as used throughout , ranges are used as a shorthand for describing each and every value that is within the range . any value within the range can be selected as the terminus of the range . individuals on various types of medications or who suffer from certain medical conditions , such as radiation exposure or other injury to the head and neck , mumps , sarcoidosis ; or ??? advancing age may experience a perception of “ dry mouth ”, i . e ., the perception that insufficient saliva is present in the oral cavity . the compositions and methods of this invention prevent and / or ameliorate this perception . the term “ dentifrice ” shall include toothpastes and gels and any other forms . the dentifrice composition may be in any desired from , such as deep striped , surface striped , multilayered , or any combination of gel and toothpaste . the term “ orally - acceptable vehicle ” as used herein shall include a suitable vehicle , which can be used to apply the present compositions to the oral cavity in a safe and effective manner . such vehicle may include , but is not limited to , materials such as fluoride ion sources , additional anticalculus agents , buffers , other abrasive materials , peroxide sources , alkali metal bicarbonate salts , thickening materials , humectants , water , surfactants , titanium dioxide , flavor system , sweetening agents , xylitol , coloring agents , and mixtures thereof . in one embodiment , a dentifrice composition may include ( 1 ) a base dentifrice which may include an orally acceptable vehicle , and ( 2 ) silicone oil beads distributed throughout the orally acceptable vehicle . in other embodiments , a dentifrice composition may further include one or more active agents . a dentifrice composition including an orally acceptable vehicle with silicone oil beads distributed throughout the orally acceptable vehicle may be applied to the oral cavity of a user , e . g . a person , in order to ameliorate a perception of dry mouth . each of the above described constituents and other constituents for use in various embodiments of the present invention are described hereafter . a vehicle for the components of the dentifrice composition may include any orally - acceptable vehicle suitable for use in the oral cavity . such carriers may include any of the usual components of toothpastes , tooth powders , prophylaxis pastes , lozenges , gums and the like , known or developed in the art . in some embodiments , an orally acceptable vehicle includes a water - phase . in some embodiments , the dentifrice composition includes water in an amount of about 5 % to about 10 % by weight . the orally acceptable vehicle may also include a humectant . in some embodiments , the humectant includes glycerine or sorbitol or an alkylene glycol such as polyethylene glycol or propylene glycol . in some embodiments , the humectant may be present in an amount of about 30 % to about 80 % by weight of the dentifrice composition . in other embodiments , the humectant may be present in an amount of about 50 % to about 70 % by weight . the orally acceptable vehicle may include an inorganic or a natural or synthetic thickener or gelling agent . the thickener or gelling agent may be present in an amount of about 0 . 10 % to about 5 % by weight . the thickener or gelling agent may be present in an amount of about 0 . 2 % to about 1 % by weight . a suitable amount of thickener is included in the dentifrice composition to suspend the silicone oil beads . it may be desired that the thickener is included in the dentifrice composition to form an extrudable , shape - retaining product that can be squeezed from a tube onto a toothbrush and will not fall between the bristles of the brush but rather , will substantially maintain its shape thereon . suitable thickeners or gelling agents for a dentifrice composition may include inorganic thickening silicas such as amorphous silicas available from huber corporation under the trade designation zeodent 165 , irish moss , carrageenan , gum tragacanth , and polyvinylpyrrolidone . in some embodiments , the orally acceptable vehicle includes at least one surfactant . suitable surfactants may include , but are not limited to , water - soluble salts of higher fatty acid monoglyceride monosulfates , such as the sodium salt of the monsulfated monoglyceride of hydrogenated coconut oil fatty acids , cocamidopropyl betaine , higher alkyl sulfates such as sodium lauryl sulfate , alkyl aryl sulfonates such as sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate , higher alkyl sulfoacetates , sodium lauryl sulfoacetate , higher fatty acid esters of 1 , 2 - dihydroxy propane sulfonate , and the substantially saturated higher aliphatic acyl amities of lower aliphatic amino carboxylic acid compounds , such as those having 12 to 16 carbons in the fatty acid , alkyl or acyl radicals , and the like . 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 . in some embodiments , the anionic surfactants are present in the dentifrice composition in an amount of about 0 . 3 % to about 5 % by weight . in other embodiments , the anionic surfactants are present in the dentifrice composition in an amount of about 0 . 5 % to about 2 % by weight . the dentifrice composition may also contain a binder agent . examples of suitable binder agents may include , but are not limited to , marine colloids , carboxyvinyl polymers , carrageenans , starches , cellulosic polymers such as hydroxyethylcellulose , carboxymethylcellulose ( carmellose ), hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose and salts thereof ( e . g ., carmellose sodium ), natural gums such as karaya , xanthan , gum arabic and tragacanth , chitosan , colloidal magnesium aluminum silicate , and colloidal silica . in some embodiments , abrasives are added to the dentifrice formulation . examples of suitable abrasives include , but are not limited to , silica abrasives such as precipitated silicas , sodium metaphosphate , potassium metaphosphate , tricalcium phosphate , dihydrated dicalcium phosphate , aluminum silicate , calcined alumina , bentonite or other siliceous materials , particulate thermosetting resins , such as melamine , phenolic , and urea - formaldehydes , and cross - linked polyepoxides and polyesters . the dentifrice compositions may also include a flavorant or a mixture of flavorants , including natural or synthetic flavorants , such as flavoring oils , flavoring aldehydes , esters , alcohols , similar materials , and combinations thereof . examples of suitable flavorants may include vanillin , spearmint oil , cinnamon oil , oil of wintergreen ( methylsalicylate ), peppermint oil , clove oil , anise oil , eucalyptus oil , citrus oils , fruit oils and essences . in some embodiments , the dentifrice composition includes flavorants such as limonene , menthone , carvone , menthol , anethole , eucalyptus oil , eucalyptol , anethole , eugenol , cassia , oxanone , . alpha .