Abstract: The invention provides plaque-inhibitory agents useful in oral compositions such as mouthwashes, toothpastes, mouthrinses, dental creams, toothpowders etc. comprising polysaccharides such as xanthan gum, gum tragacanth (pectin), guar gum, gum karaya, chondroitin sulfate, polygalacturonic acid, sodium alginate and carrageenans of the kappa/lambda configuration. The agents are effective in plaque-inhibiting at concentrations between about 0.0025% and 2.000% on a weight/volume basis.

Abstract: The invention provides an oral preparation or composition such as a mouthwash, mouthrinse, toothpaste and the like containing certain classes of surfactants which act to inhibit plaque formation by inhibiting the initial adherence of bacteria to the dentin surfaces and in the case of one class of surfactants additionally inhibiting the glucosyl transferase catalysis to prevent the synthesis of extracellular polysaccharides from sucrose.The surfactants comprise substituted taurines, substituted isethionates and substituted hydroxy sultaines in which the substituents are long chain hydrocarbon radicals. The surfactants are employed in the aqueous-based oral compositions at concentrations between about 0.00001M to 0.1M to effect inhibition.