California has a dental health problem.
Not everyone enjoys visits to the dentist, but some people simply can't afford it. Preventative care such as brushing, flossing, getting regular cleanings and annual checkups is ultimately less costly than having to go in for a filling or crown. But for some people, dental care isn't a priority, whether it's by personal choice or for financial reasons.
However, factors such as where you live in the U.S. can also have an effect on dental health. Components such as the number of dentists in an area and whether or not a location has access to fluoridated water-- which helps prevent tooth decay-- makes a difference.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is monitoring the progress towards meeting the goal that 80 percent Americans on public water systems receive the optimum level of fluoride recommended for preventing tooth decay.
WalletHub analyzed 25 key factors to compare the dental wellness of all 50 states and the District of Colombia. Researchers looked into details such as the number of adolescents and adults who visited a dentist in the past year, dental treatment costs, presence of state oral health plans, pain due to oral condition and life satisfaction due to oral conditions.
California ranked as the 7th worst state for dental health. Wallethub analysts found the state placed very low in dental habits and care and in the bottom five for overall oral health.
The Golden State had the highest percentage of adults in the nation who experienced oral pain in the last year.
Source: WalletHub
Minnesota landed on the top of the list for best dental health followed by Wisconsin and Connecticut.
Southern states were at the very bottom of the dental health list. Mississippi ranked number 51, Arkansas sits at 50, and Alabama at 49.
