February is National Children’s Dental Health Month

Some people have ignored their dental health and have been reluctant to visit a dentist during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the CDC “has not reported any documented transmissions of COVID-19 in a clinical dental setting.”

With February being National Children’s Dental Health Month and the CDC reporting no COVID-19 transmissions in a clinical dental setting, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2021’s States with the Best & Worst Dental Health, as well as accompanying videos.

Many people dislike visiting their dentist, especially if they haven’t kept up with their brushing and flossing. Some even have dental anxiety and phobia. But there are other people who wish they could go yet can’t afford it. According to the CDC, 35% of adults have gone over a year without seeing a dentist. In addition, the costs of frequent dental checks are worth it – prevention is cheaper than treatment.

Brushing, flossing and getting an annual checkup aren’t the only things that impact dental health, though. Where you live can have an effect, too, according to Adam McCann of WalletHub. For example, 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.

In order to determine where people have the healthiest teeth and gums in the U.S., WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 26 key metrics. The data set ranges from the share of adolescents who visited a dentist in the past year to dental treatment costs to dentists per capita.

Dental Health in California (1=Best; 25=Avg.):

  • 16th – % of Adolescents Who Visited a Dentist in the Past Year
  • 28th – % Of Adults Who Visited a Dentist in the Past Year
  • 41st – Dental Treatment Costs
  • 11th – Dentists per Capita
  • 18th – Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption
  • 51st – % of Adults Who Experienced Oral Pain in the Past Year
  • 23rd – % of Adults with Low Life Satisfaction Due to Their Oral Condition

For the full report, click here. 

Image Sources

  • toothbrushes: Pixaby