
Minnesotans Now Have Some of Best Teeth in the U.S.
When it comes to keeping smiles bright, Minnesota isn’t just the Land of 10,000 Lakes, we're the Land of 10,000 Pearly Whites-- and now home to some of the best teeth in the country.
With top-notch dentists and floss-friendly folks, the North Star State just proved that good oral health and taking care of those choppers is something we truly sink our teeth into here in Minnesota. At least that's the word from this new national survey, anyway, which said dental care in our fair state is *this* close to being tops in the country.
It's not surprising that Minnesota is home to some of the best teeth in United States. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) says that there are over 4,000 licensed dentists practicing across the state, helping to keep those teeth in shape.
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According to this MDH survey, just under 70 percent of Minnesota adults ages 18 and older report having had at least one visit to the dentist over the past year. That number is even higher for children, with MDH noting that over 78 percent of children ages 1-17 have had at least one visit to the dentist in the past 12 months.
So it makes sense, then, that this WalletHub survey of States With The Best Dental Health just ranked Minnesota second in the nation. That's right, only Illinois ranked higher than the Gopher State in the WalletHub dental health survey.

To determine where you'll find the healthiest teeth and gums in the U.S., WalletHub said they compared all 50 states and the District of Columbia across 25 key indicators of dental wellness. They looked at the share of residents who visited a dentist in the past year to dental treatment costs to the number of dentists per capita to compile their results.
And, Minnesota ranked second on the list with a total score of 73.57. Here's what WalletHub discovered about our dental health in Minnesota:
- Minnesota has the lowest percentage of people whose mouths and teeth are in poor or fair condition.
- 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.
- And, Minnesota residents also enjoy quality dentistry at a reasonable price, as the state has the sixth-cheapest dental costs.
You can check out the entire list of states with the best (and worst) dental health in the map below. And while we're no doubt proud of our pearly white smiles, that's not the only thing that says we live here in the Bold North. Keep scrolling to check out some sure signs you were born here in Minnesota!
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7 Sure Signs You Grew Up In Minnesota
Gallery Credit: Samm Adams
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