Toothbrush Trivia with Dr. Charles Ruff!

People have been brushing their teeth for thousands of years! In fact, the first “toothbrush” was created around 3000BC! Ancient civilizations used a thin twig with a frayed edge to rub against their teeth for cleaning.

The first toothbrush with bristles – similar to today’s toothbrushes – was invented in 1498 in China. Brushes were made out of bone or bamboo with bristles made from the hairs on the back of a hog’s neck.

It wasn’t until 1938 that the first nylon bristle toothbrush was introduced and people quickly became aware of practicing good oral hygiene.

Here are some other interesting facts about your toothbrush (and toothpaste):

• Most people are said to use blue toothbrushes over any other color
• The first toothpaste was used in 500 BC in China and India
• On average, children smile about 400 times per day
• Your toothbrush should be replaced every two months
• The first known toothpaste was used in 1780, Crest was introduced in the US in 1955 and Colgate in 1873

Dr. Ruff and team want to know: What are you up to in January?

BRRRR! It may still be chilly in Waterville (23 degrees), but can you believe we’re only a couple of months away from spring? Dr. Ruff and team want to know: What are you doing in January? What have you accomplished this year? Are you keeping up with your New Year’s Resolution? Any big mid-winter break plans? Anything exciting going on in your life?

If you have any photos or videos that you would like to share with us, please send them our way or call our office at (207) 873-7425 and ask how! Have a great rest of the week!

What are patients saying about Dr. Ruff?

Dr. Charles Ruff and our team just love getting patient reviews. And lately, our office, serving Waterville, Dover Foxcroft, Skowhegan and surrounding communities, has been getting some pretty great patient testimonials! We thought we'd share some with you today! If you have any reviews you'd like to share with us, please pass them along!

"EVERYONE in the office is friendly, professional, and makes you feel welcome and special for coming to the office." ~ Kevin S.

"Dr. Ruff definitely has the best reputation in our area. He is honest and his care is outstanding." ~ Brian S.

"Professional, friendly, polite, helpful, responsive, give me plenty of reminders about appointments, pleasant office . . . can't imagine a better place." ~ Melora N.

"We like the friendly staff and Dr. Ruff is very pleasant. He really cares about the kids teeth and has a wonderful way of working with the kids." ~ Andrew C.

"He is thorough and a perfectionist." ~ Donald H.

Dr. Ruff wants to know: What do you love about our practice?

From your very first visit to our office, Dr. Ruff and our team strive to provide superior treatment in a pleasant, friendly atmosphere. Have you been especially impressed by Dr. Ruff? Did our team go out of their way to make your day? Do you love your new smile?

Whether you’ve just come in for a consultation or your family has been visiting our office for years, we’d love to hear your feedback on our networks. Or, you can tell us by giving us a call!

Ask Dr. Ruff: Is Invisalign® really customized for each patient?

Yes, it is, and that’s part of what makes it work, Dr. Ruff says. To find out if you are the right candidate for Invisalign treatment, the first thing Dr. Ruff and his team does is take an impression of your teeth as they are now and digitize it. Using special software, we look at the current positioning of your teeth and compare it to the way your teeth should look.

Next we use special software to map out the exact path your teeth will take from the beginning of your treatment to the end. Based on the results, a set of custom aligners are created just for your teeth. Throughout the course of treatment, you will be required to wear these clear, removable aligners one at a time; each one moving your teeth closer and closer to their final, perfectly aligned position. And since the aligners are virtually invisible, nobody around you will even know you are wearing braces!

Dr. Ruff is a certified Invisalign provider. If you have questions about Invisalign, or would like to find out if you are a candidate for Invisalign treatment, give us a call! Happy New Year!

Meet Our Orthodontist

Dr. Charles Ruff is passionate about the art and profession of orthodontics. For many years he has dedicated his time and energy to studying orthodontics, and to providing his patients with the beautiful smiles and quality experiences they expect and deserve. Dr. Ruff enjoys working with patients of all ages. He looks forward to working with you, and he welcomes all of the challenges and rewards that come with being an orthodontist.

Dr. Ruff attended Manhattan College in Riverdale, NY, graduating in 1970 with a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering cum laude. He was president of his fraternity, Omega Lambda Phi. He then attended Manhattan College on an Air Force ROTC full-ride scholarship. Dr. Ruff was elected as a junior to Tau Beta Pi, in the National Honorary Engineering Fraternity.

He started dating Rebecca Gass of Augusta, ME, while still a student at Manhattan College. She attended Long Island University - Brooklyn Center, and they were married on November 14, 1971.

After being honorably discharged from the Air Force in 1975, Dr. Ruff returned to the Boston area for dental school at the Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. Dr. Ruff was then accepted into the orthodontic program at Tufts, where he was elected class president.

As soon as possible, Dr. Ruff moved back to Maine after dental school and opened his practice on 73 Pleasant Street, Waterville in August 1980. He practiced there for about 6 years before building his own facility designed strictly for optimal orthodontic care at 12 Park Street, where the office continues to be located. In 1995 Dr. Ruff was certified a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics, at the time, one of only six ABO Diplomates in the state of Maine.

Starting this year, Dr. Ruff will also be serving as an Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Orthodontics at his alma mater Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. All of this teaching means that Dr. Ruff usually spends each Friday in Boston.