Morinda Citrifolia-Based Oral Care Compositions and Methods

1-24. (canceled)

25. A method for treating and preventing oral and dental disorders, said method comprising:

providing an effective amount of Morinda citrifola;

combining a carrier with said effective amount of Morinda citrifola to produce an oral care composition;

administering and effective amount of said oral care composition to a patient.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said Morinda citrifola is selected from the group consisting of Morinda citrifola fruit, Morinda citrifola fruit extract, Morinda citrifolia fruit juice concentrate, Morinda citrifola oil, Morinda citrifola leaf powder, and Morinda citrifola leaf extract.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein said administering said oral care composition further comprises topically applying said oral care composition to at least of one of said patient's teeth, gums and surrounding oral tissues.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein said administering said oral care composition further comprises orally administering to said patient said oral care composition as a dietary supplement.

29. The composition of claim 25, wherein said Morinda citrifola is selected from the group consisting of Morinda citrifola fruit, Morinda citrifola fruit extract, Morinda citrifola fruit juice concentrate, Morinda citrifola oil, Morinda citrifola leaf powder, and Morinda citrifola leaf extract.

30. The method of claim 25, wherein the carrier is comprised of ingredients selected from the group consisting of emulsifier, alcohol, sweeteners, thickening agents, surfactants, suspending agents, astringent and toning drug extracts, flavor correctants, abrasives or polishes, deodorizing agents, preservatives, flavoring buffers, whitening agents, wound-healing and inflammation inhibiting substances, colorants, dyes, pigments, abrasives, polishes, antimicrobial agents, pH buffers and combinations thereof.

31. The method of claim 25, wherein the carrier further comprises substances selected from the group consisting of glycerin, edible polyhydric alcohols, polyols and combinations thereof.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the polyols are selected from the group consisting of glycerol, propylene glycol, propylene glycol glycerol, polyethylene glycol, isomalt, xylitol, maltitol, sorbitol, mannitol and combinations thereof.

33. The method of claim 25, wherein the carrier is comprised of flavoring agents selected from the group of compounds consisting of oil of peppermint, oil of wintergreen, oil of spearmint, clove bud oil, parsley oil, eucalyptus oil, menthol, menthane, anethole, methyl salicylate, eucalyptol, cassia, 1-methyl acetate, sage, eugenol, oxanone, alpha-irisone, marjoram, lemon, orange, propenyl guaethol acetyl, cinnamon, vanilla, thymol, linalool, cinnamaldehyde glycerol acetal, N-substituted p-menthane-3-carboxamides, 3,1-methoxy propane 1,2-diol and combinations thereof.

34. The method of claim 25 wherein the carrier is further comprised of active compounds selected from the group consisting of chlorine dioxide, fluoride, alcohols, triclosan, domiphen bromide, cetyl pridinium chlorine, calcium lactate, calcium lactate salts, sodium fluoride, stannous fluoride, sodium monofluorophosphate, cetyl pyridium chloride, zinc salts, pyrophosphate, 1-hydroxyethane-1,2-diphosphonic acid, 1-phosphonopropane-1,2,3-tricarboxylic acid, azacycloalkane-2,2-diphosphonic acids, cyclic aminophosphonic acids and combinations thereof.

35. The method of claim 25, wherein the composition is in the form of toothpaste, gel, mouthwash, mouth rinse, gum, mouth spray, lozenge, subgingival irrigation fluid, coated fiber, an interproximal dental brush, a topically applied solution, candy gum drops, candy pieces, candy bars, and nougats or combinations thereof.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein said coated fiber further comprises floss.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein said coated fiber further comprises a toothbrush bristle.

38. The method of claim 25, further comprising a sweetener.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the carrier is comprised of sweetener selected from the group consisting of saccharin, fructose, xylitol, saccharin salts, thaumatin, aspartame, D-tryptophan, dihydrochalcones, acesulfame, cyclamate salts, and combinations thereof.

40. The method of claim 25, wherein the carrier is comprised of clouding agents selected from the group consisting of calcium citrate, esters of wood rosin, vegetable gum emulsion, caprylic/capric triglycerides, guar gum, gum arabic and high-stability oils.

41. The method of claim 25, wherein the carrier is comprised of abrasives or polishes selected from the group consisting of chalk, calcium carbonate, dicalcium phosphate, aluminum silicates, calcium pyrophosphate, finely particulate synthetic resins, silicas, aluminum oxide, aluminum oxide trihydrate, hydroyapatite finely insoluble sodium metaphosphate particulate, xerogel silica, hydrogel silica, precipitated silica, aluminum oxide trihydrate and finely particulate aluminum oxide and combinations thereof

42. The methods of claim 25, wherein the carrier is comprised of preservatives and antimicorbial agents selected from the group consisting of p-hydroxybenzoic acid, methyl ester, ethyl ester, propyl ester, sodium sorbate, sodium benzoate, bromochlorophene, phenyl salicylic acid esters, thymol, and combinations thereof.

43. The methods of claim 25, wherein the carrier is comprised of pH buffers selected from the group consisting of primary, secondary or tertiary alkali phosphates, citric acid, sodium citrate and combinations thereof.

44. The methods of claim 25, wherein the carrier is comprised of wound healing and inflammation inhibiting substances selected from the group consisting of allantoin, urea, azulene, camomile active substances, acetyl salicylic acid derivatives and combinations thereof.

45. The method of claim 25, wherein said carrier comprises a gelling agent.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein said gelling agent is selected from the group consisting of polycarboxylic acids, polycarboxylic acid salts, polysaccharides, polysaccharide derivatives, proteins, protein derivatives, polyalkylene oxides and fumed silica.

47. The method of claim 25, wherein said effective amount of Morinda citrifolia comprises between about 8 and 33 percent by composition weight, and wherein said carrier comprises between about 75 and 90 percent by composition weight.

48. The method of claim 25, wherein said effective amount of Morinda citrifolia between about 10 and 50 percent by composition weight, and wherein said carrier comprises between about 48 and 88 percent by composition weight.

49. The method of claim 25, wherein said method comprises a prophylaxis paste.

50. The method of claim 25, wherein said effective amount of Morinda citrifolia comprises between about 5 and 25 percent by composition weight, and wherein said carrier comprises glycerine, calcium carbonate, and silica.

51. The method of claim 25, wherein said glycerine comprising between 10 and 50 percent by carrier weight, said calcium carbonate comprising between 20 and 40 percent by carrier weight, and said silica comprising between about 20 and 40 percent by carrier weight.