Delta Dental Report: Financial Savings and Health Risks Motivate Improved Oral Hygiene

In recognition of National Dental Hygiene Month, Delta Dental shares new findings from its 2024 State of America’s Oral Health and Wellness Report, a comprehensive analysis of consumer opinions and behaviors relating to oral health across the nation.

In recognition of National Dental Hygiene Month, Delta Dental shares additional findings from its 2024 State of America’s Oral Health and Wellness Report, a nationwide analysis of consumer opinions and behaviors relating to oral health.

The report reveals that more adults are practicing proper oral health care to avoid serious financial and dental repercussions. Over 9 in 10 adults (91%) say that saving money and avoiding unforeseen costs is a strong motivation to maintain their dental hygiene, an increase from last year’s 87%. Additionally, nearly 3 in 4 adults (74%) report that preventing dental issues such as cavities, gum disease, and tooth decay is a key motivator, up from approximately 2 in 3 adults (66%) in 2023.

“It is encouraging to see the increased commitment to preventive oral health care at home and with the dentist,” said Joseph Dill, DDS, MBA, Chief Dental Officer, Delta Dental Plans Association. “Being diligent with oral health care regimens is not only essential to oral health but is also a critical component of overall health, helping to reduce the risk of chronic health conditions such as heart disease, respiratory disease, and diabetes.”

Additional findings from the 2024 State of America’s Oral Health and Wellness Report include:

Preventive visits increase, while unexpected visits decrease

• More than 8 in 10 adults (83%) who visited a dentist in 2023 did so for preventive care, up from 78% in 2022.
• Notably, there has been a decline in unexpected dental visits among adults, from 41% in 2022 to 36% in 2023.
• The report also underscores the importance of dental insurance in motivating adults to make preventive dental visits.

Room for improvement with children’s oral health

• Parents report that nearly 3 in 4 children brush at least twice daily (72%), while approximately 1 in 2 rinse (54%) or floss (50%) once per day.
• However, parents who believe their child’s oral health could be improved cite frequent sweets consumption (49%) and insufficient flossing (46%) or brushing (43%).

To read the full 2024 State of America’s Oral Health and Wellness Report and learn more about its methodology and findings, click here.

About the Research

Delta Dental Plans Association commissioned a third-party market research firm, Material Holdings, LLC (“Material”), to conduct the research forming the basis of this report. Material conducted the research between January 3 and January 17, 2024, using email invitations and online surveys targeting two specific groups recruited through an opt-in panel:

• 1,000 nationally representative U.S. adults aged 18+
• 1,000 parents of children aged 12 and under

Geographic distribution quotas were set to ensure a reliable and accurate representation of U.S. adults and parents of children aged 12 and under. The research has a margin of error of +/- 3%.

About Delta Dental Plans Association

Based in Chicago, Illinois, Delta Dental Plans Association is the not-for-profit national association of the 39 independent Delta Dental companies. Through these companies, Delta Dental is the nation’s largest dental benefits provider, offering the country’s largest dental network with approximately 152,000 participating dentists. Over the past decade, Delta Dental companies and their foundations have invested nearly $2 billion to improve oral and overall health in communities nationwide.

Visit deltadental.com for information on individual and group dental insurance plans.