FLOSS IT UP

Daily flossing is essential to good oral health. It does more than remove unsightly or annoying pieces of lettuce or popcorn stuck between your teeth. It dislodges plaque before it turns into tartar, which can cause cavities and gingivitis. Flossing also helps clean the areas your toothbrush may struggle to reach. What’s more, it helps remove bacteria and prevent bad breath.

WHICH ONE TO CHOOSE?

There are various types of dental floss, including monofilament, multifilament, waxed, unwaxed and mint-flavoured varieties. Select the product you prefer. If you have difficulty using floss because you have braces or limited dexterity, you can purchase a floss holder or threader. Using a brush may be more appropriate if your teeth are widely spaced. Talk to your dental hygienist for personalised advice.

How To Use It

It’s best to floss at night rather than in the morning, as salivation decreases while you sleep. You should floss before you brush your teeth. This way, your brush can completely remove the residue the floss displaces. It also makes it easier for the bristles and toothpaste to flow between your teeth. Follow these steps to floss effectively:

• Cut off about 30 centimeters of floss

• Wrap the floss around your middle fingers, leaving about five centimeters between them

• Tighten it with your thumbs and forefingers

• Slide it between your teeth, forming a ‘C’ at the base of the tooth, under the gum

• Gently scrape the surface by passing two or three times from the gum to the top

It’s normal for your gums to bleed a little at first. However, if the bleeding persists after a few days, it could indicate that you have gingivitis. In this case, consult your dentist.

Kids And Dry Eye

Don’t under-estimate the importance of blinking, says Kristine Jensen of Eyes of Howick.

What has traditionally been regarded as an ‘older eye’ disease, the prevalence of dry eye in our younger patients is increasing. While kids often don’t complain about dry eye, signs and symptoms can include: Rubbing or excessive blinking of the eyes, redness or watery eyes, complaints of a dry, gritty or foreign body sensation and blurred vision.

WHY ARE KIDS GETTING DRY EYE?

If there has been one good thing come out of the Covid-19 lockdowns, is the ability for science to establish a clear link between increased digital device use and ocular surface disease – namely dry eye. While viewing a screen our blink rate reduces by up to 80 percent! This leads to dysfunction of the meibomian (oil) glands within the eyelids resulting in lipid deficient dry eye and tear film instability.

Dry eye is a chronic condition meaning it can take several years for it to worsen before a patient develops symptoms, however, prolonged meibomian gland dysfunction eventually leads to permanent meibomian gland loss and severe dry eye.

Interestingly, smartphone use has the highest association with dry eye. With even babies spending time staring at their parent’s phone, it is easy to see how dry eye is becoming a more common issue for children. Studies show the first hour of smartphone gaming does not impact the tear film function, but dry eye symptoms escalated within the subsequent hours.

My Recommendations

> 20-20-20 rule – encourage kids to take a 20 second break, every 20 minutes and look into the distance (20 feet).

> During your break time – take 10 slow blinks

> Limit screen time for school kids to two hours per day outside of school hours

Treatments

If you have concerns that your child may have dry or sensitive eyes, book an appointment with one of our friendly optometrists. We will complete a comprehensive vision and eye health assessment which will include examination of the ocular surface and eyelids. If dry eye is detected, recommendations such as those mentioned above will be made in addition to the use of preservative free tear drop supplements to support the natural tear film and improve ocular comfort and vision.

Increase dietary sources of Omega 3 or consider a quality omega 3 supplement – this supports meibomian gland function and reduces eyelid inflammation.

If you have any queries, contact Eyes of Howick for further advice. 100 Picton Street, Howick. Ph: (09) 534 5565 | www.eyesofhowick.co.nz