Sleep is one of the foundations of physical and mental health, supporting immune function, cognitive performance, emotional regulation, and recovery from illness. Disrupted sleep over even a few nights has measurable consequences, such as diminished ability to function. When the cause of that disruption is dental pain, the consequences may compound: poor sleep makes pain feel worse, and pain makes sleep harder to achieve.
This relationship between dental pain and sleep quality is increasingly well supported by evidence,[i] and it has direct implications for how dental professionals advise patients who are waiting for treatment.
Pain and sleep: the evidence
A recent systematic review confirmed that poor oral health, including dental pain, is significantly associated with disrupted sleep patterns.[ii] The review identified dental issues such as caries and periodontal disease as contributors to sleepless nights, and found that oral health-related quality of life scores were consistently lower in patients reporting poor sleep quality.
Pain disrupts the structure of a night’s sleep, reducing the proportion of deep, restorative sleep. A further review examining the relationship between pain, especially oral pain, and sleep disorders, found a consistent association between chronic pain and insomnia, with evidence suggesting that greater sleep disturbance correlates with more intense pain.[iii] In short, the less a patient sleeps, the more pain they experience. And the more it hurts, the less they sleep.
For patients with acute dental pain awaiting emergency treatment, this cycle can begin within a single night. The intensity of toothache, particularly when it is associated with something more serious like a dental abscess, is well known to peak at night when the absence of daytime distraction heightens pain perception, and while lying down increases blood flow to the affected area, intensifying feelings of throbbing.[iv]
The wider impact
The consequences of pain-disrupted sleep extend beyond fatigue: research consistently demonstrates that dental pain has a significant negative impact on quality of life, encompassing mood changes, difficulty eating, reduced ability to concentrate, as well as impaired social functioning.[v] For patients in employment, a night of toothache-related sleep disruption can translate directly into lost productivity, or even the loss of a full workday.
Supporting patients between appointments
The most effective way to address dental pain-related sleep disruption is to treat the underlying cause. But dental appointments cannot always happen immediately – patients contact practices out of hours, face waiting times for emergency slots, or are managing pain over weekends when treatment is unavailable. In these situations, what a clinician recommends will make a notable difference to the quality of the patient’s night.
Advising patients on sleep positioning – a slightly elevated head position can reduce nocturnal throbbing, for example – and dietary triggers to avoid before bed are both within the scope of practical guidance. Recommending an effective topical pain relief solution is equally important. Orajel® Dental Gel contains 10% benzocaine,[vi] a local anaesthetic clinically proven to provide relief from dental pain in under two minutes.[vii] For more severe pain, Orajel® Extra Strength contains 20% benzocaine[viii] – the maximum concentration available without prescription in the Orajel® range – for relief from acute dental pain.
By recommending effective topical pain relief alongside practical advice, dental professionals can provide meaningful support to patients through one of the most disruptive experiences dental pain can cause, and help them arrive at their treatment appointment having had a better night’s sleep.
For essential information, and to see the full range of Orajel products, please visit https://www.orajelhcp.co.uk/
Author: Sumera Bashir, Church and Dwight UK Medical Affairs & Scientific Engagement Lead
[i] Shah J, Poirier BF, Hedges J, Jamieson L, Sethi S. Effect of Sleep on Oral Health: A Scoping Review. Sleep medicine reviews. Published online April 1, 2024:101939-101939. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smrv.2024.101939
[ii] Lei F, Hu X. Oral health and sleep disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Biomed Rep. 2024;22(3):37. Published 2024 Dec 20. doi:10.3892/br.2024.1915
[iii] Haack M, Simpson N, Sethna N, Kaur S, Mullington J. Sleep deficiency and chronic pain: potential underlying mechanisms and clinical implications. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2020;45(1):205-216. doi:10.1038/s41386-019-0439-z
[iv] London ED. Severe Toothache at Night “– Causes & Relief | Emergency Dentist London. Emergencydentistinlondon.co.uk. Published February 27, 2026. Accessed April 28, 2026. https://www.emergencydentistinlondon.co.uk/blog/what-causes-severe-toothache-at-night-key-reasons-explained
[v] Jensen AS, Steingrímsdóttir ÓA, Jönsson B, Stubhaug A, Nielsen CS, Hadler-Olsen E. Orofacial Pain Is Associated With Oral Health-Related Quality of Life: The Tromsø Study 2015-2016. Int Dent J. 2026;76(1):109328. doi:10.1016/j.identj.2025.109328
[vi] Orajel Dental Gel. Summary of Product Characteristics. Available at: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/1230/smpc
[vii] 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.
[viii] Orajel Extra Strength. Summary of Product Characteristics. Available at: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/1231/smpc
