Taste masking of phenolics using citrus flavors

The present invention relates to oral care products comprising citrus-masked phenolics Oral compositions including mouthwashes and dentifrices containing phenolic compounds have been formulated using one or more of the following: menthol, methyl salicylate, eucalyptol and thymol are well known (U.S. Pat. No. 4,945,087, PCT Int. Appl. Nos. WO 94 16,674; WO 94 07,477; WO 94 18,939). These compositions are characterized by their relatively high alcohol levels (20-27 volume %) which causes them to have negative aesthetics, including excessive "bite" and "bum". These compositions often have an unpleasant medicinal taste which can be unattractive to consumers. In particular, thymol is the ingredient which contributes most to the unpleasant, medicinal and harsh taste of these compositions although the combination of several phenolics imparts greater negative taste attributes to these compositions than any one phenolic by itself. An oral rinse, dentifrice, or oral gel composition comprising:a) about 0.01 weight % to about 5 weight % of a citrus flavor, citrus flavor ingredient, or mixtures thereof;b) about 0.01 weight % to about 5 weight % of a phenolic, said phenolic selected from the group consisting of menthol, eucalyptol, methyl salicylate, thymol, triclosan, and mixtures thereof; andc) an orally acceptable carrier.The claimed composition is useful in retarding the development of plaque, treating gingivitis, and reducing the viable population of micro-organisms in the oral cavity of a mammal.