States with the Best and Worst Teeth in 2022

BYTE Community Initiatives shared that we smile when we’re feeling our best – whether we’re happy, laughing, or posing for a photo, but our new survey found that 1 out of 2 Americans don’t feel beautiful when they smile. In fact, nearly half smile with their mouth closed because of dental issues.

Americans are facing everything from discolored teeth to missing teeth, and it’s making them self-conscious. Many want to change their teeth and are trying but are putting their trust in Google before their dentist.

States with the Best and Worst Teeth

While people across the U.S. struggle with different dental issues, some states are dealing with more problems than others. Using Google search trends data, we figured out which states have the best and worst teeth based on how many people are searching for dental issues (and fixes). Those who searched the most have the worst teeth compared to those who search the least.

The Midwest reigns supreme when it comes to dental care. The top five states with the best teeth are Michigan (1st), Ohio (2nd), Indiana (3rd), Missouri (4th), and Wisconsin (5th).

States dealing with the most dental issues are smaller, more remote states. Wyoming is the state with the worst teeth, followed by Vermont (2nd), North Dakota (3rd), Alaska (4th), and Delaware (5th). It’s not surprising, since our study on dental shortages found some of the areas struggling the most are rural.

America’s Dental Issues

Nearly 7 in 10 (67%) Americans are self-conscious about their teeth. The biggest issue people have is discolored teeth (57%) or misaligned teeth (43%) like a snaggle tooth . About 1 in 5 (19%) are dealing with a cracked tooth, 17% have a missing tooth, and 15% have a gap in their teeth.

While nearly half (45%) are planning to get their dental issues fixed, about 42% are not. When it comes down to it, the main reason is cost. More than half (61%) say it’s too expensive, and 17% don’t have any dental insurance. Others are too nervous or afraid of the dentist, so they’re putting it off for as long as they can.

About 2 in 5 (39%) said they just don’t care enough to fix it. We recognize that dental imperfections aren’t always necessary to fix. Many people find beauty in things like gap teeth. Celebrities like Michael Strahan and Seal embrace it. In fact, in some cultures, gaps in teeth are considered good luck. While we work to straighten teeth using clear aligners, we can help align teeth while also letting people keep their gaps if they like them!

Nearly 7% of our survey respondents admitted that they aren’t fixing their teeth because they don’t know what the problem is or how to fix it. It may be because they haven’t been to the dentist. When we asked who people are turning to for dental advice, more than 1 in 3 (36%) admitted they use Google more than their dentist!

To read the full report, click here.