New Report Ranks Illinois First in the Nation for Dental Health

Nobody “likes” going to the dentist (unless you’re not quite right in the head), but it’s something we all need to do. If it’s been a while since your last dental visit, you’re not alone. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 35% of adults have gone more than a year without seeing a dentist.

WalletHub recently released its annual report ranking the States with the Best & Worst Dental Health, comparing all 50 states across 25 key indicators. These factors fall into two main categories: Dental Habits & Care and Oral Health – everything from how often people see a dentist to rates of oral pain and overall dental wellness.

And guess what? Illinois is at the very top of the list!

Why Illinois Earned The Top Oral Health Ranking

That’s right – the Land of Lincoln earned the #1 ranking in the entire country for Oral Health, along with an impressive #8 ranking for Dental Habits & Care. Basically, people in Illinois are doing a great job taking care of their smiles, and it shows.

What Sets Illinois Apart From Other States

Several factors helped Illinois secure the top spot. Residents report lower rates of mouth-related pain and sleep issues, and fewer people rate their oral health as poor or fair. Illinois also benefits from widespread access to fluoridated water, strong Medicaid dental benefits, and a high percentage of adolescents getting regular dental visits – which helps set kids up for healthier smiles well into adulthood.

The results weren't so great for the rest of the Tri-State, though. Indiana ranked a respectable 16th, while Kentucky is way down the list at 45th.

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You can scroll over the map below to see how the rest of the country ranked, and you can see all of the dental data your brain can handle with the FULL REPORT here.