People with decayed teeth are much more likely to have trouble with everyday activities like eating, smiling, or talking—even if their teeth don’t hurt—because the decay itself is making their life harder.

Whether you're male or female, young or old, or have more or less education doesn't seem to change how much dental pain affects your daily life — everyone feels about the same impact.

People who have more tooth pain are much more likely to have trouble eating, talking, or hanging out with friends because their pain gets in the way of daily life.