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PREMIER DENTAL NEWSLETTER
EDITION 47
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THE DARK SIDE OF SOCIAL MEDIA Loneliness in the Age of Connectivity
Addiction Have you seen the 2020 documentary “Social Dilemma” on Netflix? In it, some tech experts talk about how social media was designed carefully and intentionally to get people addicted to the platform. People who sign up for social media are not aware of the psychological manipulation that encourages slot machine-like behavior and can generate feelings of anxiety and depression. Algorithms on social media platforms work by elevating sensational content to generate more clicks and likes. The more sensational something is, the more likely it is to go viral. That’s the whole basis of social media. Of course, the sensational stuff is often a misrepresentation and distorts sthe user’s perception of reality. At the moment, posts are not adequately screened for accuracy. Isolation Having more friends on social media does not mean you have a better social life. In fact, the more time people spend online on social media, the less time they’re likely to spend socializing in person, and the more likely they are to experience isolation and loneliness. People then find they need to “detox” from social media. They discover that the only way not to feel lonely is to meet and talk to people offline, either in person or during a phone conversation. Virtual friends simply don’t have the same therapeutic quality as time spent with real friends. Personally, I spend zero time on social media! I embraced tech firms like Apple, Google, and Amazon quickly but never saw value in social media. I stay in touch with close friends by phone, email, text,
Social media has been in the news a lot lately but for all the wrong reasons. Excessive social media usage has wreaked havoc on people’s mental health and outlook on life. Today, the average person in the U.S. spends 2.5 hours per day on social media. That’s 912 hours a year. Stunning. Here are three ways in which overindulgence in social media causes unhappiness, anxiety, and even depression. Comparisons One reason social media users experience so much discontent with their lives is the comparison factor. People fall into the trap of comparing themselves to others as they scroll through feeds and make judgments about how they measure up or don’t. Users post photoshopped pictures and idealized versions of their lives and lifestyles on social media. Unfortunately, many people who view these posts do not realize these are unattainable standards and end up feeling bad about themselves. They mistakenly believe others somehow have a much better life when the reality is that others’ lives may be as convoluted, hard, and imperfect. Comparisons also trigger jealousy. Seeing other people vacation in gorgeous locations or watching their perfectly behaved kids produces envy. Feeling jealous can make a person want to make their life look better and post jealousy-inducing posts of their own as they try to one-up each other. It’s a vicious cycle. Another major issue is the adverse impact that social media has on body image and self-esteem. Research has shown that people feel worse about their appearance after looking at social media pages of someone they perceive to be more attractive than them. The companies that benefit from this are obviously those promoting cosmetics, plastic surgery, fashion, and related products.
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DR. HEMA GOPAL: 25+ YEARS IN PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
Sip or Skip? The Truth Behind TikTok’s Saltwater Trend
The greatest irony of being lost at sea or shipwrecked is there’s water everywhere, but not a drop to drink. We know drinking seawater is harmful, and the dehydration its salt causes makes consuming it worse than drinking nothing at all. So, TikTokers have raised eyebrows with a 2023 trend of drinking saltwater to boost their hydration. Aren’t they ignoring a simple rule? We were taught not to drink seawater during our beach trips as children, and those who disobeyed usually suffered a nasty bout of nausea. While the human body needs sodium, the kidneys can only process the mineral slowly. Since seawater is exceptionally salty, consuming it causes people to urinate more than they drink. They will become thirsty and increasingly dehydrated without adding potable water back into the mix. The saltwater touted by online influencers is different; people on TikTok mostly add a pinch of table salt to their water before drinking it. The good news is that following this practice will result in a much lower sodium intake than consuming seawater. It’s undoubtedly less dangerous than filling up your water bottle in the ocean, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the practice is safe or effective. According to influencers touting the practice, drinking homemade saltwater will improve rather than upset your
