Brace yourselves for this one: Texans have among the worst dental health in the country, a recent study found.
A 2023 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that 35.5% of U.S. adults hadn’t had a dental exam or cleaning within the previous year. While some intentionally avoid the dentist due to fear and anxiety, others find themselves unable to afford the steep bills often associated with visits to the dentist.
Although brushing, flossing and annual cleanings are critical to dental health, where a person lives can also have a significant impact. Some parts of the U.S. have disproportionately more dental professionals than others. Access to fluoridated water — which helps prevent tooth decay — also varies by state.
A WalletHub analysis published Thursday examined 25 key indicators of dental wellness across all 50 states and the District of Columbia, from the share of young people who saw a dentist in the past year to the costs of dental treatment to how many dentists are available in each region.
“Living in a dental health-friendly state can make a world of difference for your mouth and your wallet,” WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said. “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.”
How did the Lone Star State brush up compared to others? Well, let’s just say some of us may need to polish our flossing skills.
Texas has 4th-worst dental health
When it comes to dental hygiene, Texans have some room for improvement. The state ranked in the bottom 20% of U.S. states.
- Overall rank: 48
- Total score: 38.05
- Dental habits and care rank: 45
- Oral health rank: 48
Of all 50 states and Washington, D.C., Texas had the highest share of adults who reported low life satisfaction due to oral health — seven times more than North Dakota, which had the lowest share.
The state also had the third-lowest share of adults who have visited a dentist in the past year (above West Virginia and Arkansas) and the second-lowest share of adolescents (above Florida).
However, the Lone Star State tied with several others for having the lowest dental treatment costs in the country. Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee also offered similar costs.
LIST: 5 worst states for dental health
The WalletHub analysis determined Arkansas had the worst dental health among U.S. states.
| Rank | State | Total score | Dental habits and care rank | Oral health rank |
| 51 | Arkansas | 31.54 | 51 | 50 |
| 50 | Mississippi | 33.73 | 49 | 49 |
| 49 | West Virginia | 33.81 | 38 | 51 |
| 48 | Texas | 38.05 | 45 | 48 |
| 47 | Louisiana | 40.27 | 48 | 44 |
LIST: 5 best states for dental health
Several states surrounding the Great Lakes ranked high in terms of dental health. With the exception of Wisconsin, the top five states provide fluoridated water to over 90% of their residents, according to America’s Health Rankings.
| Rank | State | Total score | Dental habits and care rank | Oral health rank |
| 1 | Illinois | 74.93 | 9 | 1 |
| 2 | Minnesota | 73.57 | 5 | 4 |
| 3 | Wisconsin | 73.23 | 3 | 5 |
| 4 | Michigan | 71.73 | 2 | 10 |
| 5 | Connecticut | 71.20 | 11 | 3 |
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