States with the Best & Worst Dental Health (2026)

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. The costs of frequent dental checks are absolutely worth it, though. Prevention is cheaper than treatment.

Brushing, flossing and getting an annual checkup aren’t the only things that impact dental health. Where you live can have an effect, too. 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 25 key indicators of dental wellness. Our data set ranges from the share of adolescents who visited a dentist in the past year to dental treatment costs to dentists per capita.

“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. 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.”

Chip Lupo, WalletHub Analyst

Main Findings

States with the Best & Worst Dental Health

Note: With the exception of “Total Score,” all of the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of that state, where a rank of 1 represents the best conditions for that metric category.

% of Adolescents Who Visited a Dentist in the Past Year

Highest

• 1. Utah
• 2. Idaho
• 3. West Virginia
• 4. Michigan
• 5. New Hampshire

Lowest

• 40. Ohio
• 41. Arkansas
• 42. Louisiana
• 43. Texas
• 44. Florida

% of Adults Who Visited a Dentist in the Past Year

Highest

• 1. Connecticut
• 2. Massachusetts
• 3. Utah
• 4. Hawaii
• 5. District of Columbia

Lowest

• 47. Mississippi
• 48. Alabama
• 49. Texas
• 50. West Virginia
• 51. Arkansas

Dental Treatment Costs

Lowest

• T-1. Alabama
• T-1. Kentucky
• T-1. Mississippi
• T-1. Tennessee
• T-1. Texas

Highest

• T-46. Maine
• T-46. Massachusetts
• T-46. New Hampshire
• T-46. Rhode Island
• T-46. Vermont

Dentists per Capita

Most

• 1. District of Columbia
• 2. Colorado
• 3. Connecticut
• 4. Virginia
• 5. Wyoming

Fewest

• 47. Alabama
• 48. West Virginia
• 49. Utah
• 50. Tennessee
• 51. Kentucky

Best State vs. Worst State: 3x Difference

District of Columbia vs. Kentucky

Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption

Lowest

• 1. Massachusetts
• 2. New Hampshire
• 3. New Jersey
• 4. Idaho
• 5. Hawaii

Highest

• 40. Tennessee
• 41. Arkansas
• 42. Mississippi
• 43. Kentucky
• 44. West Virginia

Best State vs. Worst State: 4x Difference

Massachusetts vs. West Virginia

% of Adult Smokers

Lowest

• 1. Utah
• 2. Connecticut
• 3. California
• T-4. Maryland
• T-4. Washington

Highest

• T-46. Louisiana
• T-46. Oklahoma
• 48. Mississippi
• 49. Tennessee
• 50. Kentucky
• 51. West Virginia

Best State vs. Worst State: 4x Difference

Utah vs. West Virginia

% of Adults with Poor or Fair Oral Condition

Lowest

• 1. Minnesota
• T-2. Hawaii
• T-2. Illinois
• 4. Wyoming
• 5. New Jersey

Highest

• T-43. Oregon
• T-43. South Carolina
• 48. Mississippi
• T-49. Arkansas
• T-49. Florida
• 51. Montana

Best State vs. Worst State: 2x Difference

Minnesota vs. Montana

% of Elderly Population with No Natural Teeth

Lowest

• 1. Hawaii
• 2. California
• 3. Colorado
• 4. Minnesota
• 5. Washington

Highest

• 47. Mississippi
• 48. Indiana
• 49. Arkansas
• 50. Kentucky
• 51. West Virginia

Best State vs. Worst State: 5x Difference

Hawaii vs. West Virginia

% of Adults Who Experienced Oral Pain in the Past Year

Lowest

• T-1. Connecticut
• T-1. Illinois
• T-3. District of Columbia
• T-3. Iowa
• T-3. North Dakota

Highest

• 47. Kentucky
• 48. Alaska
• T-49. Montana
• T-49. West Virginia
• 51. California

Best State vs. Worst State: 5x Difference

Connecticut vs. California

% of Adults with Low Life Satisfaction Due to Oral Condition

Lowest

• 1. North Dakota
• T-2. District of Columbia
• T-2. Hawaii
• 4. Wisconsin
• T-5. Idaho
• T-5. Iowa

Highest

• T-45. Mississippi
• T-45. Montana
• T-45. Utah
• T-49. Louisiana
• T-49. West Virginia
• 51. Texas

Best State vs. Worst State: 7x Difference

North Dakota vs. Texas

Show More

In-Depth Look at the States With the Best Dental Health

Illinois

Illinois is the best state for dental health, partly because it boasts the lowest percentage of people who have frequently experienced pain or problems sleeping in the past year due to the condition of their mouth and teeth. It also has a very low share of people whose mouth and teeth are in “poor” or “fair” condition overall.

