DALLAS (KDAF) — As Americans’ dental health worsens, over 1 in 3 (34.1%) adults admit they don’t go to the dentist regularly, according to a new report. Could fluoride bans escalate the country’s dental health crisis?
The study found that poor dental health is widespread. 12.1% of children ages 1 to 17 had cavities or decayed teeth in 2024, and 2 in 5 adults have had at least one permanent tooth removed.
It also found that Americans are paying 38.9% of dental costs out of pocket — almost four times higher than the 10.4% out-of-pocket share of health spending. High dental costs could also attribute to poor dental health…