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MAY 2021
SOMETHING to SMILE ABOUT
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The Characteristics of My Mother That I Can Still See in My Life Today
With Mother’s Day coming up this month, I tried to think of the ways that my own mother impacted my life for the better. Turns out, it was pretty easy! When I think about my life today, I can’t help but see a multitude of ways in which my mother positively influenced my character. While the list below is far from exhaustive, here are a few of the areas of my life where it’s easiest for me to see my mother’s fingerprints. When I was growing up, my mom was a health nut. She made us think twice about the food we put in our bodies and how it might affect our health. She often served us meals made from “natural” foods while discouraging “processed” foods. The health sciences community at large seems to agree with my mother more and more every day. I guess when it came to what she fed us, she was ahead of the curve! For years now, my siblings and I have reaped the benefits of my mother’s preference for healthier, more natural foods — especially since we (mostly) adopted her diet for ourselves! We’ve all enjoyed largely uninterrupted health up until this point in our lives (knock on wood). My mother also instilled in me the value of getting not just any education, but getting a quality education. When I was 8 years old, my mom actually switched me to a different school when she believed that the teachers at my
old school weren’t challenging me enough. However, when a teacher that she really admired came back to teach at my first elementary school, she sent me back to that one. That might seem strange to you, but to me, that shows that my mom was never passive about my education. She would ensure we were as academically prepared as possible, no matter the cost. I’ve talked a lot in other newsletters about becoming a dentist, and I think my mom definitely had a hand in guiding me to the career I have now. She helped me see myself as a student who was a consumer of knowledge, and to enjoy school. I think before I had even decided that I wanted to be a dentist, I decided that, since I enjoyed it, I wanted to pursue a career that requires a lot of school. And I definitely did that! If you want to be in school forever, become a dentist. Finally, though, my mom showed us that family had to be a top priority in life. She was what I call a “professional mom.” I know that in many households, moms have to work for some reason, and I don’t want to sound like I’m saying that they shouldn’t. All moms have to account for unique circumstances in order to best take care of their kids. However, I really valued my mom’s decision to stay at home and effectively make motherhood her full-time job. Her energy and commitment to family inspired me to prioritize caring for my family as well. Before I sign off, I just want to shout out any moms who are reading this. You selflessly give so much to your children as they learn and grow. So, from a very appreciative child of a great mother to all of you, thank you for your hard work. Happy Mother’s Day! –Dr. Russell Powell “I really valued my mom’s decision to stay at home and effectively make motherhood her full-time job. Her energy and commitment to family inspired me to prioritize caring for my family as well.”
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Does Float Therapy Really Work? SWIM INTO THE LATEST HOLISTIC HEALTH TREND
Then you lie down, close your eyes, and someone else shuts the lid. You’re encased in complete womb-like silence and darkness. That’s when restricted environmental stimulation therapy (REST) can begin. Dr. John Lilly, a neuroscientist studying sensory deprivation, pioneered float therapy in 1954. Today, it’s gaining traction as a popular holistic health treatment, perfect for those who prefer to unwind in isolation. The health benefits supposedly include relaxation, pain reduction, creativity, and better sleep. John Lennon, Jeff Bridges, Elle Macpherson, and even Homer and Lisa Simpson are fans — but does hanging out in a tank really live up to the hype? In 2004, a survey of 27 studies published in the journal Psychology & Health found that “REST has positive effects on physiology (e.g., lower levels of cortisol, lower blood pressure), well-being, and performance.” The survey’s authors called float therapy a “useful stress management tool.” More recently, a 2014 pilot study with 65 participants found that those who enjoyed 12 float therapy sessions over seven weeks experienced significantly decreased stress, depression, anxiety, and pain. They were also more optimistic and slept better than a control group of nonfloaters who had “no significant results” over seven weeks. That particular study relied on questionnaires, so it’s possible some of the benefits were due in part to a placebo effect. However, in the stressful times we’re living in, even imagined relief might be worth the $50–$100 it costs for a float session. To find a float therapy site near you and judge for yourself, visit FlotationLocations.com.
