What State Has The Healthiest Teeth, South Dakota, Minnesota or I

Going to the dentist.

OK, totally honest, it may not be one of the top ten things you enjoy doing. But it sure is a whole lot better than in the 'olden days'. Some of the stories I've read about taking care of toothaches a hundred years ago are...well, edging right up close to brutal.

These days, it's a lot easier (not to mention a whole lot less painful) to see your dentist regularly. And of course, it just makes good sense.

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So how are those of us here in South Dakota, the greatest state in the nation...are we up-to-snuff in the dental health department? Are we Kind of the Hill as far as our choppers are concerned?

Well, no. But we're not at the bottom either.

According to our friends at WalletHub, South Dakota ranks 14th in the nation as far as Dental Health. They take things like Dental Habits and Care and Oral Health into consideration (see their full report and rankings here).

Our neighbors in North Dakota and Minnesota rank in the Top Ten, not that far behind the dental leader, Illinois. Iowa comes in at number twelve.

And if folks in West Virginia, Mississippi, and Arkansas aren't smiling much, well, they have the bottom spots.

Detour Dining: Off-the-Beaten-Path Restaurants You Must Try in South Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa

Beyond the well-traveled tourist paths, there’s a whole different world of food exploration throughout South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota. From tiny restaurants in historic towns serving up generations-old recipes to small town dive bars that not only have cheap, cold beer, but unique and unexpected homemade dishes.

We’ve created an exploration of off-the-beaten path restaurants nestled in the charming landscapes of the tri-state area. Take a detour from the ordinary and discover the extraordinary flavors as you travel the roads not-so-often traveled.

Gallery Credit: Karla Brown / Townsquare Media