Studies show a clear link between gum disease and heart problems.
Fact Brief
Used for GigaFact fact briefs
Was Bangor International Airport’s runway built to handle B-52 bombers? | Fact brief
The runway, at what was then the Dow Air Force Base, was the longest east of the Mississippi when it was built in the ’50s.
Is the term ‘moxie’ derived from the name of Maine’s state soft drink? | Fact brief
Maine made Moxie its official state soft drink in 2005.
Are about 3,000 Americans injured by beach umbrellas every year? | Fact brief
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission warns that windblown beach umbrellas can kill or cause serious injuries, and that proper anchors should be used to prevent incidents.
Does eating out cost an average of $28 in Maine? | Fact brief
Nationwide, the cost of ‘food away from home’ rose by 3.6% between April 2025 and April 2026, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Does pollution from the Midwest hurt Maine’s air quality? | Fact brief
Maine is tied for 5th in best air quality in the country, according to America’s Health Rankings, a public health data platform.
Is the official US poverty measure still based on a 1960s formula? | Fact brief
Maine’s official poverty rate in 2024 was 10.6%, matching the U.S. rate, according to the Census Bureau.
Do Maine welfare recipients get an average of $40,000 in yearly benefits? | Fact brief
While a conservative think tank indicates that the state spends roughly $40,000 on welfare per person in poverty, much of that cost goes to health care providers and administration.
Does Maine have the country’s worst child abuse rate? | Fact brief
Maine’s 2024 Child Welfare Annual Report cites substance use, mental health challenges and a number of other family stressors as negatively affecting child safety.
Does each chronically homeless person cost taxpayers $30,000 to $50,000 per year? | Fact brief
A report from the National Alliance to End Homelessness said costs could be halved by placing more homeless people in supportive housing.