The tank is white, shiny, and oblong — just big enough for a human to lie down in. When you open it, eerie blue light pulses out along with steam from the water inside. A calm voice from over your shoulder tells you to step in. Would you do it? That image probably brings to mind an alien pod from an outer space movie, but it actually describes a real-life spa treatment here on Earth: float therapy. The concept of float therapy is as simple as it sounds. You step buck naked into a sensory deprivation tank filled with a foot of heavily salted water.
DO YOU NEED DENTIST’S HELP? The Cure for ‘American Girl Doll Teeth’
In December 2020, the TV show “The Bachelorette” spawned a new meme. Against all odds, the joke wasn’t about roses, petty arguments, face masks, or even limousines — it was about teeth! That month, a fan snarkily compared contestant Bennett Jordan’s prominent front teeth to those of the “Samantha Parkington” American Girl doll. The fan’s joke cracked up millions of viewers, possibly because the doll is such an unlikely twin for the Harvard-graduating, Rolls Royce-driving lady’s man. Samantha hails from 1904 and wears a pink velvet dress, white tights, and black Mary Jane shoes. Her bangs and hair bow are iconic, but her two front teeth really define her look. They’re the only visible teeth in her smile and peek out from below her top lip, making her look like a cross between an adorable bunny and Hermione Granger from “Harry Potter.” A photo of Bennett with the same smile next to a shot of Samantha went viral. From there, the meme got out of control, inspiring Instagram reels and TikToks of people calling each other (and themselves) out on their embarrassing “American Girl Doll Teeth.” Those jokes hit close to home for people already self-conscious about their front teeth. If the “American Girl Doll Teeth” meme is getting you down, don’t worry — your smile isn’t a lost cause. Dentists have multiple tricks up their sleeves to minimize prominent front teeth.
Trimming — which is also known as tooth shaving, interproximal reduction, or interproximal enamel reduction — might be the best option if your teeth are oversized. Trained dentists can trim teeth using a drill or by hand. They’ll shave off just enough length to make your smile look uniform without removing the crucial enamel or causing you pain. Invisalign can help if your front teeth are crooked or stick out from the rest of your smile. The procedure involves wearing clear retainers for six months or more to shift and straighten your teeth. Both options take time and money to accomplish, but they’re guaranteed to make you feel more confident in your smile. If you decide to go with one of these procedures, it won’t be long before you can chuckle at the “American Girl Doll Teeth” meme, too!
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For Healthy Hair, Use These Hair Products GORILLA GLUE AND HAIR DON’T MIX
Few things are more satisfying and exciting after a long day than the woosh and crackle as you’re opening a fresh bag of chips. Ah, salty bliss! Culinary legend says Americans have been eating potato chips since 1853, when the aptly named chef George Crum first popped slivered tubers into the fryer in Saratoga Springs, New York. In reality, the provenance of the chip is unknown, but Crum’s sister, Kate Wicks, may be the real genius behind it! (Read up on the controversy at ThoughtCo.com.) After all those decades of chip-eating, you may have thought we’d perfected the art, but it turns out the TikTok generation has a few hacks to improve the experience. Here are just a few new ways to eat chips, popularized by videos on the app. Better Ways to Eat Chips — Courtesy of TikTok
On Feb. 3, Tessica Brown shared a heartbreaking video on TikTok about her experience using Gorilla Glue instead of got2b Glued Blasting Freeze Spray on her hair. When Brown sprayed her hair to keep it in place, the result left it glued completely flat to her head. After a month of desperately searching for a solution, plastic surgeon Micheal K. Obeng reached out to Brown, stating he would like to perform a surgery that would finally help her hair, free of charge. Brown agreed, and after an hourlong surgery, she was finally able to run her fingers through her hair again. After this run-in with Gorilla Glue, Brown went viral on social media, earning herself all kinds of attention, both good and bad. She later admitted in an interview with BETNetworks that if she hadn’t been “so obsessed” with her hair, she wouldn’t have been so desperate “to find something in this house to make [her] hair look good.” Now, she’s decided to go the more natural way: using wigs if she wants a certain look or more natural hair care products. To support the natural beauty of your own hair, here are a few great products to try.
