When it comes to dental health, Minnesota is second to... one. A recent WalletHub study found that Minnesota ranks second in the entire country for best oral hygiene.

Using metrics like Dental Habits/Care, which includes subcategories like adolescents who have visited a dentist within the last year, dental treatment costs, dentists per capita and share of adult smokers, and Oral Health, which included poor oral conditions, share of elderly with no natural teeth and work absences due to oral condition, Minnesota ranked second only to Illinois.

“Living in a dental health-friendly state can make a world of difference for your mouth and your wallet. While there are plenty of things you can do on your own, such as brushing and flossing regularly, some states feature things like access to fluoridated water, dental health programs in schools and robust benefits through Medicaid," said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo. "States that employ a lot of dental health professionals and have low average costs for care are also ideal to live in, giving you more choices at affordable rates.”

Minnesota ranked fifth in the Dental Habits/Care category and fourth in the Oral Health category. Their total 'score' of 73.57 was just behind Illinois' 74.93 and slightly ahead of Wisconsin's 73.23.

WALLETHUB: 

The state has the lowest percentage of people whose mouth and teeth are in poor or fair condition, for starters. Plus, the Land of 10,000 Lakes has the third-highest percentage of residents who receive fluoridated water through public water systems, which helps prevent decay.

 

Additionally, Minnesota has the fifth-most dental hygienists per capita in the country. Minnesota residents also enjoy quality dentistry at a reasonable price, as the state has the sixth-cheapest dental costs. Trips to the dentist can get very expensive, so it pays to live in a state that tends to keep those costs low.

 

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