Oral care compositions containing an oral care ingredient and a thickening agent, wherein the thickening agent comprises a strongly swellable, lightly to moderately crosslinked polyvinyl pyrrolidone. The polyvinyl pyrrolidone thickening agent is characterized by an aqueous gel volume of about 15 to 150 ml/g and a Brookfield viscosity of at least 10,000 cps for a 5% aqueous solution at 25° C.
