Teeth vs. Eyes: Which Needs Daily Care?

 

No matter where we live, or where we work, we all do one thing before heading out the door. I don’t care how you were brought up, you do this one thing every day.  We all brush our teeth.  It’s ingrained in us.  And, it’s probably even one of the first things you do right after getting out of bed.

 

We brush our teeth because having bad breath is embarrassing.  But why do we have bad breath in the morning?  You haven’t eaten anything in hours.  Surely you brush your teeth before you went to bed as well. 

 

 

Throughout the day when we are awake, we swallow multiple times a minute. The act of swallowing rinses away the bacteria that lives in our our mouth normally. Every time we swallow, we rinse away the bacteria, and more saliva is made to replace it.  Humans swallow at between 500-700 times a day.  That accounts for the about three times we swallow per hour during sleep.  While we are awake, we swallow about once per minute and even more during meals.

 

When we are sleeping we do not swallow and the bacteria inside of our mouth‘s accumulates during this time. This bacteria is actually what smells bad.  That's why we brush all of that bacteria away when we wake up and then use mouthwash to rinse it out.  You certainly would not leave the house without doing this.

 

During the day, we blink 10 - 20 times a minute. The act of blinking refreshes the front surface of the eyes and rinses away bacteria and debris.  There are bacteria that normally live on our lids and lashes.   The most important thing to heal your dry eyes is to have a healthy tear film. 

 

First thing in the morning and right before bed, we use 4 products to keep our teeth and gums healthy.  I suggest to my patients that they use 4 products to support their eyes and tears as well. 

 

 

Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, and mouth wash are used to brush the bacteria away from our gums and teeth and rinse them away.  For the eyes, using Artificial tears, lids and lash cleanser, warm compresses, and a nutritional supplement gives the eyes the support they need to provide a healthy tear film.

 

Start with an Artificial Tear to rinse the front surface of the eyes.  Refresh your own tear film by washing away any debris or bacteria.  It refreshes your Tear Film to remove excess proteins and bacteria that may be present. I always encourage patients to use preservative-free artificial tears because there is no sense in putting extra chemicals in your eye that could cause irritation. Especially when your eyes are already sensitive to irritants.

 

 

Download the Ultimate Guide to Artificial Tears here to find the best one to suit your lifestyle.  There are lots of different kinds of artificial tears to choose from which can make choosing the right one for you very confusing.  You can check out a previous blog on artificial tears here, too.  

 

Next, clean away the bacteria living on your lids and lashes.  The best way to do this is with a lid and lash cleanser.  Using the HypoChlor Spray, spritz one pump onto your closed lids and rub the solution into your lashes and over your eyelids for at least 20 seconds.  Then, just allow this to air dry on your skin.  This step will ensure your eyes won’t look red and irritated at work.  

 

Using a warm compress like a Bruder Mask is a great way to get the oils, that get trapped inside our oil glands, out of the lids, and onto the tears.  The oils inside your meibomian glands can harden because of not having the right balance of fats in your diet, lack of blinking while using digital devices, or even poor makeup wear and care habits.

 

Warm compresses help to melt these oils and get them to flow out onto your tear film.  Check out this blog post for a guide to using a warm compress and choosing one to fit your daily habits best.

 

 

The final step is to use a nutritional supplement to support a healthy tear film.  Your tears are made up of 3 main components: mucus, water, and oil.  These components are supplied by 3 different parts of the eye.  And, each part producing their particular component of the tears needs their own nutrients to support the proper production of tears.

 

Using a daily nutritional supplement like HydroEye will give your body the nutrients it needs to support a healthy tear film.  This supplement delivers a proprietary blend of GLA and omega 3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA), antioxidants, and other key vitamins and minerals that work together to support a healthy tear film and soothe the ocular surface.  A daily dose is 2 tablets twice a day.

 

Which is more embarrassing to you: red irritated looking eyes or bad breath?  They certainly both are embarrassing.  Unfortunately, red eyes are often equated with sadness, crying, lack of sleep, and even over drinking. These are not traits you want to be known for either.  

 

Using 4-Simple Steps to care for your eyes on a daily basis will keep your tear film healthy.  Healthy tears are exactly what your eyes need to continue to provide you with clear and comfortable vision.  

 

Try using these 4 products on your eyes twice a day.  Take care of your eyes just like you take care of your teeth on a daily basis.  I think you will be amazed when you are able to see clearly and not even notice how your eyes are feeling anymore.