Dental pain is a common issue experienced by people across the nation. It can be caused by various factors and, therefore, requires professional assessment to determine appropriate treatment. However, this can take time – either while diagnostic testing is completed or during the wait for an available appointment. Considering the impact that this pain can have on an individual’s everyday life, it is important that the dental team can offer support to alleviate symptoms as quickly as possible.
Individual wellbeing
Crucially, toothache can have a detrimental impact on a patient’s quality of life. Oral pain – alongside tooth loss and impaired dental functionality – is associated with an increased risk of mental health conditions like depression.[i] The literature has also established a link between dental pain and anxiety,[ii] with chronic dental pain associated with an overall poorer quality of life.[iii]
Mental health and wellbeing are further affected by the physical implications of chronic toothache. A bidirectional relationship exists between chronic pain and sleep, with higher pain levels leading to lower quality and quantity of sleep, and vice versa.[iv] Dental pain can also influence nutrition, as chewing problems can cause individuals to avoid certain foods, increasing the chance of malnutrition.[v]
Clearly, toothache can have a significant effect on those who experience it. However, the impact of dental pain spreads far beyond the afflicted individual.
Economic burden
Oral health problems are estimated to account for 9-27% of work absences due to sickness, with toothache being a leading cause.[vi] It has been reported that almost three in 10 British people (28%) miss work due to tooth pain, which equates to 11.7 million individuals. Approximately 7% of working-age adults have taken an entire week off for dental pain, adding up to 23 million sick days.[vii] This costs the UK economy millions of pounds in lost production each year.
However, this may not accurately reflect the number of people who suffer from dental pain. It is thought that oral discomfort is often not enough – or perceived to be enough – to take the day off, meaning that a high proportion of affected workers will still attend. In the aforementioned study, 9% of respondents found toothache to negatively affect the quality of their work and reduce their productivity.
Just as worryingly, research has suggested that many individuals – up to 73% – will delay dental treatment specifically because they don’t want to take time off work.[viii]
Treatment costs
While this maintains work presenteeism, it ends up costing the population in other ways. Firstly, reduced productivity across UK industries is hindering economic growth. The UK is ranked in the lowest third of the 38 countries listed by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), having experienced slower growth compared to many other nations. Sluggish productivity, particularly in low-wage sectors, alongside low growth rates are preventing the UK economy from flourishing as others are.[ix] Dental pain is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to improving workplace productivity, but it is important nonetheless.
Delayed dental treatment also has financial implications. When oral health problems are allowed to develop and advance, they often require more drastic intervention when the professional team is eventually consulted. Dental caries alone is estimated to cost the UK £18,000 per person[x] – a sum that could easily be reduced with more timely treatment and effective prevention strategies. Other estimations suggest that missing a £60 dental appointment could cost someone up to £4,000 in the following three years,[xi] demonstrating how quickly seemingly small problems can grow if left untreated.
Accessible dental care
Sadly, there is no quick fix. Dental professionals must make their services accessible to as many people as possible, tailoring what they offer to suit their local demographics. Core messages should be centred around prevention, encouraging patients to take responsibility for their oral health, maintain effective at-home dental hygiene routines, and attend regular appointments.
When patients are in pain, they should understand the importance of seeking timely professional support. They will also need an immediate solution that will help to alleviate their symptoms while they await their appointment. In these situations, consider Orajel® Dental Gel – it contains 10% benzocaine[xii] to deliver rapid pain relief[xiii] in just 2 minutes.[xiv] Alternatively, the Orajel® Extra Strength solution contains 20% benzocaine[xv] for a greater local anaesthetic effect when needed.
Dental pain has wide-reaching consequences on individuals, with untreated dental health problems increasing treatment costs and affecting the nationwide economy. Professionals can help to address the issues by prioritising prevention strategies and helping patients to avoid the development of oral disease in the first place. When issues do occur, being able to recommend fast and trusted pain relief will be just as vital for a positive patient experience.
For essential information, and to see the full range of Orajel products, please visit https://www.orajelhcp.co.uk/
Author: Sumera Bashir Medical Affairs & Scientific Engagement Lead
[i] Karimi P, Zojaji S, Fard AA, Nateghi MN, Mansouri Z, Zojaji R. The impact of oral health on depression: A systematic review. Spec Care Dentist. 2025 Jan-Feb;45(1):e13079. doi: 10.1111/scd.13079. Epub 2024 Nov 6. PMID: 39501933.
[ii] Rahardian MK, Putri FA, Maulina T. Association Between Orofacial Pain and Anxiety: A Systematic Review. J Pain Res. 2024 Jan 3;17:1-10. doi: 10.2147/JPR.S432031. PMID: 38192368; PMCID: PMC10771725.
[iii] Jidiya N, Manne A, Ennala S, Akshita K, Kamble D, Anand R, Patel I, Patil S, Daniel S. Psychosocial impact of chronic oral mucosal pain disorders: Associations with oral health related quality of life, anxiety, and depression. Journal of Oral Biology and Craniofacial Research. February 2026. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobcr.2026.101426
[iv] Gupta CC, Sprajcer M, Johnston-Devin C, et al
Sleep hygiene strategies for individuals with chronic pain: a scoping review
BMJ Open 2023;13:e060401. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-060401
[v] Srisanoi K, Wnuk I, Maniewicz S, McKenna G, Müller F, Leles C, Papi P, Woodside J, Srinivasan M. The Impact of Nutritional Status on Oral Health Outcomes and Management in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Gerodontology. 2025 Dec 2. doi: 10.1111/ger.70030. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 41331978.
[vi] Lima RB, Buarque A. Oral health in the context of prevention of absenteeism and presenteeism in the workplace. Rev Bras Med Trab. 2019 Dec 1;17(4):594-604. doi: 10.5327/Z1679443520190397. PMID: 32685760; PMCID: PMC7363255.
[vii] 23 million sick days due to dental pain. Simplyhealth. Sept 2023. https://www.simplyhealth.co.uk/news-and-articles/23-million-sick-days-due-to-dental-pain [Accessed March 2026]
[viii] Employees delay dental treatment worrying about time off work. July 2023. Bupa Dental Insurance. https://www.bupa.com/news-and-press/press-releases/2023/employees-delay-dental-treatment [Accessed March 2026]
[ix] Singh T. The productivity blind spot: why UJ policymakers can’t afford to ignore low-wage sectors. February 2025. https://www.progressive-policy.net/publications/the-productivity-blind-spot-why-uk-policymakers-cant-afford-to-ignore-low-wage-sectors [Accessed March 2026]
[x] New study reveals economic burden of tooth decay is highest in deprived groups. NIHR. Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre. December 2024. https://www.birminghambrc.nihr.ac.uk/news-and-events/new-study-reveals-economic-burden-of-tooth-decay-is-highest-in-deprived-groups [Accessed March 2026]
[xi] The true cost of waiting: Manchester’s £4,000 dental delay trap. UrgentCare Dental. https://urgentcaredental.co.uk/blog/manchester-dental-delay-trap [Accessed march 2026]
[xii] Orajel Dental Gel. Summary of Product Characteristics. Available at: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/1230/smpc
[xiii] Lee, H-S. Recent advances in topical anesthesia. J Dent Anesth Pain Med. 2016;16(4):237–244.
[xiv] Hersh, EV, et al. An evaluation of 10 percent and 20 percent benzocaine gels in patients with acute toothache. J Am Dent Assoc. 2013;144(5):517–526.
[xv] Orajel Extra Strength. Summary of Product Characteristics. Available at: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/1231/smpc
