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January 21, 2003
“Miracle Mouthwashes” and
more!
Dental mouthwashes or rinses that are compounded to meet a patient’s
specific needs may offer numerous advantages. It is desirable to
compound mouthwashes using pharmaceutical grade bulk powders as
a source of active ingredients (antibiotics, anesthetics, etc.)
versus the common practice of combining available liquids due to
concerns of palatability, flavor (different products have different
flavors which may not be compatible), limiting alcohol content,
and elimination of dyes used to color liquid preparations which
may cause an allergic reaction or stain the oral mucosa (lining
of the mouth).
Stability and compatibility are significant issues when drugs are
manufactured and are required to endure the distribution cycle.
An extended shelf-life is necessary for a drug to be stocked in
a warehouse and then
a pharmacy. Each manufactured product has numerous ingredients that
may contribute to compatibility or stability problems, but may need
to be included so that the product can maintain its taste, purity,
or consistency. If a preservative is necessary but the commercial
product is diluted by mixing with other products, then the preservative
may drop below its effective concentration.
When a medication is prepared at the time it is needed to meet the
needs of a specific patient, many of these concerns can be eliminated.
Compounding allows countless active ingredients to be incorporated
into customized mouthwashes, gels, troches, etc. For example, to
treat periodontal disease, antibiotics can be formulated as a mouthwash,
or added to an oral adhesive paste or a plasticized gel that will
maintain the contact between the tissue and medication for a longer
period of time.
Various preparations are also available to treat stomatitis, burning
mouth syndrome, and chemotherapy or radiation-induced mucositis.
Anesthetic/analgesic and antibiotic/anti-infective mouthwashes are
commonly requested. We can also compound mouthwashes that are
· alcohol-free which can reduce burning of irritated mucosa.
· sugar-free to reduce cariogenic potential and for diabetic
patients.
· flavored to please each patient.
We welcome your questions and requests!
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