Which of the world’s 196 countries has the best overall oral health?

It would seem to be a question would be relatively simple to answer: like many health trends, well-being is strongly correlated with the wealth of the country. Those populations with greater access to oral care, be it via a public system or purely means, will typically exhibit better oral health.

This is largely borne out by the data. Here are the top ten countries for lovely pearly whites:

1. Denmark
2. Germany
3. Finland
4. Sweden
5. United Kingdom
6. Switzerland
7. Canada
8. Mexico
9. United States
10. France

Among the top ten, five of them employ a well-regarded publicly-funded health system. Apart from Mexico, they all sit in the top twenty of the global development index. There is also something to be said about the inherent expectations of the populations here – good dental health is expected of the bulk of people, and so people will typically take care to nurture their pearly whites.

There is also a dietary element to this ranking. Those countries with a higher carbohydrate intake, such as Japan and Italy, rank further down the list then their development index might otherwise suggest. Those countries with a greater focus on a more meat and vegetable diet, such as Canada and Scandinavia, rank higher. This is also a likely reason for Mexico’s somewhat surprising spot on the list.

At No Gaps Dental, we are your dentist for Hornsby and Liverpool, and we can ensure that you are smiling from ear to ear each day. Contact us to find more, and book your appointment.