polymer polyvinyl pyrrolidone and the like in preparing paste like and liquid oral compositions typically toothpastes and mouthwashes a humectant may be blended generally in an amount of 10 to 70 by weight including polyethylene glycol ethylene glycol sorbitol glycerol propylene glycol 1 3 butylene glycol xylitol maltitol lactitol and the like in addition to the above ingredients a surface active agent including water soluble salts of alkyl sulfate having 8 to 18 carbon atoms such as sodium laurate and sodium myristate sodium salts of higher fatty acids water soluble salts of sulfonates monoglycerides of higher fatty acids having 10 to 18 carbon atoms in the fatty acid group such as sodium lauryl monoglyceride sulfonate and sodium coconut monoglyceride sulfonate sodium monoglyceride monosulfates of higher fatty acids olefin sulfonates paraffin sulfonates sodium n methyl n palmitoyl taurate sodium n lauroyl sarcosinate sodium n lauroyl u03b2 alaninate stearyl monoglyceride alkyrol ethanol amides such as lauroyl monoethanol amide and lauroyl diethanol amide sucrose fatty acid esters having 12 to 18 carbon atoms in the fatty acid group such as sucrose monolaurate and dilaurate lactose fatty acid esters lactitol fatty acid esters maltitol fatty acid esters stearic acid monoglyceride polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate polyoxyethylene hardened castor oil condensates of sorbitan monostearate with approximately.