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14A ^l)e Cljarlotte ^osft THURSDAY, May 16, 1996 Help for bad breath By Tammie Tolbert THE CHARLOTTE POST Mints don’t work. Neither does brushing. And gargling is a waste of time and noisy. Bad breath affects everyone, and dental professionals are opening up “fresh breath clin ics” around the country to combat it. Bad breath can be caused by food that converts into gaseous fumes in the stomach, producing a foul odor. Smoking can also be a culprit. However, bad breath is mainly caused by bacteria debris that dwells on the tongue. Many breath mints and mouthwashes are made with alcohol, (some up to 35 per cent) and they simply cover up bad breath or provide short term freshness. Bacteria survive on the lack of oxygen, and saliva usually washes them away, but when they are not washed away, they form plaque on the tongue. This in turn produces what people are accustomed to as “morning breath.” The best breath freshners to use include chlorine dioxide as an ingredient. Chlorine diox ide is designed to safely break up the odor-causing sulfur compounds that make halito sis, or what is commonly call bad breath. Various products with chlo rine dioxide are available. Oxyfresh, a company in Spokane, Wash., has devel oped a product that is aiding people in getting rid of bad breath. “Oxyfresh products have no alcohol, they are made with chlorine dioxide, they are non-toxic, and very safe for children,” said Linda Schilkowsky, an Ox3dresh rep resentative. “Oxyfresh elimi nates bad breath by breaking up and cleansing away the bacteria that causes bad breath. "Oxyfresh is the number one chlorine dioxide product that is being used around the coun try to help people who have chronic bad breath,” Schilkowsky said. Oxyfresh has been around for 12 years and it was initial ly used to help treat patients with periodontalist disease Breast Cancer: high mortality/low incidence for African American women, 198&-1992 cancer mortaBty rates: Deaths per 100,000 African 31 Americans White 27 Hispanic ^ 17 Breast cancer inddence rates: Cases per 100,000 95 African Americans White \ Hispanic! 112 70 Source: Racial/Ethnic Patterns of Cancer in the United States 1988-1992 (in press) Nationai Cancer Institute Oxyfresh’s Fresh Breath Kit is touted as a solution for bad breath. Schlikowsky said. “The product has also helped people with gingivitis, cold sores, inflammed gums, and fever blisters,” said Schlikowsky. Oxyfresh provides Fresh Breath Kits for $19.50. For PHOTO ILLUSTRATIONTAMMIE TOLBERT more information about hali tosis or Oxyfresh, call Schilcowsky at (800) 999- 9551, extension 228. Lung cancer rate higher for African American men Cases per 100,000 popuiation (1988-1992) a Women Source: Racial/Ethnic Patterns of Cancer in the United States 1988-1992 (in press) National Cancer Institute Retin-A beats stretch marks By Brenda C. Coleman THE ASSOCIATED PRESS CHICAGO — Retin-A can help self-conscious teen-agers get past acne and soften the wrinkles of the middle-aged. Now, researchers say, it may shrink stretch marks from pregnancy or obesity. Tretinoin, the active ingredi ent in Retin-A acne cream and Renova wrinkle cream, shrank stretch marks 14 per cent lengthwise and 8 percent in width among 10 patients who rubbed it on daily for six months, researchers said. Twelve people with similar stretch marks who were given a dummy cream saw their stretch marks grow an aver age 10 percent in length and 24 percent in width in the same period, said the researchers, led by Dr. Sewon Kang of the University of Michigan Medical Center at Ann Arbor. The study was supported partly by Johnson & Johnson Corp., of New Brunswick, N.J., the parent of Ortho Pharmaceutical Corp., which makes Retin-A and Renova. But the company had no role in the study itself, the authors said. The researchers declined to comment on their published work. “They don't want to appear to be promoting an unap proved use,” said medical cen ter spokeswoman Michelle Donaldson. The subjects in the study were ages 17 to 32 and had stretch marks caused by pregnancy, obesity, weightlift ing and large breasts. All had stretch marks described as being in their “early” stages, when they were pink or violet and the skin was still smooth. Previous studies of tretinoin to treat stretch marks included sub jects with older, established marks, and the results of those studies varied, the researchers said. Olympic spirit PHOTO/SEITU KENYATTE These athletes from Hoskins Mill Apartments won medals at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Senior Games at UNC Charlotte. They are Lucille Allison, Blandena Guess, Mary Coleman, Willie Mae Boyd, Annie Foust, Dot Harris and Minnie Stowe. Program screens cataracts, schedules surgery By Tammie Tolbert THE CHARLOTTE POST Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness and vision loss in the United States. Mission Cataracts USA ‘96 is helping people around the country to see better. Mission Cataract is a nation wide public service program that began in Fresno, Calif., under the direction of Dr. Frederick A. Richburg. The program provides free cataract surgery to people who couldn't otherwise pay for the surgery. Laurel Eye Associates, an eye care facility in Charlotte, is participating in the nationwide program. During the month of May, people can have free eye screening to see if they are eligible to have the surgery. Eligibility is based soley on financial need. Candidates who meet the requirements will be scheduled for surgery in May. “Because of evaluation and scheduling we will prob ably end up doing surgeries in the summer, but May is the month to get into the pro gram,” said surgeon Scott L. Jaben. Two other Charlotte-based company's are participating in the Mission Cataract 96' pro gram. “The Charlotte Surgery and Laser Center on Randolph road is supplying the facility and the supplies while Allergan Pharmaceu ticals is supplying the artifi cial lenses,” said Jaben. The laser center is where the patients will have the surgery and follow-up care. Cataracts effect all types of people. “Cataracts can be caused by certain types of injuries, certain types of problem. ” medication, and some diseases like Dr. Scott Jaben diabetes can cause cataracts,” Jaben said. The most common cause of cataracts is really just an age- related change. It is more or less a normal phenomenon that the body goes through.” Although cataracts “If you are out there are mostly a dis- and you are not see- ease of an older ing well, this is an group, they can opportunity for you to occur in young peo- find out about your pie. “On certain situa tions, we've had patients under 10 that have had cataracts, but that is unusu al,” said Jaben. “By far most patients are 55 years old and older.” Jaben said that Mission Cataract does not have some mysterious financial support er. “The program costs are absorbed by all of the facilities that participate in the pro gram,” There is still time to participate if you haven't called for an appointment. “If you are out there and you are not seeing well, this is an opportunity for you to find out about your problem,” Jaben said. For more information about the program, call Laurel Eye Associates at 375-7000.
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