Other factors that boost Illinois to the number-one ranking include a very high percentage of residents with access to fluoridated water and extensive dental benefits through Medicaid. Additionally, the Prairie State has the eighth-most adolescents ages 14 to 18 who visited a dentist in the past year. Visits to the dentist early in life can help establish a strong foundation for lifelong oral health.

Minnesota

Minnesota is the state with the second-best dental health. 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 13th-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.

Wisconsin

The third-best state for dental health is Wisconsin, in part because it has the lowest percentage of people with sleeping problems due to dental conditions. It also has the lowest share of people whose oral state has caused them to cut back on their social lives or to take days off in the past year.

In addition, Wisconsin has the eighth-most dental professionals per capita, which provides residents with more options and the prospect of getting an appointment more quickly. Dental patients in Wisconsin also benefit from having the third-lowest cost for routine cleanings.

Ask the Experts

To help you brush up on the importance and benefits of good dental care, we asked a panel of experts in health and family studies to weigh in. Click on the panelists’ profiles below to read their bios and thoughts on the following key questions:

1. What tips do you have for a person who wishes to maintain dental health without breaking the bank?
2. Should cities and towns add fluoride to drinking water to improve dental health? What are the pros and cons?
3. Should school sealant programs be expanded more aggressively, especially in low-income areas, in order to better prevent tooth decay in the school-aged population?
4. How can dental health care become more affordable?
5. Should dental coverage be included as part of standard health insurance or covered by Medicaid?

Ask the Experts

Marie R. Paulis
RDH, MSDH – Assistant Professor | Dental Hygiene Program Director, School of Health Sciences - University of New Haven
Read More

Reena Joseph Kelly
Ph.D., MHA – Assistant Professor, Dept. of Population Health & Leadership - University of New Haven
Read More

Robert J. Collins
DMD, MPH – Clinical Professor, School of Dental Medicine - University of Pennsylvania
Read More

Joan I Gluch
Ph.D., PHDHP, RDH – Professor, Clinical Community Oral Health, University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine
Read More

Robert J. Weyant
DMD, DrPH – Professor and Chair, Department of Dental Public Health – University of Pittsburgh
Read More

Pamela A. Rettig
RDH, MS – Associate Clinical Professor Dental Hygiene, Director Allied Student Support Services – Indiana University Bloomington
Read More

More Experts

Methodology

In order to determine where people have the best dental health in the U.S., WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across two key dimensions, Dental Habits & Health and Oral Health.

We examined those dimensions using 25 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions for dental health.

We then determined each state and the District’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order the states.

