The invention includes a toothpaste or other orally applied product to be used at least once daily to help prevent or inhibit the acquisition of a number of infections by oral or pharyngeal tissues, including the "common" cold. These compositions possess a combination of ingredients not found in other toothpastes or other orally applied products, and these ingredients work together to synergistically interfere with the acquisition of a number of pathogens. The toothpastes will have the usual dentifrice ingredients known to prevent tooth decay, as well as those that reduce halitosis (i.e., bad breath), and prevent gingivitis. In addition, the toothpastes will include one or more of: 1) starch impregnated with a zinc salt, preferably zinc gluconate； 2) corilagin as an individual compound, and not as an extract component； 3) zinc protoporphyrin IX； and 4) one or more other colorless or low-color tannin each as an individual compound, and not as an extract component.
