Customer scenario
Customer scenario
31-year-old Jake asks you to recommend something for toothache. One of his fillings came out last night and he woke during the night in a lot of pain and discomfort. He has taken ibuprofen, which took the edge off his pain, but his tooth and jaw are still uncomfortable and he can’t get an appointment with his dentist for a couple of days.
WHAT WOULD YOU RECOMMEND TO JAKE?
Suggest he
goes to A&E
Recommend Orajel
Dental Gel alongside
ibuprofen until he
sees his dentist
Suggest he asks for
an urgent appointment
with his GP
INCORRECT!
Jake hasn’t described symptoms that indicate he should go to A&E.
Customers should go to A&E if they have toothache and the area around their eye or neck is swollen, or if they have swelling in their mouth or neck that is making it difficult for them to breathe, swallow or speak.9
CORRECT!
Orajel will offer fast-acting, local pain relief (less than 2 minutes4), alongside ibuprofen, which can take longer to work. He should see an emergency dentist sooner if he develops a high temperature, pain when he bites, red gums, a bad taste in his mouth, or if his cheek or jaw become swollen.9
INCORRECT!
Jake should not go to his GP as they will not be able to provide dental treatment.9
Click through the slider for additional self-care advice that Jake could implement until he sees his dentist9
RINSING HIS MOUTH WITH SALT WATER
(CHILDREN SHOULD NOT TRY THIS)
EATING SOFT FOODS, SUCH AS
YOGHURT OR SCRAMBLED EGGS
AVOIDING CHEWING WITH THE SORE TOOTH
USING A SOFT TOOTHBRUSH AND AVOIDING
FLOSSING AROUND THE SORE TOOTH
AVOIDING FOODS THAT ARE SWEET,
VERY HOT OR VERY COLD
AVOIDING SMOKING AS THIS CAN
MAKE DENTAL PROBLEMS WORSE
1. Patient. Toothache. 31 October 2022. Available at: https://patient.info/oral-dental-care/toothache
2. NHS Inform Scotland. Toothache. 2024. Available at: https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/mouth/toothache/
3. Gov.uk. Delivering better oral health: an evidence-based toolkit for prevention. Chapter 9: Fluoride. 2025.
Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/delivering-better-oral-health-an-evidence-based-toolkit-for-prevention/chapter-9-fluoride
4. 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.
5. SMPC. Orajel Dental Gel. 2015. Available at: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/1230/smpc
6. SMPC. Orajel Extra Strength. 2015. Available at: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/1231/smpc
7. PIL. Orajel Dental Gel. 2019. Available at: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.1230.pdf
8. PIL. Orajel Extra Strength. 2019. Available at: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.1231.pdf
9. NHS. Toothache. 2024. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/symptoms/toothache/
Online references last accessed October 2025.
If users experience any side effects, they should discontinue use and seek professional medical advice.
To report any potential side effects, contact us or use the MHRA’s Yellow Card Scheme available at https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/ or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store