Magic mouthwash is a medicated mix in liquid form. It’s a common treatment for a sore mouth. You may get mouth sores or blisters because of cancer treatments or an infection. This condition is called oral (mouth) mucositis.
Magic mouthwash goes by a variety of names, including:
- miracle mouthwash
- mixed medicated mouthwash
- Duke’s magic mouthwash
- Kaiser’s magic mouthwash
- Mary’s magic mouthwash
There are several kinds of magic mouthwash, which may account for the different names. Each has slightly different ingredients in varying amounts.
Both adults and children can use magic mouthwash.
Children and younger adults are more likely to developmouth sores. This is because they shed older cells faster. However, older adults with mouth sores usually heal slower than children and younger people.
In many adults, the most likely causes of mouth sores arechemotherapyandradiationtreatments.
Other causes of mouth sores include:
- Oral thrush.Oral thrushlooks like small white bumps on the tongue and inside the mouth. Caused by yeast overgrowth, this condition is also known as thrush and oral candidiasis.
- Stomatitis.Stomatitisis a general term for soreness or inflammation inside the lips or mouth. Two main kinds arecold soresandcanker sores. Stomatitis may be caused by theherpes virus.
- Hand, foot, and mouth disease.This viral infection is caused by the coxsackievirus, and it spreads easily.Hand, foot, and mouth diseasecauses sores in the mouth andrasheson the手and feet. It’s most common in children under 5 years old.
Magic mouthwash is a mixture of powder and liquid medications.
There are several formulas for this mixture, and it typically contains a combination of at least three of the following:
- anantibioticto prevent or stop a bacterial infection, such as tetracycline
- anantifungal medicationto prevent or stop afungal infection, such as nystatin
- a numbing medication to soothe pain, such as lidocaine
- anantihistamineto bring down swelling, such as diphenhydramine
- asteroidto reduce redness and swelling from inflammation, such as:
- dexamethasone
- hydrocortisone
- anantacidto help the mouthwash coat the mouth, such as:
- aluminum hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide, which are found together in Maalox and Mylanta
- kaolin
- sucralfate
According to the
- nystatin
- diphenhydramine
- dexamethasone
Another popular formulation combines:
- viscous lidocaine 2 percent
- diphenhydramine
- aluminum hydroxide, Maalox, or Mylanta
At-home recipes
Avoid at-home recipes for magic mouthwash. They won’t have the same quality of ingredients.
Magic mouthwash is only available by prescription. It may need to be created in a compounding pharmacy, a special facility where pharmacists mix custom medications, including those that aren’t easily commercially available.
You can typically keep a bottle of magic mouthwash in the refrigerator for up to 90 days.
Here’s how to use magic mouthwash:
- Pour a dose of the magic mouthwash with a sterile spoon or measuring cap.
- Hold the liquid in your mouth and gently swish it around for 1 or 2 minutes.
- 吐出的液体。吞咽可能会造成effects, like an upset stomach.
- Avoid eating or drinking anything for at least 30 minutes after taking magic mouthwash. This helps the medication stay in the mouth long enough to work.
Dosage and frequency
A doctor or pharmacist will recommend the right dosage of magic mouthwash for you. This depends on the type of magic mouthwash they prescribe and the condition of your mucositis.
In a 2015 study, the magic mouthwash dose was10 milliliters every 3 hoursfor up to six times per day. This dose was taken for 6 days.
However, according to an older 2005 study, most institutions in the United States recommend you only take magic mouthwashevery 4 or 6 hours.
Your doctor may continue, lower, or stop your dosage depending on how the magic mouthwash is working for you.
Cost of magic mouthwash
Not all insurance companies pay for magic mouthwash. Check with your insurance provider to see if it’s covered.
Magic mouthwash contains strong medications. Like any other medication, it may have side effects.
Magic mouthwash can make some oral symptoms worse. It can lead to mouth problems, such as:
It can also cause side effects, such as:
The side effects of magic mouthwash usually go away a few days to a few weeks after you stop using it.
Magic mouthwash may help treat a sore mouth and ease mucositis symptoms. A doctor may also recommend it to help prevent mouth sores.
It’s difficult to know how well it works, though. In some cases, other treatments for mouth sores may work better.
According to a2015 study, a treatment calledoral cryotherapymay be better for some people, because it doesn’t usually cause side effects. This treatment uses cold therapy to treat infected or irritated areas in the mouth.
Asmall 2015 studyfound that morphine mouthwash may be better than magic mouthwash at treating mouth sores. The study subjects included 30 adults who were being treated forhead and neck cancer. More research is needed to confirm the results.
A2011 studycompared magic mouthwash with 0.15 percent benzydamine hydrochloride. Benzydamine hydrochloride is a medication that helps bring down inflammation, swelling, and pain.
The researchers concluded that magic mouthwash was just as effective as the 0.15 percent benzydamine hydrochloride in helping prevent the development of mouth sores in people undergoing radiotherapy for head and neck cancer.
In addition to morphine mouthwash and 0.15 percent benzydamine hydrochloride, other possible treatments for mouth sores include:
- chlorhexidine mouthwash, which is only available by prescription
- calcium phosphate rinse
- a rinse made withbaking sodaand salt
- MuGard, an oral gel that may be swallowed or swished around in the mouth like a mouthwash
Products that may be used to help prevent mouth sores include:
- palifermin (Kepivance), an intravenous (IV) medication that’s used to treat and prevent mouth sores from cancer treatment
- honey
More conclusive research is needed to confirm how effective they are. However, theAmerican Academy of Nursingstates that many alternatives are at least as effective as magic mouthwash.
Magic mouthwash may sound harmless, but it’s made of powerful medications. Follow a healthcare professional’s instructions closely, and don’t use more than prescribed.
If you’re undergoing cancer treatment, talk with your doctor about how to help prevent a sore mouth. Ask a nutritionist about the best foods to eat with a sore mouth.
Like other medications, magic mouthwash may not work for everyone. It can also cause side effects.
Tell your doctor immediately if you experience any negative effects or if you think it’s not working for you. Your doctor may recommend other treatments for your mouth sores.