Development of oral strips containing chitosan as active ingredient: a product for buccal health

In the last years, the number of products for oral care has been expanded to adapt to consumer needs. Thus, in addition to conventional products, new "pocket products" such as sugar-free chewing gums and oral strips (OS) have been developed for oral care. In the present study, OS were formulated using chitosan as the film-forming polymer in adequate concentrations to also be used as antimicrobial agent. Other strip components, such as the type of plasticizer, were also optimized. Mechanical properties of the optimal OS were evaluated and, due to chitosan's characteristic astringency, the strips were also sensorially evaluated.