Disclosed is an oral care composition having: (i) 5 to 60 wt% abrasive； (ii) an anionic surfactant； and, (iii) a bipolar antimicrobial particle whose precursor is an asymmetric 1:1 or 2:1:1 clay particle comprising alternating tetrahedral and octahedral sheets terminating with a tetrahedral sheet at one external surface plane and an octahedral sheet at another external surface plane with an antimicrobial agent attached to the coordinating cation on one of the said external surface plane where the antibacterial agent is a quaternary ammonium material. The disclosed compositions are highly effective at controlling bacterial re-growth, as well as they are equally good at providing immediate control on the bacterial count.
