the useful anionic detergents are the higher alkyl sulfates higher alkyl sulfonates higher alkyl benzene sulfonates ethoxylated higher fatty alcohol sulfates monoglyceride sulfates higher fatty acid amides of amino lower carboxylic acids such as sodium lauroyl sarcoside phosphates and phosphonates corresponding to the above mentioned sulfates and sulfonates and sulfates and sulfonates of the well known nonionic surface active agents such as those of polyoxyethylene glycols of block copolymers of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide chain terminated with propylene glycol and of polyethoxylated middle alkyl phenols specific examples of useful anionic synthetic organic detergents or surface active agents for inclusion in this formula are triethanolamine lauryl sulfate linear dodecyl benzene sodium sulfonate potassium coconut oil monoglyceride sulfate ammonium paraffin sulfonate and ammonium paraffin sulfonate and ammonium polyoxyethylene stearyl alcohol sulfate the foam composition of the invention may also include a foam stabilizer or mixture of such stabilizers such materials may include organic gums and colloids serving as thickening agents to maintain the foam in the shape in which it was applied but it will often be found preferable to utilize the lower alkanolamides of higher fatty acids for this purpose an exemplary foam stabilizer is lauric myristic diethanolamide or lmdea in its various embodiments the composition of the invention may be within a range of ph 39 s which are safe for the hard and soft tissue of the mouth such ph 39 s are generally from about 3 to about 10 preferably from about 4 to.