Bad Breath

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=128 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="041f0f21egerdp.jpg"> <div> <B><IMG SRC="042203c0.jpg" border=0 width="32" height="60" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B><FONT SIZE="6" COLOR="#66334C" FACE="Arial" ><B>Meyer Dental Group, p.l.l.c. </B></FONT><B> | </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#66334C" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Meyer Dental Group, p.l.l.c."><U><B>Home</B></U></A><B>   </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#66334C" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B><A HREF="id42.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Patient Information"><U><B>Patient Information</B></U></A></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="id46.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="How To Brush Your Teeth"><U><B>How To Brush Your Teeth</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id47.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="How To Floss"><U><B>How To Floss</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id35.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Electric Toothbrushes"><U><B>Electric Toothbrushes</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id33.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Infants Home care"><U><B>Infants Home care</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id30.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sealants"><U><B>Sealants</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id28.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tooth Bleaching"><U><B>Tooth Bleaching</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id31.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Veneers"><U><B>Veneers</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id32.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="TMJ Pain"><U><B>TMJ Pain</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id36.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Are Silver Fillings Safe?"><U><B>Are Silver Fillings Safe?</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id37.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Periodontal Disease"><U><B>Periodontal Disease</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id40.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Nitrous Oxide"><U><B>Nitrous Oxide</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id34.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Root Canals"><U><B>Root Canals</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id48.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Insurance"><U><B>Insurance</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><B>Bad Breath</B><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id50.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mouthguards"><U><B>Mouthguards</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id52.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What Is A Crown"><U><B>What Is A Crown</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id53.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Why Do I Need A Bridge"><U><B>Why Do I Need A Bridge</B></U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=1 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="040f2f02egerdp.jpg"> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=352 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="043f0f03.jpg"> <div> <B>Bad Breath</B></div> <div> Anyone can be affected by bad breath (also called 'halitosis'). It's estimated that at any given time, about 50 percent of the population has bad breath. Cupping your hands over your mouth and sniffing the air that you breath out won't tell you if your breath is bad. The offending odor comes from the back of your mouth, and is only forced out when you speak. Luckily, halitosis can be prevented. </div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Where Halitosis Comes From</B></div> <div> <IMG SRC="0e8a77d0.jpg" border=0 width="167" height="125" ALT=" We Can Help You Treat Bad Breath" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Bad breath can be caused by tooth decay, gum disease, dry mouth (xerostomia), tobacco, certain foods, medications or illness. If you think you have bad breath, please schedule an appointment with us so we can rule out tooth decay, periodontal (gum) disease, or a medical condition that should be treated by a physician. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="0eaa77d0.jpg" border=0 width="167" height="125" ALT="Bacteria Cause Bad Breath, Cavities, Adn Gum Disease And Gum Disease" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Halitosis typically begins in your mouth, as bacteria work to break down food debris. The responsible bacteria are the sort that require an oxygen-free environment to survive, so they're usually found between your teeth and within the grooves of your tongue. This decay process releases volatile sulfur compounds (VSC's), the substance that's responsible for malodor in your mouth. </div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Not sure if you're suffering from halitosis? Here are some self-tests that may help you find out: </B></div> <div> Pull your tongue forward using the thumb and index finger of one hand. Use your other hand to wipe the back of your tongue for about 15 seconds with a clean cotton ball. Wait a few minutes, then sniff the cotton ball; if it smells bad, this could mean you have bad breath.</div> <bR> <div> Clean between a few of your back teeth with a piece of unflavored dental floss. Again, wait a few minutes, then sniff the floss. It's likely that this is what your breath smells like.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="0e9a77d0.jpg" border=0 width="167" height="125" ALT="We Can Help You, Give Us A Call" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Do you frequently have a bad taste in your mouth? This is another sign of halitosis.</div> <div> Ask for a truthful answer from a trusted friend or family member. Yes, this can be embarrassing, but if you do have persistent bad breath, it's definitely better to know about it so you can do something to solve the problem! </div> <bR> <div> None of these tests are foolproof. To find out definitively if your breath has an offensive odor, you'll need to see us for an exam, where we will assess the health of your gums and test your saliva levels.  Once we've determined the source of your breath problem, we can recommend specific products and techniques to help you freshen your breath (and prevent embarrassment).</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>