Teenage Self-Esteem vs. Social Media WHAT TO KNOW AND HOW TO SPEND TIME ELSEWHERE
According to Mayo Clinic, nearly 97% of kids aged 13–17 years old use social media, whether it’s YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or another platform. Although these platforms come with major benefits — such as staying in touch with distant family and friends — it’s a good idea to keep an eye on your teen’s social media usage. Research shows that using social media more than three hours a day can increase risk of mental health problems, including anxiety and depression. Here’s why — or at least, a few expert theories. THE PROVEN RISK FACTORS Social media affects everyone a little differently. For teens, thankfully, there are some studies about these differences. Beyond simply the number of hours spent on social media, there are other ways that researchers have noticed the negative impact of social media on teens. A 2016 study of more than 450 teens found that greater social media use, nighttime social media use, and emotional investment in social media (such as feeling upset when prevented from logging on) were linked to worse sleep quality and higher levels of anxiety and depression.
It even matters how your teen is using social media. Is your teen interacting or only looking? A 2015 study found that social comparison and feedback seeking by teens using social media were linked to depressive symptoms. Additionally, a 2013 study showed that older adolescents who used social media passively, such as simply looking at pictures, reported declines in life satisfaction. In contrast, participants who used social media to interact with others and post their own content didn’t experience these declines. THE ALTERNATIVES Instead of staring at a screen, encourage your teens to spend time face-to-face with their classmates and friends; that’s especially important for teens who are vulnerable to social anxiety. Remind your teen that certain behaviors aren’t okay on social media: gossiping, spreading rumors, bullying, or damaging someone’s reputation (online or otherwise). Even if these activities can seem harmless at first, they are extremely damaging and hurtful to the people involved. Face-to-face contact is one of the most promising ways to deflect the negative aspects of social media. Don’t miss a chance to give your teen the one-on-one time that they may need.
WHAT IS BRUXISM?
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS? Sometimes there are no noticeable
You may not have heard the term bruxism before, though it’s a very common condition. Our Streetsboro hygienist, Therese, is here to answer all your questions about bruxism and how we can treat it as well as help relieve your headaches and jaw pain. WHAT IS BRUXISM? Bruxism is a condition in which you grind and/ or clench your teeth. If you have bruxism, you may unconsciously clench your teeth when you’re awake (awake bruxism) or clench or grind them during sleep (sleep bruxism). Bruxism is sometimes referred to as TMJ because it is directly related to the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), which is responsible for the movements of the jaw. Frequent clenching and grinding can stress the whole system and cause the joint to be aggravated and out of place.
become apparent that this is not the best treatment. At Signature Smiles, we make a custom deprogrammer, which differs from an occlusal guard in many ways. It is smaller and stronger, so it lasts much longer than a typical guard. It is also a more custom fit to ensure the most optimal bite as you sleep. Another advantage is that the user wears it from canine to canine. Since it does not cover all the teeth, it is more comfortable. A deprogrammer protects your muscles, joints, and teeth from the trauma of clenching and grinding. Over time, you are less likely to attempt to clench or grind. Many people notice a huge improvement in headaches and neck tension as well as the other symptoms listed above. We believe in using the latest
symptoms, but often, wear marks are visible on your teeth. When symptoms do occur, they can include headaches, tension in the back of the neck, clicking and popping of the joint, limited opening, pain when chewing or with extended opening, and sensitive teeth (due to gum recession, which can be caused by the trauma of grinding and clenching). Worn-down enamel on the teeth can also cause sensitive teeth. DOES IT GO AWAY? There may be times in life where you clench or grind your teeth less often, but it usually does not go away without intervention. As you continue to stress the muscles and joints, your bite actually gets stronger over time and grinding becomes more destructive to the teeth and TMJ.
technology and providing our patients with the best care possible! Please call the office to schedule a consultation if you think you may be clenching and grinding.
HOW COMMON IS IT? It is very common. As many as 1 in 3 adults suffer from TMJ- related issues on a consistent basis. It can become a problem at any age.
HOW DO I TREAT IT? Many people think of an occlusal guard, aka a nightguard, because traditionally that is what dentists have used over the years. In recent years, it has
–Therese Bleiweiss, RDH
2 — SignatureSmilesOH.com
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator