Tooth Protectors Inc.

01/31/2026

Happy Inspire your heart with art day! In appreciation of that, check out this need piece below

"May Your Pearly Whites Shine So Bright" is the latest dental arts-inspired pop art release from Charles Fazzino. See more of his collection of artistic dentistry.

01/31/2026

A child’s jaw actually contains two sets of teeth at the same time — long before the first baby tooth falls out.

Under every baby tooth, the adult tooth is already forming inside the jawbone, carefully positioned and growing for the future. This is why baby teeth are not “temporary” or unimportant — they have a real biological purpose.

Baby teeth help to:
• Guide normal jaw and facial growth
• Keep the right space for adult teeth
• Support clear speech development
• Help adult teeth come in correctly

When baby teeth are lost too early because of cavities or injury, it can lead to:
• Crooked or crowded adult teeth
• Delayed or abnormal tooth eruption
• Problems with jaw growth
• A higher chance of needing braces later

This image shows an important truth in children’s oral health:
Taking care of baby teeth protects the adult smile before it even appears.

01/31/2026

Long-term pacifier use can affect a child’s dental development.

Pacifiers satisfy a baby’s natural sucking reflex, helping them feel calm, secure, and comforted beyond feeding. When used appropriately, they can be a helpful tool in early infancy.

Research shows that offering a pacifier during naps and bedtime is linked to a reduced risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Sucking also helps soothe babies during painful moments like vaccinations and can make it easier for some infants to fall asleep. During travel, especially flights, pacifiers can help relieve ear pressure.

However, timing and duration matter. For breastfed babies, it’s best to wait until breastfeeding is well established, usually around 3–4 weeks, to avoid ni**le confusion. Frequent pacifier use after 6 months may increase the risk of ear infections.

Long-term use can affect dental development. Continued pacifier use after age 2 may lead to “pacifier teeth,” including protruding front teeth, open bites, narrowed palates, and even speech difficulties. The longer and more forceful the sucking habit, the higher the risk.

Many mild dental changes can correct themselves if pacifier use stops before age 3. After age 4, the risk of permanent bite problems increases and may require orthodontic treatment.

Experts recommend beginning to wean between 6 and 12 months and stopping pacifier use by age 2 to 3 for healthy oral development.

01/31/2026

Thank you again to MAINE Community Integration-MCI for hosting us again yesterday for our dental clinic 🦷🪥

01/29/2026

01/28/2026

We are currently booking into June/July for new facilities! If you would like to host a free clinic in your Maine community, please let us know or share to those who might be interested! All Ages welcome, we come to you, MaineCare and most insurance accepted. Over the last 17 yrs we have provided care at Church's, Community Centers, DayCares, Schools, Medical Offices, and more! If you have a private space you would like host- we are your team!
🦷💙

01/27/2026

We have two spots for adults and one for a child available tomorrow. Text us at 207-513-1111 or go online at www.toothprotectors.org to schedule

Do you want to host a free.

01/27/2026

HAPPY NATIONAL CHOCOLATE CAKE DAY- Yup there is a day for everything now 🤷‍♀️, but we are here for it- so check out these not so bad for your teeth ideas

TACKLE CHOCOLATE CRAVINGS WITHOUT WORRYING ABOUT YOUR TEETH These healthy alternatives to traditional chocolate treats can help your teeth stay strong, even while satisfying your candy cravings. If you’re like us, you have a sweet spot for chocolate. Milk, dark, and even white chocolate can all be...

01/26/2026

We have spots available for Wed- January 28th- You can schedule online or text us at 207-513-1111

01/25/2026

A Brief History of Toothpaste

Did you know that oral hygiene was a top priority in society as early as 5000 BC? Even though the brands of toothpaste that we have today are the most effective in preventing oral disease, the concoctions up until now haven’t been too far off. Take a ride on a fantastic voyage into the history of toothpaste.

4 AD: The world’s oldest-known formula for toothpaste was created by Egyptians. They crushed rock salt, mint, dried iris flowers and pepper and mixed them together to create a cleaning powder. Although this concoction is known to create bleeding gums, research suggests it is the most effective compared to most toothpastes used as recently as a century ago.

1780: People were known to scrub their teeth with a powder that was made up of mainly burnt bread. That’s right – what a lot of us eat for breakfast was once considered an effective solution for clean and healthy teeth.

1824: A dentist named Peabody added soap to toothpaste for added cleanliness. Soap was later replaced by sodium lauryn sulfate to create a smooth paste.

1873: The first commercially produced, nice-smelling toothpaste was launched by Colgate and sold in a jar.

1892: Dr. Washington Sheffield is the first person to put toothpaste in a collapsible tube. It has been suggested that this version of toothpaste is the most similar to today’s version.

1914: Fluoride is added to toothpastes after discovering it significantly decreased dental cavities.

1975: Herbal toothpastes, such as Tom’s, become available as an alternative to cleaning teeth without fluoride. These toothpastes include ingredients like peppermint oil, myrrh and plant extracts.

1987: Edible toothpaste is invented. What is mainly used by children just learning to brush their teeth was actually invented by NASA so astronauts could brush their teeth without spitting into a zero-gravity abyss.

1989: Rembrandt invented the first toothpaste that claimed to whiten and brighten your smile.

https://www.speareducation.com/resources/spear-digest/a-brief-history-of-toothpaste/ #:~:text=1873%3A%20The%20first%20commercially%20produced,and%20sold%20in%20a%20jar.