Is Optimized Magic Mouthwash part of your oral treatment arsenal? Not all are created equal
Magic Mouthwash. That name says a lot. While this oral treatment has seen success, that success depends on what’s inside. And that can vary from prescription to prescription, and between dispensing pharmacies.
Magic Mouthwash is not a brand name, and while it seems subjective, it’s a colloquial term used even in scholarly studies. What it is in fact is a prescription mouthwash that is used to treat sores or infections in the mouth caused by a variety of issues. Dentists, Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) specialists, as well as radiologists, will prescribe this treatment to deal with Aphthous Ulcers (canker sores) or oral mucositis (sores of the mouth). Causes for these types of afflictions vary, including stress, genetics, trauma, food sensitivities, and tobacco use. Oral mucositis occurs most often induced as a result of radiation treatments when those cancer treatments also break down healthy cells in the mouth and throat.
The ingredients in Magic Mouthwash will vary, but usually contain a few of the following:
- An antihistamine
- A local anesthetic
- An antifungal
- An antibiotic
- An anti-inflammatory
- Or, other ingredients when mucositis is involved
The most effective versions also include additional ingredients that help everything adhere to the tissue inside the mouth–not an easy task. In most cases, the prescription requires the Magic Mouthwash to be held in the mouth for as long as two minutes, swished around, then spit out or swallowed. With a well-designed mucoadhesive vehicle, medication residue can remain in contact with tissue for prolonged action.
The fact that not all Magic Mouthwash is the same is not in itself an issue. This treatment, when created by a compounding pharmacy can be targeted specifically for the patient, and the patient’s particular situation. The prescribing dentist, ENT specialist, or radiologist, with the help of the pharmacist, can put together a Magic Mouthwash formula designed to specifically treat the mouth or throat issue being treated. The trick here…really the SCIENCE here is to choose a formula that is customized to the patient’s condition. This is where treatment of this type will have the greatest success.
Better than your average mouthwash?
One of the things that make Magic Mouthwash a better treatment solution than commercially available mouthwashes is what Magic Mouthwash doesn’t contain–alcohol. The presence of alcohol for some patients is unacceptable. Alcohol is present in many over-the-counter (OTC) treatments, and even in some Magic Mouthwash products.
From the prescriber’s point of view, successful treatment has to include the right ingredients, created with the highest degree of safety and quality. To increase the probability of patient adherence to the treatment plan, making it taste good (or at least better) is certainly important. It should contain the right amount of these specific agents, while NOT containing elements that either reduce the efficacy of the treatment or increase the risk of unnecessary negative side effects.
Don’t leave success up to chance
The bottom line for healthcare professionals as well as patients is a successful treatment plan. If an oral treatment for issues like oral mucositis or Aphthous Ulcers includes Magic Mouthwash, the greatest possibility of success will come from a mouthwash formulation that targets the issue most effectively, efficiently, and for the longest period of time – also known as Optimized Magic Mouthwash.
Health Dimensions Clinical Pharmacy has been providing pharmaceutical solutions to doctors and their patients since 1996. Locally owned and based in southern Michigan, Health Dimensions Clinical Pharmacy was among the nation’s first compounding pharmacies to earn accreditation by the Pharmacy Compounding Accreditation Board (PCAB) of the Accreditation for Healthcare Commission (2006). Our mission is to partner with physicians to provide service excellence, accuracy, and rapid response for improved patient outcomes. To learn more about building a partnership, call Health Dimensions Clinical Pharmacy at (800) 836-2303.
