On Oct 15, 2000, The New York Times presented a fascinating article entitled "The War On Stink". Dr. George Preti, a researcher at the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia, discussed the causes of halitosis, a problem from which the majority of Americans suffer at one time or another. He said one of his "peeves" is the blurring that occurs when advertising and the mouthwash industry confuse "food smells" with "bad (breath) smells".

Often mouthwash advertising associates bad breath with onions or garlic, but Preti says these are "good smells". His research has proved that halitosis is caused by a build up of bacteria that emit hydrogen sulfide (which smells like rotten eggs) and methyl mercaptan (which smells like sewer gas). Brushing and flossing are not enough to get rid of these pesky bacteria.

Preti recommends you should use a tongue cleaner and a chlorine dioxide mouth rinse developed and patented by Dr. Jon L. Richter, a practicing dentist and an authority on breath disorders. The mouth rinse is called ProFresh. When used on a daily basis along with a tongue cleaner that Richter also designed, it removes the offending bacteria and the unpleasant odors they produce. ProFresh is designed to provide 24 hour a day relief from bad breath.