- irisone , propenyl guaiethol , thymol , linalool , benzaldehyde , cinnamaldehyde , n - ethyl - p - menthan - 3 - carboxamine , n , 2 , 3 - trimethyl - 2 - isopropylbutanamide , 3 - 1 - menthoxypropane - 1 , 2 - diol , cinnamaldehyde glycerol acetal ( cga ), methone glycerol acetal ( mga ) and cineole . other additives may be included in the dentifrice composition for reasons of manufacturing , stability , aesthetics , therapeutic effect , consumer appeal , etc . exemplary additives include all other conventional dentifrice additives , viscosity modifiers , diluents , foam modulators , saliva stimulating agents , desensitizing agents , whitening agents , enzymes , ph modifying agents , mouth - feel agents , sweeteners , colorants , opacifiers , and breath freshening agents . the dentifrice composition may also include silicone oil beads . in some embodiments , the silicone oil beads are distributed throughout an orally acceptable vehicle . any suitable silicone oil can be included in the dentifrice composition . in some embodiments , the silicone oil is at least one of trisiloxane , cyclomethicone , dimethicone , phenyltrimethicone , or combinations thereof . the silicone oil beads may be present in any suitable amount . in some embodiments , the silicone oil beads are present in an amount of about 1 % to about 3 % by weight or of about 5 % to about 50 % by weight of the dentifrice composition . in other embodiments , the silicone oil beads are present in an amount of about 20 % to about 30 % by weight of the composition . the silicone beads included in the invention may be any known or developed in the art ; such beads should , however , be capable of releasing the silicone oil into the oral cavity upon application . such release may be effected by any means or mode , including instantaneous or substantially instantaneous release , continuous release , mechanical means , and / or chemical means ( such as dissolution ). the beads may be forms of , for example , polymers , such as celluloses , gelatin , starches , gums , peptides or proteins , lactose and other saccharide polymers . the beads may be of any size . it may be preferred , however , that the beads of an average particle size of about 0 . 1 mm to about 1 mm or about 0 . 3 mm to about 0 . 5 mm or about 1 mm to about 3 . 5 mm , or up to about 5 mm . a dentifrice composition may also include at least one active agent . the active agent may be within the beads ( encapsulated with the silicone oil ( s )); it may be within the carrier / vehicle ; it may be embedded wholly or partially within the coating or outer shell of the beads . examples of suitable active agents include , but are not limited to , steroids , nsaids , a fluoride ion source , polycarboxylate polymers , polyvinyl methyl ether / maleic anhydride ( pvme / ma ) copolymers , an arginine ester , a zinc ion source , a stannous ion source , delmopinol , tartar control agents , an antibacterial agent , triclosan and salts thereof , chlorhexidine , alexidine , hexetidine , sanguinarine , benzalkonium chloride , salicylanilide , domiphenl bromide , cetylpyridinium chloride ( cpc ), tetradecylpyridinium chloride ( tpc ), n - tetradecyl - 4 - ethylpyridinium chloride ( tdepc ), octenidine , octapinol , nisin , a zinc ion source , a copper ion source , an essential oil , a furanone , anti - inflammatory agents , antiplaque agents , antioxidants , and a bacteriocins , and salts thereof , honokiol , vitamins , anti - attachment agents , proteinaceous agents , peptides . the composition of the invention may contain an anticaries active agent , such as fluoride ion providing compound , sodium fluoride , monosodium fluoride , calcium fluoride , and arginine salts , arginine bicarbonate , arginine phosphate , and arginine bicarbonate . in some embodiments , the dentifrice composition is a paste or gel . in some embodiments , the constituents of the dentifrice composition are chosen such that the composition may have viscosity of at least about 10 , 000 centipoise . a suitable amount of thickener may be included in the dentifrice composition to suspend the silicone oil beads . in some embodiments , a suitable amount of thickener is included in the dentifrice composition to form an extrudable , shape - retaining product which can be squeezed from a tube onto a toothbrush and will not fall between the bristles of the brush but rather , will substantially maintain its shape thereon . a dentifrice composition as described above may be applied to an oral cavity . in some embodiments , application of the dentifrice composition to an oral cavity ameliorates dry mouth feel , such as that associated with xerostomia . in some embodiments , application of the dentifrice composition to an oral cavity provides a clean yet moist feel in the oral cavity . in some embodiments , application of the dentifrice composition to an oral cavity results in positive mouth and / or tooth feel . in some embodiments , positive mouth and / or tooth feel includes at least one of the following qualities : superior clean feeling , fresh feeling , shiny tooth appearance , smooth tooth feel , cool mouth feel , fresh breath , moist mouth , hydrated mouth , and extended or lasting fresh breath . in some embodiments , the dentifrice composition is a toothpaste and / or gel . in some embodiments , the dentifrice composition is applied directly to the teeth , such as by a toothbrush , by hand , by swab , or by a film or strip . a dentifrice composition according is prepared by combining the following ingredients .
dentifrice composition and method of using such dentifrice composition to ameliorate dry mouth , where the dentifrice composition includes an orally acceptable vehicle having distributed therein silicone oil beads , and wherein the dentifrice composition has a viscosity of at least about 20 , 000 centipoise .