employed is to add a salt of the antimicrobial agent to a non-aqueous blend of a humectant, the carboxymethyl cellulose and a surface-active agent such as sodium N-lauroyl sarcosinate. Water is added together with or after the antimicrobial agent salt. A surface-active agent such as sodium N-lauroyl sarcosinate is added after the antimicrobial agent salt to form a gel.
When sodium carboxymethyl cellulose is not employed as the gelling agent, conventional orders of addition of components is satisfactory.
In addition to the biguanidohexanes. additional antimicrobial agents may be employed to provide a total antimicrobial content of up to about 5% by weight of the dentifrice. Typical antimicrobial agents include:
N-( 4-chlorobenzyl )-N 2.4-dichlorobenzyl )biguanide;
1(lauryldimethylammonium )-8( p-chlorobenzyldimethylammonium) octane dichloride; 5.6-dichloro2-guanidinobenzimidazole;
S-amino- 1 .3-bis( Z-ethylhexyl )-5-methylhexahydro pyrimidine; and their non-toxic acid addition salts.
Synthetic finely divided silicas such as those sold under the Trademarks Cab-O-Sil M-5. Syloid 244, Syloid 266. Aerosil D200 and mixtures thereof. may also be employed in amounts of about 05-20% by weight to promote thickening or gelling and to improve clarity of the dentifrice.
In the manufacture of dentifrices. it is conventional to remove entrained air from the project by de-aeration under vacuum typically at a late stage in the manufacture. In an aspect of the instant invention. it has been observed that in clear dentifrice gels of suitable viscosity. the dispersed. immobile air bubbles desirably enhance the appearance of the dentifrice. and can. therefore. be permitted to remain. Further. air can be at least partially removed and reintroduced as substantially globular or spheroidal bubbles of say about 0. l- 8mm. preferably about 0.5-5mm in size, will distributed in the gel at an average of at least about one per cubic centimeter. Such air bubbles may be placed in the gel by stirring it while introducing air. Instead of air, bubbles of another gas. such as nitrogen or carbon dioxide. can be introduced. in non-toxic quantity. In particular, carbon dioxide can provide an effervescent character to the dentifrice.
In the event it is desired to have a minimum amount of air in the dentifrice, or only to have to remove a minimum amount of air from the dentifrice of the instant invention, the Unimix apparatus described in Process Engineering" Sept. 1 l. 1970. pages 8 l85. is particularly efficacious for this purpose. In this apparatus a mixing tool can be rotated in clockwise or counter-clockwise manner. and the action of the mixing tool is followed by the action of a scraper blade to ensure that the working surface of the apparatus is scraped clean. Preferably. a plastic such as polytetrafluoroethylene is used as the scraper since it is compatible with the various ingredients of the dentifrice. The positioning of the mixing tool and the scraper from a raised central column in the apparatus and the further presence of a hydraulically operated vacuum tight lid permits but little air to enter the formulation during processing. Thus. gelling agent and a portion of liquid including water and/or humectant can be efficiently blended in the Unimix apparatus. Then the remaining liquid can be separately blended with the polishing agent and additional components (except for postadded components. such as flavouring oil) in the Unimix. and then the two dispersions blended together in the Unimix apparatus. If desired. the small amount of air can be largely removed under the depressurized conditions in the apparatus. The apparatus can be used to blend ingredients at room temperature as well as at higher temperatures.
Furthermore. if desired. visible particles of dyes. agglomerated particles of polishing agents, pearlescent flakes or particles of insoluble salts of antibacterial agents such as the monofluorophosphate salt or the disarcosinate salt of 1,6-di-p-chlorophenylbiguanidohexane, as well as other particles. can be distributed in the dentifrice.
The dentifrices should have a pH practicable for use. The ph range of about 5 to 9. preferably about 6 to 7, is considered the most practicable for use. When reference is made to pH therein. it is intended that such pH determination be made on the dentifrice directly.
The following specific examples are further illustrative of the nature of the present invention, although it is understood that the invention is not limited thereto. All amounts are by weight unless otherwise indicated.
EXAMPLE 1 The following visually clear gel dentifrices containing any of the hydrated dibasic sodium orthophosphates (i.e. the dihydrate. heptahydrate and dodecahydrate) are prepared:
COMPONE NTS PARTS Sorhitol (70'71 solution) Glycerine Water Sodium Nluuro 'l sarcosinate pellets Sodium carhoxymethyl cellulose Hydroxyethyl cellulose Silica lAerosil D200) Colour 17: solution) Hydrated dibasic sodium orthophosphate l.(w-dLp-chlorophenylbiguanido) hexane diacetate l.6-di-p-( chlorophenylhiguanido hexaneJdigluconate (2071 solution) EXAMPLE 2 20 parts of each of tribasic sodium orthophosphate dodecahydrate (with the water content at 8.4 parts) and tetrasodium pyrophosphate decahydrate are used in place of the hydrated dibasic sodium orthophosphates in the dentifrices of Example 1. The antimicrobial activity of 1.6-di-(p-chlorophenylbiguanido) hexane is retained.
