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Activated Charcoal

Posted: Mon Aug 30, 2010 6:49 pm
by Larc400
Okay guys, when I take three activated charcoal pills (=750mg) at night before bed, I wake up with a better breath. Something happens with my saliva - it's usually very sticky/stinky, but seems cleaner when on the charcoal.


So, go to your pharmacist and get some charcoal, and give it a try.


Does this mean my BB has a gastrointestinal source after all..? :-k

Posted: Mon Aug 30, 2010 7:48 pm
by stressedout
Same thing I have been wondering about for a while. Tried activated charcoal too, does work for that day/night. Have not been able to figure out eating what causes problems for the digestion leading to bb. Frustrating.

Posted: Mon Aug 30, 2010 9:23 pm
by halitosisux
Larc, roughly what kind of BB do you have?
Does your tongue get smelly/tonsil stones/coming out of the lungs only, etc

Posted: Tue Aug 31, 2010 2:03 am
by stressedout
Looking at the bigger and more complicated picture, if saliva gets an effect on by taking activated charcoal, I am wondering how so many hidden issues can be interconnected - malabsorption/food intolerances, lack of enzymes, candida, sinus/throat issues leading to alted saliva, what else? Aydinmur, what is your opinion on this? It is a never-ending circle to find the original cause.

Posted: Tue Aug 31, 2010 5:17 am
by Larc400
In the case of TMAU, the odorous compound (TMA) is secreted everywhere, including saliva. So TMAU-patients are advised to use charcoal to neutralize the odour.

I don't have TMAU though (negative urine test a few years ago) but maybe something similar. :|

Posted: Tue Aug 31, 2010 5:22 am
by Larc400
halitosisux wrote:Larc, roughly what kind of BB do you have?
Does your tongue get smelly/tonsil stones/coming out of the lungs only, etc
My tongue and saliva stink, that's for sure. I thought I had the classic tongue-based anaerobic BB, but it could be a false lead. Maybe the source is elsewhere for some of us, and the tongue-smell is secondary?

Posted: Tue Aug 31, 2010 11:56 am
by brightonguy
Larc400, I'm also wondering whether the tongue is really the source in my case too. Like a lot of people I've been hung up on the tongue for ages because the literature suggests it's the key in most halitosis cases. Aydinmur stated though that he rarely sees Type 1 cases in his clinic - okay, this might be because (as he himself acknowledges) true Type 1 cases get sorted out by dentists and the reamining cases which dentists can't sort out end up seeing him. Confused!

Posted: Tue Aug 31, 2010 7:13 pm
by halitosisux
Larc, what you said is a real possibility that is difficult to prove or disprove.

The same volatile chemicals produced by oral bacteria can also be produced by gut bacteria and potentially find their way into the mouth via the secretions of mucus and saliva.

It is known that in TMAU, trimethylamine is found in most bodily secretions, including saliva. Whether there is any evidence of other volatile chemicals in saliva or mucus is the important question.

The mechanisms behind TMAU are fairly well understood, and its quite likely there are other very similar 'disorders' which could produce odours in an almost identical way.

If charcoal is reducing your BB then its significant.

There are also lots of ways that foul smelling chemicals can be produced in the gut and find their way into the breath, apart from just defective enzymes. Secondary TMAU is an example of this.

Posted: Tue Aug 31, 2010 8:20 pm
by stressedout
I remember when I was small and got sick, a doctor would always check the tongue. Tongue speaks about the inner health. If sinuses/tonsils are fine and are not the cause, then I really doubt there are many of us whose direct cause is the tongue/saliva. Unhealthy/smelly tongue is the outcome of something else going on in the body.

Posted: Wed Sep 01, 2010 6:38 pm
by aydinmur
>Whether there is any evidence of other volatile chemicals
>in saliva or mucus is the important question.

Of course there are. Ammonia, nitrous oxyde, B-hydroxy-butirat, valeric acid, and more volatile chemicals are found in saliva.



>I am wondering how so many hidden issues can be interconnected -
>malabsorption/food intolerances, lack of enzymes, candida, sinus/
>throat issues leading to alted saliva, what else? Aydinmur,
>what is your opinion on this?


I have no idea how charcoal mechanism works. I guess its placed some pills used for digestive problems (like intestinol). If one person says "charcoal stops my halitosis" , then, I order feces digestion test to detect his pancreatic sufficiency, and stool pH. Furthermore, its necessary to ask a lot of question to this person.


>Aydinmur stated though that he rarely sees Type 1 cases
>in his clinic - okay, this might be because


The day before yesterday one dentist said: "I have never encountered type 4 case, neither type 3. My all patients type 1 or unresolved halitosis cases".
I guess, Their unresolved halitosis patients may be type 2/3/4/5 cases forwarded to me.
Greetings
- Murat

Posted: Wed Sep 01, 2010 7:05 pm
by Phantasist
Dr. Aydin Murat,

"Of course there are. Ammonia, nitrous oxyde, B-hydroxy-butirat, valeric acid, and more volatile chemicals are found in saliva."

I'm assuming that these substances are NOT in saliva as it is produced by the salivary glands, but that they are absorbed once the saliva comes in contact with them in the mouth.

Posted: Wed Sep 01, 2010 7:52 pm
by halitosisux
Phantasist, yes this is what I meant. Whether volatile chemicals are detectable in saliva as TMA is in cases of TMAU.
Other volatile chemicals could be finding their way into the saliva via the same pathways, but for different reasons.

Posted: Thu Sep 02, 2010 6:39 am
by caramiamine98
Anyone who is interested in trying activated charcoal should note the following.
Activated charcoal is highly adsorbent; when it is ingested at the same time as medication, supplements and foods it may decrease their absorption and utilization. Therefore, always allow 2 hours before and wait 2 hours after using activated charcoal to eat, take supplements or swallow medication.

http://www.vrp.com/articles.aspx?ProdID=art327&zTYPE=2
Cheers, C

Posted: Thu Sep 02, 2010 2:56 pm
by aydinmur
Phantasist wrote:I'm assuming that these substances are NOT in saliva as it is produced by the salivary glands, but that they are absorbed once the saliva comes in contact with them in the mouth.
Yes, they are not secreted by gland parankim tissue. They are produced by oral bacteria and solved in saliva.

-Murat

Posted: Thu Sep 02, 2010 6:56 pm
by Larc400
aydinmur wrote: then, I order feces digestion test to detect his pancreatic sufficiency, and stool pH.

1) Which feces digestion test is this, specifically?

2) What information would you deduct from the stool pH?