North Carolina’s Oral Hygiene Could Be Better: Report

CHARLOTTE, NC -- You might want to think twice before you cancel that next dentist appointment. Most people consider oral health an important part of overall hygiene, but a study from WalletHub suggests North Carolina is falling short in keeping those pearly whites, well, pearly.

The study, which looked at 25 factors that affect dental wellness, and therefore overall health, dubbed North Carolina No. 31 in the U.S. for oral hygiene. The categories studied included dental treatment costs, the number of teens who visited a dentist in the past year and the share of adults who express low life satisfaction due to an oral condition.

What the WalletHub researchers found is that North Carolina landed at the No. 31 spot in the overall rankings, with an "oral care" rank of 32 and and "dental care & habits" rank of 27.

Why did North Carolina rank so low on the list? It's hard to say for sure, but a breakdown of state-specific data from WalletHub states that only 63.44 percent of adults in North Carolina paid a regular visit to a dentist in the last year. Moreover, 71 percent of North Carolinians went to the dentist less often than recommended due to the costs of dental care.

Meanwhile, more than 23 percent of North Carolinians live in areas with shortages of dental health professionals and 18 percent of North Carolinians smoke cigarettes.

There's hope to be found, however, in water fluoridation. Across the state, an estimated 88 percent of people receive fluoride-treated water, which is said to help improve dental health and avoid cavities and decay. One professional told WalletHub that for every $5 spent on fluoride treatment, $32 is saved in cavity repair. Improved access to fluoridated water will almost certainly aid North Carolinians’ dental needs.

Dental care, thankfully, isn't complicated, and preventative measures like brushing and flossing are cheap and effective. But some even simpler steps can be taken to stop serious dental health problems dead in their tracks. One expert told WalletHub that something as simple as drinking water immediately after consuming sugary or acidic foods or drinks can spare people expensive trips to the dentist and costly repair work.

The most effective element in the fight against dental decay is twice-daily brushing with a fluoride toothpaste and at least once-daily flossing.

Hear from dental health experts and view the complete study and methodology on WalletHub.

Here's a look at dental health across the U.S.:

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