Iodine + Potassium Iodide + Thymol + Menthol + Tannic Acid + Glycerin is intended to treat mouth ulcers, cold sores, and swollen, bleeding gums. For the treatment of cold sores, fever blisters, and poison ivy, tannic acid works by precipitating the proteins that contract skin cells. Thus, it helps in healing and relieves irritation due to mouth ulcers. It soon starts to kill bacteria and viruses due to its potent bactericidal activity. Camphor and menthol both have local analgesic effects, but menthol also has a cooling effect. Thymol is an antiseptic that aids in eradicating gum infection.