Minnesota Has Some Of The Best Dental Health In The Nation

Many people are not fans of visiting the dentist, especially if they have not kept up on their brushing and flossing. Yet, Minnesota has found a way to have some of the best dental health in the nation.

Our friends at Wallet Hub's latest study ranked the states with the best dental health in the nation. Minnesota came in at number four.

According to the CDC, 35% of adults have gone over a year without seeing a dentist. While some people are hesitant to visit a dentist during the COVID-19 pandemic, the CDC “has not reported any documented transmissions of COVID-19 in a clinical dental setting.” In addition, the costs of frequent dental checks are worth it – prevention is cheaper than treatment.

While brushing, flossing, and annual checkups have a direct impact on your dental health, where you live can also have an effect. According to Wallet Hub:

...certain areas of the U.S. have a higher density of dental professionals. And one of the biggest locational factors is the presence of fluoridated water, which can help prevent tooth decay. Some states provide fluoridated water to nearly all of their residents, while others lag far behind.

To find out which states had the best teeth and gums in the nation, Wallet Hub measured across 26 key metrics including:

4th – % Of Adults Who Visited a Dentist in the Past Year
6th – Dental Treatment Costs
25th – Dentists per Capita
1st – % of Adults with Poor or Fair Oral Condition
10th – % of Adults Who Experienced Oral Pain in the Past Year
5th – % of Adults with Low Life Satisfaction Due to Their Oral Condition