Activated Charcoal Side Effects

Do you think activated charcoal is always beneficial? Then think once again. When carbon is treated with oxygen, activated charcoal comes out as a product. It is made from several carbonaceous materials such as coal, nutshell and wood. 

There are broadly two methods by which activated charcoal is produced, physical reactivation and chemical activation. Activated charcoal is processed in such a manner that it becomes extremely porous, soft and dark colored powder. These properties allow it to have larger area for absorption, which makes it able to bind unwanted and toxin substances in its gut. 

Activated charcoal absorbs chemicals such as chlorine from drinking water thus, filtering and cleaning tap water and converting it into a healthier drinking water. Apart from this, there are numerous other uses of activated charcoal. 

However, overdose of activated charcoal can cause poisoning or other severe problem. It can also cause constipation or intestinal obstruction. In the following lines, we have provided the side effects of activated charcoal.

Adverse Effects of Activated Charcoal:

1. When you use activated charcoal suspension, make sure to discuss its side effects with the doctor, as it may causes gastrointestinal side effects, which includes nausea, vomiting and constipation. Also, bowel obstruction, black colored stools, and perforation of the gastrointestinal tract and subsequent charcoal peritoneum is reported.
2. Activated charcoal may also cause severe allergic reactions, such as breathing problem, tightness in the chest, swelling of the face, lips, mouth or tongue, etc.
3. During laparotomy, charcoal is revealed throughout the peritoneum because of which a young female may develop a surgically acute abdomen. It has many side effects like abscess formation, persistent peritoneal charcoal deposits, small dowel resections, peritonitis, etc.
4. Multiple doses of activated charcoal may result in ileus. It may also generate a chalk-like taste in the mouth and tongue surface which can be unpalatable.
5. Activated charcoal also may have metabolic side effects when combined with sorbitol like dehydration, shock, hypernatremia (disruption of the electrolytes caused by increased levels of sodium within the blood), hypermagnesemia and electrolyte abnormalities. Multiple dose of charcoal may also result in these side effects.
6. Respiratory side effects are also caused by it, which includes empyema, bronchiolitis, adult respiratory distress syndrome, etc. Adult respiratory distress syndrome occurs because of a wrong administration of activated charcoal directly into the lungs of an adult. Empyema is basically a gathering of pus within the cavity between lungs and membranes in its surroundings. Bronchitis is a blocking of airways with granulation tissue.
7. Corneal abrasions are also one of the side effects of activated charcoal. If it comes in contact with the eyes, it may cause corneal abrasions, which mean scratches over the clear portion of the eye.
8. Activated charcoal’s excessive intake also has hematologic side effects, which include exacerbation of variegate porpyria. This condition sometimes culminates into increased lesions on skin, plasma and urine porphyrins.
9. Activated charcoal must be avoided by pregnant women, nursing women and aged.
10. Activated charcoal should never be used concomitantly with any medication or nutritional supplements.
11. So, the next time you plan to consume activated charcoal, make sure you consider its side effects, lest it causes any adverse condition.

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Dry Socket Symptoms

Almost everybody dreads a visit to the dentist. Even the prospect of impeccable teeth isn’t an incentive effective enough to lure petrified bad-toothed individuals to step into a dental clinic. Imagine the trauma endured by a victim of dental phobia who is on the way to receiving a tooth extraction! But once struck by the excruciating pain elicited by wisdom teeth (the third and final set of molars we develop in our late teens or early twenties), those fears vanish as the dentist is our only savior. 

You bear every ounce of pain with a fake smile and pray that you won’t have to set foot into the clinic again. However, hold your breath because the intolerable toothache might still persist; if that is the case, then you are probably suffering from a severe condition popularly known as the “dry socket”, and scientifically referred to as “alveolar osteitis”.

Dry Sockets are temporary in nature and aren’t particularly common. Dry sockets prevail when the blood in and around the tooth extraction site fails to clot. In turn, the underlying bone and nerves get exposed to air, food, fluid or any other element that might enter the mouth. 

This could lead to a bad infection and unbearable throbbing pain lasting for over five days. Around 2% to 5% of the people in the world tend to develop severe cases of dry sockets post tooth extractions. If you’ve recently extracted your wisdom teeth, keep a wary eye for the following symptoms.

Symptoms of Dry Sockets:

• If you notice a visible dry bone in the socket instead of a blood clot on inspection of the tooth extraction site, then you are barely minutes away from experiencing tremendous pain and the dry socket condition.

• Nerve endings often transmit pain signals right up to your ear. Moreover, this overbearing pain radiates to the eye on the same side of the face as the ear. That is a clear dry socket indication.
• Has the world been avoiding you after your lips part to release a “hello”? Perhaps, you’ve been thumped by a severe case of halitosis. In spite of mouthwash sprays and peppermint, your mouth doesn’t cease to exude foul odour. Irrefutably, you are exhibiting the elementary symptoms of a dry socket.
• Apart from bad breath, have your very own taste buds reduced to rubble? Does your French toast taste weird? Are you coerced to ingest an unpleasant taste every time you swallow? Yes, you definitely have a dry socket and possibly require an immediate diagnosis.
• You might soon develop swollen lymph nodes around your jaw or neck leading to extreme jaw pain making it difficult for you to speak. Even the lymph glands around the ear begin to swell. This is again a dry socket warning sign!
• Dry Sockets are characterized by a strong infection that might induce gum swelling and puff up your face to a very embarrassing extent.
• A higher than normal temperature or a headache post tooth extraction could signify the prevalence of a dry socket.

Smoking, poor oral hygiene and usage of birth control pills are just some of the factors known to aggravate chances of dry sockets.