hydration levels. Table salt is primarily made of sodium and chloride, electrolytes that help deliver water to our bodies’ cells more efficiently. That’s why sports drinks that contain electrolytes are a better way to resolve mild dehydration than water alone. However, dietitian Frances Largeman-Roth recently wrote in “Today” that very few people need the levels of electrolyte replenishment that saltwater offers. While we can lose significant sodium during intense exercise with excessive sweating, few people work out to those extremes. She argues that the dangers outweigh the benefits for anyone who is not a professional athlete or training in extreme heat. Another popular claim holds that drinking saltwater can help remove toxins from our bodies. However, experts note our kidneys and livers already do an excellent job. Further, there is no scientific evidence behind claims that saltwater can remove buildup or parasites from our digestive tract. Meanwhile, the theory that saltwater can “flush” your system is technically true, but not for the right reasons. Saltwater can cause stomach contractions and act as a laxative. If your doctor recommends saltwater as a natural treatment for constipation, follow their instructions carefully. Otherwise, experts say it’s best to stick to more traditional remedies. However, not all is lost if you have hopes for the saltwater craze. There may be one legitimate health use for the product — though, crucially, it does not involve drinking anything. Some people notice smoother, less oily skin after swimming in the ocean. Many people with oily or acne-prone skin benefit from the drying effects of applying it to their skin, and there’s even evidence it could provide relief for people with eczema or psoriasis. Notably, saltwater should not be considered a stand-alone cure for acne, psoriasis, or eczema, and anyone seeing a dermatologist should check with their doctor before incorporating new products into their skin care routine. But if you’re dying to get in on the latest fad, applying saltwater to your skin is the best way to do so without compromising your health.
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DR. HEMA GOPAL: 25+ YEARS IN PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
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THE JAW- DROPPING JOURNEY OF BUDDHA’S TOOTH
Skillet Chicken Pot Pie
Inspired by TheModernProper.com
Ingredients
Many parents keep their children’s baby teeth as keepsakes, but ancient Buddhist followers went several steps further. When Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism, died more than 2,000 years
• 1/2 cup butter • 1 cup chopped onion • 1 cup sliced celery • 2 cups sliced carrots • 1/2 cup flour • 1 tsp salt • 1/2 tsp pepper • 1/2 tsp celery seed
• • • • • •
1 tsp garlic powder
1 cup milk
2 cups chicken stock
2 cups peas
4 cups cooked chicken 1 package frozen puff pastry, thawed
•
1 egg
ago, his followers divided his ashes. A left canine tooth was among Gautama
Directions
1. Heat oven to 425 F. 2. In 12-inch cast-iron skillet over medium heat, melt butter, then add onion, celery, and carrots. Sauté for 5 minutes. 3. Add flour, salt, pepper, celery seed, and garlic powder to pan and stir. Sauté for 2 minutes. Slowly incorporate milk. 4. Add stock and bring to a simmer, whisking until mixture thickens. Add peas and chicken. 5. Roll out pastry sheet into 16-inch square on floured surface. Cut into 3-inch squares and place overlapping onto chicken mixture. 6. In a small bowl, whisk egg with 1 tbsp water. Brush egg over pastry and place in oven for 25 minutes or until golden and bubbling.
Buddha’s remains and preserved as a holy object by believers. Local legend says the tooth was eventually gifted to the Sri Lankan monarchy, which was tasked with protecting it. For centuries, various rulers passed the tooth among themselves and trusted subjects for safekeeping. Some believed the power of the tooth was so strong that whoever held it was the true king. When one rival attempted to steal the artifact, believers credited his failure to Buddha’s will. However, it does not appear that possession of the tooth was ever a genuine method of determining succession in the Sri Lankan monarchy. The first Sri Lankan king constructed a temple to house the tooth in the 1500s. Hundreds of years later, the tooth sits in its fourth home after the first three temples were destroyed. The Temple of Sacred Tooth in Sri Lanka was built in the 1700s and remains a popular tourist attraction and place of worship. The intricate, historical architecture attempts to do justice to the holiness of the artifact inside. Believe it or not, the tooth in Sri Lanka is not the only tooth Buddhists worship. Singapore houses another tooth in the Buddhist Tooth Relic Temple. The apparent molar was rediscovered in 1980 after being hidden in solid gold for safekeeping. Legend says many people have attempted to destroy the tooth over the years, but every attempt shattered the tools instead of Buddha’s remains. While the stories and temples are elaborate, the provenance of Buddha’s teeth is in question. Experts argue that they are too large to be human. However, devotees believe the teeth kept growing over the years due to Buddha’s immense power. If you are ever in Singapore or Sri Lanka, it’s worth visiting one of the elaborate temples to decide for yourself.