EXAMPLE 3 l.6-bis(Z-ethylhexylbiguanido hexane dihydrogenchloride is employed in the dentifrices of Example [A in place of the l.6di(p-chlorophenylbiguanido) hexane salt in amounts to provide 0.1 of the free base thereof. The antimicrobial activity of this material is retained.
9 EXAMPLE 4 The following visually clear gel dentifrice is prepared:
COMPONENTS PARTS Sorbitol (70% solution) (40.61 less amt of Hibitane diacetate) 30.67 4.03
The antimicrobial agent retains its activity in this dentifrice.
It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various modifications of the above examples may be made thereto.
1. A visually clear dentifrice comprising about 5 to 50% by weight of a dentally acceptable water-soluble sodium phosphate salt polishing agent having a refractive index between about 1.435 and about 1.465, a water-soluble biguanidohexane antimicrobial agent in amount to provide about 0.0015% by weight of the free base thereof and a dentifrice gel vehicle comprising 1) about up to about 80% by weight of said dentifrice of a liquid phase including humectant having a refractive index of about 1.44 to 1.47, said humectant consisting essentially of a member selected from the group consisting of sorbitol. glycerine and mixtures thereof and 0 up to an amount of said visually clear dentifrice of free water in which not more than about by weight of said polishing agent is soluble at 40C.. and 2) about 0.5 to 20% by weight of a gelling agent selected from the group consisting of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose. Irish moss and hydroxyethyl cellulose. the refractive index of said dentifrice gel vehicle being between about 1.36 and about 1.47. said polishing agent and said antibacterial agent being homogeneously and invisibly distributed in said visually clear dentifrice gel vehicle.
2. The dentifrice claimed in claim 1 wherein said water-soluble antimicrobial agent is selected from the group consisting of 1 .6-di-p-chlorophenylbiguanidohexane. l-6-bis (Z-ethylhexylbiguanido) hexane and salts thereof.
3. The dentifrice claimed in claim 2 wherein said water-soluble antimicrobial agent is a salt of 1.6-di-pchlorobiguanidohexane.
4. The dentifrice claimed in claim 2 wherein said water-soluble antimicrobial agent is a salt of 1.6-bis (Z-ethylhexylbiguanido) hexane.
5. the dentifrice claimed in claim 1 wherein said water-soluble antimicrobial agent is present in amount to provide about O.l-l% by weight of the free base thereof.
6. The dentifrice claimed in claim 1 wherein said gelling agent is sodium carboxymethyl cellulose.
7. The dentifrice claimed in claim 1 wherein said gelling agent is Irish moss.
8. The dentifrice claimed in claim 1 wherein said gelling agent is hydroxyethyl cellulose.
9. The dentifrice claimed in claim 1 wherein said polishing agent is selected from the group consisting of sodium pyrophosphate dodecahydrate, hydrated dibasic sodium orthophosphate and tribasic sodium orthophosphate dodecahydrate.
10. The dentifrice claimed in claim 2 wherein said polishing agent is dibasic sodium orthophosphate dodecahydrate.
11. A visually clear dentifrice comprising about 5 to 50% by weight of a dentally acceptable water-soluble alkali metal phosphate salt polishing agent having a refractive index between about 1.435 and 1.465. selected from the group consisting of (a) sodium pyrophosphate dodecahydrate (Na P O 1011 0 )-refractive index 1.450; (b) dibasic sodium orthophosphate dihydrate (Na HPO 2H O)-refractive index 1.463; (c) dibasic sodium orthophosphate heptahydrate (N21 11- PO .7H O)-refractive index 1.436 (d) dibasic sodium orthophosphate dodecahydrate (Na l-lPO 121-1 0 refractive index 1.436; (e) tribasic sodium orthophosphate dodecahydrate (Na;,PO l2l-l O)-refractive index 1.446; a water-soluble biguanidohexane antimicrobial agent in amount to provide about 0.001-5% by weight of the free base thereof and a dentifrice gel vehicle comprising 1 at least about 20% by weight of said dentifrice of a liquid phase including humectant having a refractive index of about 1.44 to 1.47. said humectant consisting essentially of sorbitol. glycerine and mixtures thereof and 0 up to an amount of said visually clear dentifrice of free water in which not more than about 30% by weight of said polishing agent is soluble at 40C.. and (2) about 0.5 to 20% by weight of a gelling agent selected from the group consisting of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose. Irish moss and hydroxyethyl cellulose. the refractive index of said dentifrice gel vehicle being between about 1.36 and about 1.47. said polishing agent and said antibacterial agent being homogeneously and invisibly distributed in said visually clear dentifrice gel vehicle.