Bad breath could signal bigger health problems
HOUSTON (KTRK) -- It's an uncomfortable topic we often joke about, but bad breath is no laughing matter.
You may have it and not know it, and it could be a sign of a bigger health problem.
We all know the smell. For Larry Hopkins, it's an embarrassing problem.
"My wife tells me quite often that my breath is kicking. Yes, she is bad breath patrol," Hopkins said.
Some of the well-known culprits are onions, garlic, and dairy products. But Dr. Terri Alani says there are other causes. She says bad breath can be a sign of a bigger health problem.
Hopkins has diabetes and high blood pressure, and his medications could be to blame.
"People who have diabetes and it's uncontrolled will have a fruity odor to their breath. If they have liver disease it'll be a fishy odor to their breath. And if they have kidney disease it'll be a urine odor," Alani said.
For basic bad breath, Alani recommends a few simple solutions.
"If you're going to get a mouth rinse, you want to look for something that is alcohol free," Alani said. "And we have our tongue scraper. We also have parsley, basically it has chlorophyll in it and it helps freshen your breath."
She also has an easy way you can tell someone else that their breath isn't ideal.
"A lot of times I'll just hand the person a piece of gum," Alani said.
If you've ever wondered if you have bad breath, there are three ways Alani suggests. Watch the video below for demonstrations:
