Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsUsesIngredientsDirectionsCostRisksEffectivenessOther Treatments
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Uses
Ingredients
Directions
Cost
Risks
Effectiveness
Other Treatments
This article will discuss how magic mouthwash is used and its ingredients. It also covers how well it works, potential side effects, and more.
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What Is Magic Mouthwash Used For?
In some cases,chemotherapy-induced mouth sorescan be so painful that they cause problems with eating, swallowing, and talking.Sometimes secondary bacterial or fungal infections can develop.
Miracle mouthwashMary’s magic mouthwashDuke’s mouthwash
The Most Common Chemotherapy Side Effects
Magic Mouthwash Ingredients
There is no standard recipe for magic mouthwash. Most formulations include some combination of the following ingredients:
How to Use Magic Mouthwash
Here are the steps to follow for using magic mouthwash properly:
Since there are so many different formulations, it’s important to ask your pharmacist how to use the one prescribed to you.
To find out how long it lasts after it’s opened, check with your pharmacist and read the label regarding the formula you’re using.
Can You Make Your Own Magic Mouthwash?There areDIY mouth rinsesthat you can put together with common kitchen ingredients, but these differ from most medical formulations of magic mouthwash. Magic mouthwash usually contains at least one (and often more) ingredient that requires a pharmacist to prepare and requires a doctor’s prescription to obtain.
Can You Make Your Own Magic Mouthwash?
There areDIY mouth rinsesthat you can put together with common kitchen ingredients, but these differ from most medical formulations of magic mouthwash. Magic mouthwash usually contains at least one (and often more) ingredient that requires a pharmacist to prepare and requires a doctor’s prescription to obtain.
Dosage and Frequency
For most preparations, instructions are to use 2 teaspoons of the solution to swish and spit out.
The process is repeated after meals and at bedtime. Wait about 30 minutes after using magic mouthwash before eating or drinking. The effects of magic mouthwash typically last about four hours.
Risks of Magic Mouthwash
The risks of magic mouthwash depend on the ingredients in the formula.
Formulations that contain a local anesthetic could potentially mask symptoms that would normally alert you to call your healthcare provider. This numbing effect could also make it more likely that you’ll bite down on the inside of your mouth or even choke when eating.
There are also potential risks associated with medications such as antihistamines, antibiotics, and antacids.
What Happens If You Swallow Magic Mouthwash?
Side Effects
Side effects can vary depending on the formulation and may include:
Some of the side effects can be difficult to distinguish from an allergic reaction, and it is hard to tell which ingredient is causing the reaction.
If you experience side effects, stop using magic mouthwash and contact your healthcare provider.
Is Magic Mouthwash Effective?
The benefit of magic mouthwash has come into question. The variations in formulas make it difficult to study. Some health experts recommend against using it, saying there’s not enough evidence that it’s more effective than salt water or baking soda rinses.
A 2019 study compared the results of magic mouthwash and doxepin mouthwash for radiotherapy and chemoradiotherapy patients. They found a limited improvement in pain for both mouthwashes, but not enough to be considered clinically important.
However, anecdotal reports from physicians and patients attest to at least some benefit in reducing pain with some formulations, so magic mouthwash is frequently prescribed.
Ask your treating cancer physician (oncologist) for their input about magic mouthwash. Mouth sores are common in people with cancer, so oncologists have insight into what may help reduce the pain. Your oncologist can offer guidance based on what has worked for other patients.
Other Treatments for Mouth Sores
For mild mouth sores, homemade mouthwashes, such as baking soda mixtures, mayreduce the risk of developing a secondary infection.
Other helpful treatments include:
Summary
Some research has questioned the effectiveness of magic mouthwash in treating the pain of mouth sores. Talk to your healthcare provider about whether you should use magic mouthwash or an alternative like cryotherapy or morphine mouthwash.
