A topical formulation for application to exposed body tissue, the formulation containing: (a) a silver oxide, and (b) at least one inorganic whitener； selected from the group of inorganic whiteners consisting of an inorganic magnesium compound and an inorganic calcium compound, said silver oxide and said inorganic whitener compound intimately dispersed within a carrier medium, and wherein a ratio of said inorganic whitener compound, to said silver oxide, is at least 0.2:1, by weight.
