instability of urea peroxide bicarbonate dentifrices examples of the hydrogen peroxide releasing dentifrice formulations of the invention containing water ex 39 s 3 and 5 were compared with a control containing 5 h 2 o control g the respective compositions and relative stabilities compared in the same manner as described in connection with examples 1 3 were as follows table vi______________________________________ toothpaste formulations example example control 3 5 g______________________________________polyethylene glycol 400 mw 30 45 32 65 29 65polyethylene glycol 8000 mw 0 9 0 9 0 9glycerin water 2 0 2 0 5 0sodium bicarbonate 56 0 56 0 56 0sodium percarbonate 6 0 6 0 6 0aerosil 200 1 0 0 5 0 5sodium lauroyl sarcosinate 0 3 0 3flavor 0 75 0 75 0 75saccharin 0 9 0 9 0 9sodium acetate 2 0 ______________________________________ table vii______________________________________ of active hydrogen peroxide______________________________________initial 1 28 1 73 1 631 week at 40 u00b0 c 1 36 4 weeks at room temp 1 72 1 703 weeks at 40 u00b0 c 1 24 0 696 weeks at 40 u00b0 c 1 226 weeks at room temp 1 46______________________________________ the preceding data demonstrate that formulations of the present invention containing up to 2 water ex 39 s 3 and 5 are more stable than formulas containing 5 water control g after 3 weeks storage at 40 u00b0 c further the data demonstrate that the formula containing an anhydrous hydratable salt ex 3 is significantly more stable than example 5.