Starting children off right with good oral health habits (including proper brushing and flossing) can help ensure they have the best chance of a lifetime of excellent dental health.
So which states are doing the best job of helping their children get their lives off on the right foot when it comes to proper oral health?
WalletHub has looked at 26 key indicators of dental health in all 50 states and the District of Columbia to determine which states are making a difference in the oral health of children (as well as adults), and which ones could be doing a much better job in that department.
Top 10 States with the Best Dental Health
According to WalletHub, based on the criteria established, here are the top 10 states in terms of the best dental health.
- Wisconsin
- Illinois
- District of Columbia
- Minnesota
- Connecticut
- North Dakota
- Michigan
- Idaho
- Massachusetts
- Ohio
10 States with the Worst Dental Health
On the other end of the spectrum, here are the states that ranked in the bottom 10 of the list.
- 42. Florida
- 43. California
- 44. Alabama
- 45. Alaska
- 46. Louisiana
- 47. Texas
- 48. Montana
- 49. West Virginia
- 50. Arkansas
- 51. Mississippi
You can view the entire state rankings here, as well as the key indicators that were used to perform this study.
5 States with the Highest Percentage of Adolescents Visiting the Dentist
Another interesting ranking in this study was which states ranked high and low in terms of the percentage of adolescents who had visited the dentist in the past year.
The top five on the list were:
- Idaho
- New Hampshire
- Utah
- Pennsylvania
- Iowa
5 States with the Lowest Percentage of Adolescents Visiting the Dentist
The bottom five states contained:
- California
- Alabama
- Louisiana
- Texas
- Florida
Could these rankings be used as a starting point for dentists, dental hygienists, and dental assistants to ensure they are doing everything they can to reach their younger patients with solid oral care instructions?
Sure, but it’s also a reminder for dental practices in those states that are at the bottom of the scales to be doing everything they can to reach those younger patients and start them on the road to optimal oral health for a lifetime.