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Denture Cleaning

The only difference between real teeth and dentures is that dentures don’t go to the bed with you. Apart from this, they need every little bit of care (probably more) that you might have failed to provide to your real teeth or lost then because of the dawning old age. Life seldom gives you a second chance to make things right, and now that you’ve got one, take good care of your false teeth as if they were your real teeth. 

Whether you’ve already got them, or are planning to get them based on what complications are there in denture cleaning; know this that it’ll be a life-changing experience of having to take out your teeth for cleaning, but it’ll be better than having no teeth at all. You’ll have to get into a routine of cleaning your dentures and mouth individually. 

But handling your false teeth demands a little more of gentleness as they don’t contain natural enamel like in your real teeth. You’ll have to go for commercially available denture cleaning products (toothbrushes, toothpastes, and cleansers) as the regular ones won’t do and might end up ruining the dentures. Continue reading to know about how to clean your dentures without ruining them.

How to Clean Dentures:

Brush & Soak:

The most basic and the best way to clean your dentures is through brushing. However, don’t go off brushing your dentures with generally available toothbrushes and toothpastes for they are meant for real teeth and real teeth contain enamel in the natural form that gives them strength. You’ll have to buy toothbrushes and toothpastes specifically made for dentures. They are easily available from local drug stores or chemists so no need to worry on that.

Next step is to rinse it under lukewarm running water to get rid of any loose food particles that may be stuck on it. Now apply just a little amount of toothpaste to the toothbrush designed for dentures and lightly scrub on all sides of the dentures. Again, rinse under lukewarm water to get rid of the paste. After brushing is done and dealt with, the dentures should be soaked overnight in a glass filled with liquid denture cleanser (available in local drug stores).

Baking Soda:

Nope! We won’t make you bake your own teeth. The use of baking soda in dental care has been long known and put to use as an important ingredient to form toothpastes. It is a natural way to clean your dentures and disinfect them too. Sprinkle some water on to the denture, backed by sprinkling of baking soda on top of it. Now, using a light bristled toothbrush or a toothbrush designed for cleaning dentures, scrub it gently for few minutes on every corner and rinse thoroughly.

Vinegar Solution:

Cleaning your dentures with vinegar will help you extend the life of your false teeth, giving you many pleasurable munching times. Vinegar is considered an anti-fungal solution and will act as a natural denture cleanser with disinfectant benefits. Like natural teeth, dentures are also prone to tartar. 

The acidic nature of vinegar will help soften the tartaric crusty formation on the dentures so that it can be removed rather easily, without ruining the denture. Mixing a solution of equal parts of vinegar and warm water and soaking the dentures in it for 30 minutes will do the trick.

Hydrogen Peroxide:

Hydrogen peroxide is an oxidizer and is commonly used as bleach. Like vinegar, it is known for its antiseptic and disinfectant properties. Put the dentures in a dish and pour hydrogen peroxide into the dish, only to the extent of covering them. Keep them submerged for 30 minutes or so and then take them out. A 3 percent hydrogen peroxide solution should be used for denture cleaning.

Your mouth is where your denture will live for the most part of the day. So, if your mouth is not clean, your denture won’t be either. That’s why, along with proper denture care (i.e. brushing it after every meal and keeping it submerged in a bowl of water overnight, daily), it is equally important to adapt a proper mouth care routine that will leave both the entities in refreshing taste. Always brush and rinse your mouth with a mouthwash before you put the dentures back inside.

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Baking Soda for Entire Body Care

Many people think that baking soda is just a kitchen staple that is best suited for baking. But they don’t realize that this versatile powerhouse has the capability of doing much more than just producing delicious desserts. The use of baking soda dates back to hundreds of years where it was used in the creation of body care products, cosmetics and cleansers. 

About a few decades ago, our grandmothers used it as an effective treatment for dandruff as well. Baking soda is an inexpensive and versatile kitchen item and there are a number of ways it can be used for entire body care. Here’s a look at some of the home remedies and uses of baking soda for body care, beauty and health.

Facial wash:

Baking soda has great benefits for the skin. Combining two teaspoons of baking soda with one teaspoon of warm water can help you create a paste that you can gently massage on your face and rinse off to get smooth and flawless skin.

Exfoliator:

Baking soda is grainy and it can be used as an effective exfoliator to get rid of dead skin cells. You can either mix a teaspoon of baking soda to your cleanser and use it as a scrub or you can combine a teaspoon of baking soda with two teaspoons of oat flour and water for deep cleansing.

Teeth Whitening:

Your regular toothpaste contains a range of artificial ingredients in addition to dyes which can damage the enamel on your teeth over time. But baking soda is one ingredient that can whiten and clean teeth while protecting the enamel on the teeth. 

You can make a simple paste by combining one teaspoon of baking soda with two drops of peppermint oil and water. Using this paste to brush daily will give you clean and white teeth and it will also prevent bad breath.

Hair Health:

Everyone wants shiny and healthy hair, but the type of hair care and styling products that are available on the market today tend to do more harm than good. To keep your hair free from the build up that is caused by styling products, you can wash your hair with baking soda. 

To use baking soda, simply mix it with your regular shampoo and wash as usual. To remove excess chlorine build up from your hair, rinse your hair with a mixture of baking soda and water.

Foot Soak:

You can also use baking soda and water and give your feet a relaxing soak. This will not only help you get clean feet, but it will also soften the skin. To use this home remedy, mix half cup baking soda in a basin of water and soak your feet for about 30 minutes. Remove your feet, pat dry and apply some moisturizing cream for smooth feet.

Sunburn Relief:

If you have just spent too long in the sun, you can prevent further damage by using baking soda and water. Prepare a lukewarm bath by adding about half cup of baking soda to warm water. This is one of the best ways to relieve burning, itchy and irritated skin and it is also a great substitute for aloe vera.

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