an alkali metal or ammonium zinc tartrate m 2 znc 4 h 4 o 6 , wherein m is ammonium or an alkali metal , preferably sodium or potassium , is prepared by admixing a suspension of zinc tartrate in water with ammonium hydroxide or alkali metal hydroxide until the solution is clear and all of the zinc tartrate is dissolved . the solution is then adjusted to ph 7 . 5 by the addition of an aqueous solution of tartaric acid . the resulting solution can be used as is or evaporated to dryness to obtain the solid complex . the reaction may be carried at ambient temperature in water , as set forth in the following example . in a suitable reaction vessel , 3 grams of zinc tartrate was suspended in 20 cc of water , and the suspension was stirred mechanically . ammonium hydroxide solution was added dropwise until all the zinc tartrate was dissolved . a concentrated solution of tartaric acid was added dropwise until the solution , which had an alkaline ph , was brought down to a ph of 7 . 5 . the clear solution was evaporated under gentle heat in a suitable vessel to obtain the solid zinc complex . the powdered material was odorless and very soluble in water that had been adjusted to ph 7 . 5 by addition of ammonium hydroxide . when the powdered material was admixed with a sodium or potassium hydroxide aqueous solution and heated , ammonia gas was liberated . when a small amount of the powdered product was heated in a bunsen burner flame on a piece of platinum foil it melted , then carbonized , and finally decomposed to a white residue of zinc oxide . in a similar manner , other alkali metal zinc tartrate complexes are produced , using sodium or potassium hydroxide in place of the ammonium hydroxide . for example , potassium zinc tartrate is produced when potassium hydroxide is employed . ______________________________________formulation a - a mouthwash and oxygenating rinse______________________________________water 400 mlurea peroxide 40 gmammonium zinc tartrate 10 gmsodium lauryl sulfate 1 . 0 gmsodium saccharin 0 . 125 gmalcohol 10 mlflavor 5 mlcolor q . s . ______________________________________ ______________________________________formulation b - a toothpastecomponent parts by weight______________________________________glycerin 10 . 00sorbitol 70 % in water 10 . 00dicalcium phosphate 30 . 00sodium lauryl sulfate 1 . 50ammonium zinc tartrate 5 . 00sodium fluoride 2 . 00sodium carboxymethyl cellulose 2 . 00magnesium aluminum silicate 0 . 80methyl paraben . sup . 1 preservative 0 . 06propyl paraben . sup . 2 preservative 0 . 02flavor 1 . 00distilled water balance to 100 . 00______________________________________ . sup . 1 methylp - hydroxybenzoate . sup . 2 propylp - hydroxybenzoate ______________________________________formulation c - an antiplaque dentifricecomponent parts by weight______________________________________glycerin 15 . 00sorbitol 70 % in water 5 . 00dicalcium phosphate 30 . 00sodium monofluorophosphate 2 . 00sodium lauryl sulfate 2 . 00sodium carboxymethyl cellulose 2 . 00ammonium zinc tartrate 2 . 00sodium zinc tartrate 1 . 00triclosan . sup . 3 bacteriostat 0 . 20flavor 1 . 00distilled water balance to 100 . 00______________________________________ . sup . 3 5chloro - 2 -( 2 , 4 - dichlorophenoxy ) phenol in the prior art formulations containing both zinc ions and fluoride ions were not practical ; since , as discussed above , insoluble zinc fluoride was formed , thereby effectively eliminating both ions from the solution . in contrast , the novel ammonium or alkali metal zinc tartrates of the present invention are compatible with fluoride ions over a wide range of concentrations without forming any insoluble precipitates . thus , incorporating the protective action of fluoride and the antiplaque action of zinc in a single oral rinse or dentifrice formulation is entirely practical . for example , the preferred liquid dentifrices may be conveniently prepared by simple addition of ingredients , in no particular order , to a water or water / alcohol solvent system containing the aforementioned zinc complex and fluoride compound . optional ingredients being , for example , a humectant such as glycerine , sorbitol , polyethylene glycol , and the like to give a moist feel in the mouth , generally in amounts up to about 20 . 0 percent by weight , and preferably from about 5 . 0 to about 20 . 0 percent by weight . additional additives include , but are not limited to , a nonionic antimicrobial agent such as triclosan , generally from about 0 . 1 percent to 2 . 0 percent , preferably from about 0 . 2 percent to 0 . 5 percent ; a natural or synthetic sweetening agent such as dextrose , levulose , mannitol , saccharin , cyclamate , and the like , generally from about 0 . 05 to about 2 . 0 percent by weight ; a flavoring agent such as peppermint oil , spearmint oil , wintergreen oil ( methyl salicylate ), clove oil , anise oil , orange oil and the like , generally from about 0 . 01 to about 2 . 0 percent by weight ; and a surface - active or sudsing agent such as , for example , a sodium alkyl benzene sulfonate , sodium alkyl sulfate or a nonionic or anionic organic synthetic detergent , generally from about 0 . 05 to about 10 . 0 percent by weight preferably from about 0 . 5 to about 5 . 0 percent by weight . all the foregoing are conventional surfactants utilized in dentifrice formulations . as set forth in u . s . pat . no . 4 , 469 , 764 ( shah ) in substantially solid or semi - solid oral compositions such as dental creams , pastes and gels , the liquids and solids should be proportioned to form an extrudable creamy mass of desirable consistency . liquids in these formulations will generally comprise chiefly water , glycerin , sorbitol , propylene glycol or the like , including suitable mixtures thereof . it is usually advantageous to employ a mixture of both water and a humectant or binder such as glycerin or sorbitol , preferably glycerin . the total liquid content will generally be about 20 to 75 percent by weight of the formulation . it is also preferred to use a gelling agent such as a natural or synthetic gum and gumlike material , e . g . irish moss , gum traganth , xanthan gum , veegum regular , sodium carboxymethylcellulose , polyvinylpyrrolidone , starch and the like . the irish moss and sodium carboxymethylcellulose are particularly compatible and are preferred gelling agents . the gum content is usually in an amount up to about 10 percent and preferably about 0 . 5 to 5 percent by weight of the formulation . an essential ingredient in dental cream formulations is an effective abrasive amount of a suitable dental abrasive , generally from about 10 to about 60 percent by weight and preferably from about 20 to about 50 percent by weight . as noted previously , this abrasive must not interact with either the zinc or fluoride component . typical compatible abrasives include , for example , insoluble metaphosphates , finely divided silicas , bentonite and the like . the preferred abrasive is silica . various other materials may be incorporated as adjuvants in dental creams . examples thereof are coloring or whitening agents , preservatives , silicones , chlorophyll compounds , ammoniated materials such as urea , diammoniumphosphate and mixtures thereof , and other constituents . a small amount of colloidal silica , for example , is often incorporated into toothpaste formulations as a thickener , giving some body to the formulation upon swelling when in contact with water . the foregoing adjuvants are suitably selected and incorporated in the instant compositions in amounts which do not have a substantially adverse affect on the properties and characteristics desired for the particular type of composition . it will be further understood that the invention as described and illustrated above can be modified without departing from the basic concept , that is the use in oral compositions of ammonium or alkali metal zinc tartrate as a source of zinc ions either in the presence or absence of fluoride ions .
an ammonium or alkali metal zinc tartrate used in oral compositions such as mouthwashes , gingival and subgingival irrigating solutions , dentifrices , and the like as well as in other preparations for treating oral lesions .