SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) — More Louisiana children have oral health problems than children in any other state in the nation, according to a data analysis.

Orthodontists at Celebrate Dental & Braces compiled data from a National Survey of Children’s Health taken in 2021 and 2022. They studied children between the ages of 1 and 17 who had toothaches, bleeding gums and/or cavities.

Data shows that 19.1% of Louisiana children had oral health problems in a 24-month period that began in 2021. Around 11% of children between ages 6 and 14 had dental sealants on their permanent molars because of program initiatives like Louisiana Seals Smiles.

Mississippi came in right under Louisiana, with 17.3% of children in the state having oral health problems in the same period. In the rest of the nation, it’s estimated that 17% of children between the ages of 6 and 9 have undiagnosed cavities. But in Mississippi, around 25% of children ages 6 to 9 have untreated tooth decay.

Compare Louisiana and Mississippi statistics to other states like Rhode Island, where only 10.4% of children had oral health issues in the 24-month period.

Dr. Kelsey Loveland from Celebrate Dental & Braces said that disparities in dental health across the states are influenced by a combination of socioeconomic factors, public health policies and access to care.

“States with higher poverty rates, limited dental insurance coverage, and inadequate public health initiatives, such as community water fluoridation and school-based dental programs, tend to experience worse dental health outcomes,” Loveland said.

He also said it requires targeted efforts to improve health care access and educated communities on the importance of oral hygiene. He also said that the prevention of dental diseases enhances students’ academic performance and improves the quality of life for students and future generations.