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Chaveli-López B, Bagán-Sebastián JV.Treatment of oral mucositis due to chemotherapy.J Clin Exp Dent. 2016;8(2):e201-e209. doi:10.4317/jced.52917Porporato P.Understanding cachexia as a cancer metabolism syndrome.Oncogenesis.2016;5(2):e200. doi:10.1038/oncsis.2016.3Sio TT, Le-Rademacher JG, Leenstra JL, et al.Effect of doxepin mouthwash or diphenhydramine-lidocaine-antacid mouthwash vs placebo on radiotherapy-related oral mucositis pain: the alliance a221304 randomized clinical trial.JAMA. 2019;321(15):1481. doi:10.1001/jama.2019.3504Uberoi AS, Brown TJ, Gupta A.Magic mouthwash for oral mucositis: a teachable moment.JAMA Intern Med. 2019;179(1):104-105. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2018.6223Fessele KL.Are you Choosing Wisely in your professional practice?.Clin J Oncol Nurs. 2016;20(2):211-212. doi:10.1188/16.CJON.211-212Brown TJ, Gupta A.Management of cancer therapy–associated oral mucositis.JCO Oncology Practice2020;16(3):103-109. doi:10.1200/JOP.19.00652American Cancer Society.Mouth soreness and pain.National Cancer Institute.Relieving mouth sores from cancer treatment: The discovery of palifermin.Anschau F, Webster J, Capra MEZ, de Azeredo da Silva ALF, Stein AT.Efficacy of low-level laser for treatment of cancer oral mucositis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Lasers Med Sci. 2019;34(6):1053-1062. doi:10.1007/s10103-019-02722-7
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Chaveli-López B, Bagán-Sebastián JV.Treatment of oral mucositis due to chemotherapy.J Clin Exp Dent. 2016;8(2):e201-e209. doi:10.4317/jced.52917Porporato P.Understanding cachexia as a cancer metabolism syndrome.Oncogenesis.2016;5(2):e200. doi:10.1038/oncsis.2016.3Sio TT, Le-Rademacher JG, Leenstra JL, et al.Effect of doxepin mouthwash or diphenhydramine-lidocaine-antacid mouthwash vs placebo on radiotherapy-related oral mucositis pain: the alliance a221304 randomized clinical trial.JAMA. 2019;321(15):1481. doi:10.1001/jama.2019.3504Uberoi AS, Brown TJ, Gupta A.Magic mouthwash for oral mucositis: a teachable moment.JAMA Intern Med. 2019;179(1):104-105. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2018.6223Fessele KL.Are you Choosing Wisely in your professional practice?.Clin J Oncol Nurs. 2016;20(2):211-212. doi:10.1188/16.CJON.211-212Brown TJ, Gupta A.Management of cancer therapy–associated oral mucositis.JCO Oncology Practice2020;16(3):103-109. doi:10.1200/JOP.19.00652American Cancer Society.Mouth soreness and pain.National Cancer Institute.Relieving mouth sores from cancer treatment: The discovery of palifermin.Anschau F, Webster J, Capra MEZ, de Azeredo da Silva ALF, Stein AT.Efficacy of low-level laser for treatment of cancer oral mucositis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Lasers Med Sci. 2019;34(6):1053-1062. doi:10.1007/s10103-019-02722-7
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Chaveli-López B, Bagán-Sebastián JV.Treatment of oral mucositis due to chemotherapy.J Clin Exp Dent. 2016;8(2):e201-e209. doi:10.4317/jced.52917Porporato P.Understanding cachexia as a cancer metabolism syndrome.Oncogenesis.2016;5(2):e200. doi:10.1038/oncsis.2016.3Sio TT, Le-Rademacher JG, Leenstra JL, et al.Effect of doxepin mouthwash or diphenhydramine-lidocaine-antacid mouthwash vs placebo on radiotherapy-related oral mucositis pain: the alliance a221304 randomized clinical trial.JAMA. 2019;321(15):1481. doi:10.1001/jama.2019.3504Uberoi AS, Brown TJ, Gupta A.Magic mouthwash for oral mucositis: a teachable moment.JAMA Intern Med. 2019;179(1):104-105. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2018.6223Fessele KL.Are you Choosing Wisely in your professional practice?.Clin J Oncol Nurs. 2016;20(2):211-212. doi:10.1188/16.CJON.211-212Brown TJ, Gupta A.Management of cancer therapy–associated oral mucositis.JCO Oncology Practice2020;16(3):103-109. doi:10.1200/JOP.19.00652American Cancer Society.Mouth soreness and pain.National Cancer Institute.Relieving mouth sores from cancer treatment: The discovery of palifermin.Anschau F, Webster J, Capra MEZ, de Azeredo da Silva ALF, Stein AT.Efficacy of low-level laser for treatment of cancer oral mucositis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Lasers Med Sci. 2019;34(6):1053-1062. doi:10.1007/s10103-019-02722-7
Chaveli-López B, Bagán-Sebastián JV.Treatment of oral mucositis due to chemotherapy.J Clin Exp Dent. 2016;8(2):e201-e209. doi:10.4317/jced.52917
Porporato P.Understanding cachexia as a cancer metabolism syndrome.Oncogenesis.2016;5(2):e200. doi:10.1038/oncsis.2016.3
Sio TT, Le-Rademacher JG, Leenstra JL, et al.Effect of doxepin mouthwash or diphenhydramine-lidocaine-antacid mouthwash vs placebo on radiotherapy-related oral mucositis pain: the alliance a221304 randomized clinical trial.JAMA. 2019;321(15):1481. doi:10.1001/jama.2019.3504
Uberoi AS, Brown TJ, Gupta A.Magic mouthwash for oral mucositis: a teachable moment.JAMA Intern Med. 2019;179(1):104-105. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2018.6223
Fessele KL.Are you Choosing Wisely in your professional practice?.Clin J Oncol Nurs. 2016;20(2):211-212. doi:10.1188/16.CJON.211-212
Brown TJ, Gupta A.Management of cancer therapy–associated oral mucositis.JCO Oncology Practice2020;16(3):103-109. doi:10.1200/JOP.19.00652
American Cancer Society.Mouth soreness and pain.
National Cancer Institute.Relieving mouth sores from cancer treatment: The discovery of palifermin.
Anschau F, Webster J, Capra MEZ, de Azeredo da Silva ALF, Stein AT.Efficacy of low-level laser for treatment of cancer oral mucositis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Lasers Med Sci. 2019;34(6):1053-1062. doi:10.1007/s10103-019-02722-7
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