Transparent dentifrices

Transparent dentifrices can be prepared from certain xerogel siUcas through use of high levels of polyhydric alcohols. Clarity depends on matching the refractive indexes of the siUca and the Hquid base. Compositions for Hquid facial cleansers (68), shampoos (69), conditioning shampoos (70), dandmff shampoos (71), surfactant bars (72), toothpastes (73), and mouthwashes (74) have been pubUshed. 

Transparent dentifrices can be prepared from certain xerogel silicas through use of high levels of polyhydric alcohols. Clarity depends on matching the refractive indexes of the silica and the liquid base. 

Gels. Amorphous hydrated silicas of a purity and stmcture typical of those used ia type 1 dentifrices and the liquid portion (humectant system) of type 1 dentifrices both have approximately the same refractive iadex, ie, about 1.47. As a result, the type 1 dentifrices represented ia Table 1 are inherently transparent or translucent. In the marketplace it has become popular to refer to such dentifrices as gels. For marketing reasons some companies have chosen to opacify these products, with titanium dioxide, for example. The opacified products are identical ia functionality, stmcture, and all other ways, except opacity, to their translucent or transparent counterparts. 

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