Abstract: Toothpastes which contain 10-60 wt. % of polishing agents, 2-20 wt. % of humectants, 0.5-5 wt. % of water-soluble consistency regulators and 0.05-0.5 wt. % of antimicrobial biguanides, as well as 1-5 wt. % of other additives from the group of surface-active substances, aromatic oils, and sweeteners, have a particularly high biguanide availability if the polishing agent consists mainly of calcium carbonate, the consistency regulators are non-ionic polysaccharide derivatives and the surface-active substances are cationic surfactants with a linear alkyl group containing 12-18 carbon atoms and one or two tertiary amino groups or quaternary ammonium groups. Optionally a non-ionogenic solubilizer for the aromatic oil may also be present in the toothpastes.

Abstract: Oral and dental care preparations containing polysaccharide-splitting enzymes, particularly dextranase, contain alkylglycosides, preferably those corresponding to the general formulaRO--(C.sub.6 H.sub.10 O.sub.5).sub.x --H,in which R is an aliphatic radical of a primary C.sub.8-22 fatty alcohol and --(C.sub.6 H.sub.10 O.sub.5).sub.x --H is an oligoglycoside group having an average degree of oligomerization x of 1 to 10 and preferably 1 to 3, as enzyme-compatible and high-foaming surfactants with good wetting properties.

Abstract: Oral and dental hygiene preparations containing quaternary ammonium compounds of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is an n-alkyl group, preferably containing from 8 to 12 carbon atoms, R.sup.2 is hydrogen, a CH.sub.3 -group or a CH.sub.2 OH-group and R.sup.3 is a CH.sub.3 -group or a group of the formula --CH.sub.2 --CH(OH)--R.sup.2, A is an inorganic or organic acid anion and n is the basicity of the anion. The quaternary ammonium compounds of formula I can have a plaque inhibiting effect and show only slight antimicrobial activity. R.sup.1 is preferably an n-decyl group, R.sup.2 is hydrogen and R.sup.3 is a CH.sub.3 -group or a 2-hydroxyethyl group. The oral and dent al hygiene preparations also preferably contain fluorides and/or organophosphonates as the anion A.

Abstract: N-octyl salicylic acid amide and N-decyl salicylic acid amide, a process for their production from salicylic acid methyl ester and a primary amine, and use of the amides in antimicrobial compositions.

Abstract: Alkyl glycosides are used to greatly increase the microbicidal activity of biguanide compounds, such as chlorhexidine salts. The alkyl glycoside/biguanide agents have a particular utility in teeth cleaning preparations due to their improved microbicidal activity against gram-positive bacteria.

Abstract: Oral and dental preparations containing as an active ingredient an anti-caries effective amount of a C.sub.2-4 alkoxylated trihydric to hexahydric C.sub.3-12 aliphatic polyol wherein at least one hydroxyl moiety is esterified with phosphoric acid, or a physiologically compatible water soluble salt thereof.