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and personal visits. If I want news, I have access to better, more authentic sources than social media. To this day, I’ve never made a single posting on Facebook (Meta now) and don’t have an account with Instagram, WhatsApp, TikTok, or X (formerly Twitter). So, how much time on social media is too much? While the answer varies from person to person, there is a consensus that reducing social media use to less than 30 minutes daily will improve a person’s sense of well-being. The population most vulnerable to social media are children, young people, and those with low self-esteem, which seems to be most of the population! I hope this article raises awareness and helps you tackle the potential problems associated with social media. − Peter Gopal
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DR. HEMA GOPAL: 25+ YEARS IN PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
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Inside
DR. HEMA GOPAL: 25+ YEARS IN PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
This Issue
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3 Harmful Effects of Social Media
Is Saltwater a Hydration Hack or Health Hazard?
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Buddha’s Tooth: A Mystical Relic? Skillet Chicken Pot Pie
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Use Thiago’s Story as a Reminder for Elevator Safety
THE HEROIC ACT OF A YOUNG BOY How Thiago Saved His Dog From an Elevator Tragedy
As pet owners, you’ll do anything in your power to ensure the safety of your four-legged family members — even if that means acting quickly to get them out of harm’s way. And 11-year-old Thiago Magalhães had to do just that for his dog, Milú, when she nearly suffered a fatal accident. Everything was calm as Thiago entered his apartment’s elevator on the
Thiago sprang into action and held onto her collar as he attempted to give her enough room to breathe. Thiago himself was even lifted into the air trying to save Milú’s life. Thinking quickly, Thiago fidgeted with Milú’s collar until it snapped, causing him and his furry friend to fall. After hitting the button requesting emergency assistance, first responders rushed to the scene to ensure Thiago and Milú were safe.
could have been fatal for both the dog and my son.” Fortunately, Thiago and his four-legged companion weren’t injured. Accidents can occur when you least expect it, so it’s vital you take preventive
measures to ensure the safety of yourself and your pets. If you are
traveling with a loyal companion, please remember these elevator safety tips. • Let people off the elevator before you enter with your dog. • Keep the leash and your dog close to your side. • Allow your dog to enter first and hold the door open until you and the leash are safely inside the elevator. We applaud Thiago for his bravery and hope this story can be a reminder for pet owners everywhere!
way to take Milú for a walk. However, he didn’t realize that Milú’s leash dragged
When speaking to Brazilian outlet G1, Thiago said, “I don’t know where I got the courage. I went on impulse.” The boy’s father, Rodrigo, said, “I was very scared of what happened and realized that the situation was very serious and that it
on the ground and got caught in the elevator
doors. Suddenly, his furry friend’s leash rose as the elevator began descending. Milú was quickly propelled into the air, dangling on what was left of her leash.
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DR. HEMA GOPAL: 25+ YEARS IN PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
This Fall, Don’t
Money on the Table ... leaf Remember to Use Your Dental Benefits Before They Expire! As the holidays draw closer, we know you have a lot on your mind. During this busy time, you may start to wonder, “Am I forgetting something?” We’re here to tell you YES! Every year, we have clients who don’t take full advantage of the dental benefits they pay for all year long. These benefits don’t roll over, so if you don’t use them by the end of the year, they’re gone forever.
We’d hate to see that happen to you.
Don’t let your smile FALL into disrepair. Take advantage of your dental benefits before it’s too late! Appointments are filling up fast, so don’t wait — give us a call today! 609.298.1124 | www.Bordentowndentist.com
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