Dental Habits & Care – Total Points: 50

• Share of Adolescents Who Visited a Dentist in the Past Year: Full Weight (~2.78 Points)
• Share of Adults Who Visited a Dentist in the Past Year: Full Weight (~2.78 Points)
• Dental Treatment Costs: Double Weight (~5.56 Points)
  Note: “Dental Treatment” includes cleaning, crowns, root canals and tooth extraction.
• Deferred Dentist Visits Due to Costs: Full Weight (~2.78 Points)
  Note: This metric measures the share of the population who didn’t visit the dentist more frequently due to costs.
• Dentists per Capita: Full Weight (~2.78 Points)
• Dental Professionals per Capita: Full Weight (~2.78 Points)
  Note: This metric measures the number of dental hygienists, laboratory technicians and assistants per capita.
• Free or Low-Cost Dental Clinics per Capita: Full Weight (~2.78 Points)
• Share of Population Living in Dental HPSAs (Health Professional Shortage Areas): Full Weight (~2.78 Points)
• Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption Among Adolescents: Full Weight (~2.78 Points)
• Share of Adult Smokers: Full Weight (~2.78 Points)
• Share of People Who Receive Fluoridated Water Through PWSs (Public Water Systems): Full Weight (~2.78 Points)
• Presence of State Oral Health Plan: Full Weight (~2.78 Points)
  Note: This is a binary metric that considers the presence or absence of state oral health plans. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “A state oral health plan is a roadmap for accomplishing the goals and objectives that have been developed in collaboration with partners and stakeholders, including the state oral health coalition, and members from the public health, dental and medical communities. A comprehensive state oral health plan should be used to direct skilled personnel and funding decisions to reduce the prevalence of oral disease.”
• Presence of School-Based Dental Sealant Programs: Full Weight (~2.78 Points)
  Note: This is a binary metric that considers the presence or absence of school-based dental sealant programs. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “School-based sealant programs provide pit and fissure sealants to children in a school setting. These programs generally target vulnerable populations that may be at greater risk for developing decay and less likely to receive preventive care.”
• Medicaid Dental Benefits for Nonelderly Adults: Full Weight (~2.78 Points)
  Note: This metric measures the number of benefits, if any, provided to adults in the state through Medicaid. According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, “States have flexibility to determine what dental benefits are provided to adult Medicaid enrollees. While most states provide at least emergency dental services for adults, less than half of the states currently provide comprehensive dental care. There are no minimum requirements for adult dental coverage.”
• Presence of State Dental Periodicity Schedule: Full Weight (~2.78 Points)
  Note: This is a binary metric that considers the presence or absence of state dental periodicity schedules. According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, “Early and periodic screening, diagnostic and treatment (EPSDT) services are required services under the Medicaid program for most individuals under age 21. EPSDT … includes periodic screening, vision, dental, and hearing services and other necessary health services. Schedules specifying the content and periodicity of these services are to be established by each state after consultation with recognized medical organizations involved in child health care (in the case of screening, vision and hearing services) and dental organizations (in the case of dental services).”
• Status of Older Adult Basic Screening Survey: Full Weight (~2.78 Points)
  Note: This metric measures the status of a state’s Older Adult Basic Screening Survey (BSS) administration — more specifically, whether the state has completed (and how long ago) or is planning an Older Adult BSS. According to Oral Health America, a BSS “a surveillance of the oral health conditions of seniors in community and long-term-care settings of older adults.”
• Oral Health Knowledge Index: Full Weight (~2.78 Points)

Oral Health – Total Points: 50

• Poor or Fair Oral Condition: Double Weight (~10.00 Points)
  Note: This metric measures the share of adults whose mouths and teeth are in poor or fair condition.
• Share of Elderly Population with No Natural Teeth: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)
  Note: “Elderly Population” includes the population aged 65 and older.
• Pain Due to Oral Condition: Double Weight (~10.00 Points)
  Note: This metric measures the share of adults who have experienced pain very often in the past year due to the condition of their mouths and teeth.
• Dry Mouth Due to Oral Condition: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)
  Note: This metric measures the share of adults who have experienced dry mouths very often in the past year due to the condition of their mouths and teeth.
• Sleeping Problems Due to Oral Condition: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)
  Note: This metric measures the share of adults who have experienced problems sleeping very often in the past year due to the condition of their mouths and teeth.
• Reduced Life Satisfaction Due to Oral Condition: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)
  Note: This metric measures the share of adults whose lives in general are less satisfying due to the condition of their mouths and teeth.
• Reduced Social Participation Due to Oral Condition: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)
  Note: This metric measures the share of the population who have experienced reduced social participation very often in the past year due to the condition of their mouths and teeth.
• Work Absence Due to Oral Condition: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)
  Note: This metric measures the share of the population who have taken days off from work very often in the past year due to the condition of their mouths and teeth.

 
Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected as of December 19, 2025 from U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Healthy Grid, American Dental Association, CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, Health Resources & Services Administration, United Health Foundation, Free Dental Care, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, Association of State & Territorial Dental Directors and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

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