"Miracle mouthwash" is particularly beneficial for treating stomatitis, an inflammation in the mouth stemming from numerous conditions, including infections, allergies, cancer treatment and AIDS. Stomatitis can be severe enough to interfere with speaking and eating. Miracle mouthwash isn't a brand name product, as The Compounder Pharmacy explains, but a compound of four active ingredients that can treat a range of oral conditions at once. The mouthwash is available by prescription only, and a pharmacist mixes the ingredients on-site.
Dexamethasone
Miracle mouthwash contains a corticosteroid called dexamethasone. This steroid medication is similar to a hormone produced by the adrenal glands, according to Medline Plus. It relieves symptoms of inflammation, including pain, swelling, redness and heat.
Tetracycline
Tetracycline, an antibiotic, enables miracle mouthwash to kill bacteria in the mouth. Tetracycline is particularly useful for treating recurrent canker sores, also known as aphthous ulcers, according to SoftDental. Although an occasional canker sore may not be much of a problem, people with recurrent sores may have them for up to two months, along with tender swollen lymph nodes. Tetracycline eliminates the bacterial infection so the sores finally heal completely.
Nystatin
The miracle mouthwash compound contains nystatin, an antifungal medication. This substance works by binding to the cell membrane of the fungus and altering the membrane so the fungus cannot survive, according to Drugs.com. Nystatin is a standard treatment for the oral yeast infection known as thrush.
Diphenhydramine
The pharmacist also adds the antihistamine diphenhydramine, commonly known as the brand Benadryl, to miracle mouthwash. Diphenhydramine has a topical pain-relieving, or analgesic, effect, states Robert Twycross in his book "Palliative Care Forumlary." Diphenhydramine is included in another frequently prescribed compound mouthwash for stomatitis called "magic mouthwash." Consumers sometimes confuse these two compounds, but diphenhydramine is the only ingredient the two mouthwashes have in common.