The Classy Dipper
If you’re looking for scalp cleansers and shampoo, these products are good choices:
Are you frustrated by the lack of chip space you have left when you plop dip in the middle of your plate? @thelifebath on TikTok has the solution. Grab a martini glass and fill it with your dip of choice, then set it down in the middle of a bowl. Now when you add the chips, they can cover the base of the glass, stabilizing it and allowing for maximum chip storage.
• Design Essentials, $44 • Carol’s Daughter, $13 • Kinky-Curly Come Clean, $10 • Charlotte Mensah Manketti Oil Shampoo, $25 For conditioners, consider these:
The Staleness Solution
• Suave Professionals, $5 • Vernon Francois, $18 • SheaMoisture, $11 Detanglers are also important, especially for thick or curly hair. These work well: • Carol’s Daughter Monoi Repairing Anti-Breakage Spray, $24 • Alikay Naturals Knots Be Gone, $13 • Oribe Priming Lotion Leave-In Conditioning Detangler, $38 If there’s a lesson to be learned after reading Brown’s story, it’s that it’s important to know exactly what we’re putting in our hair because it’s a significant part of our daily lives.
If you’re out of binder and bag clips, never fear — there’s a clip-free way to keep your half-eaten bags of chips fresh. @abrigail23 has mastered the art of folding her bags closed origami-style. To follow her lead, simply roll down the top of the bag, then fold both ends of the roll inward, tucking them under as you roll down another layer. Presto! Sealed chips.
The Bag-to-Bowl
Thanks to their tapered bottoms, most chip bags are inherently unstable. But if you don’t have a couch cushion to prop your bag against (or a bowl at hand), @kennamox has your back. Once you open your chips, push the bottom of the bag up from the center and fold the pointed corners in. Then, pinch around the edges to create a concave bottom. Now your chips will stand upright, no bowl needed!
Take a Break
Check out Buzzfeed.com or the TikTok app for more clever hacks.
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Inside
This Issue
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Where I Can Still See My Mom’s Influence in My Life Does Float Therapy Really Work? The Cure for ‘American Girl Doll Teeth’ New, Better Ways to Eat Chips Gorilla Glue and Hair Don’t Mix How COVID-19 Could Change Your Trip to the Dentist
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The Lasting Effects of COVID-19 on Dental Offices
Since the pandemic began, dentists have had to change how they interact with patients before, during, and after their appointments. And those changes will likely remain long after the pandemic is over. Not since the HIV/AIDS epidemic decades ago has a disease so radically altered dentists’ behavior. The practice of wearing gloves and masks while working with patients is proof. Before HIV/AIDS, those protective measures were far less common. With that in mind, it’s interesting to consider which of the COVID-19 safety measures taken in dentistry will continue to be utilized as the pandemic subsides. Changing Gowns for Each Patient The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended that dentists wear disposable (or washable) gowns that can be changed for each new patient. This is done so that any particulates that might come from one patient’s mouth aren’t passed to another patient, something many patients will prefer even after COVID-19 is no longer a major health concern. Installing HEPA Air Filtration Systems High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters trap fine particles floating in the air before they are circulated throughout indoor spaces. Since these filters can capture other virus particles besides coronaviruses, HEPA filters might be another new addition to dental offices, ensuring their chair spaces and waiting areas have a constant flow of clean air.
Finding Alternative Tools As it turns out, some dental tools, such as drills, ultrasonic scalers, and air polishers, can produce suspended air droplets that could carry viruses, which endanger both patients and dentists. Some dentists have found ways around using these tools, though. According to The New York Times, one dentist in Seattle used silver diamine fluoride to prevent children’s cavities from growing instead of using a drill. While more people are getting vaccinated against COVID-19 every day, the virus will no doubt leave lasting effects on the dental industry and many others. Hopefully, the precautions that stick around will serve to protect dentists and patients every day, no matter if we have a health crisis or not.
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