Half of women say their oral health is being affected by the cost of living crisis

The index also found that nearly a third (32 per cent) of women report they are less likely to visit a dentist due to the cost-of-living crisis.

The findings precede the publication of the Government's Dental Recovery Plan, which is due to be released ahead of the new year in an effort to tackle the UK’s NHS dental crisis.

Unaffordable dentistry is also hitting young people hard. Fifty-six per cent of people aged 25 to 34 years old believe their dental health will suffer amidst soaring living costs, and one in three would consider exploring overseas treatment options for affordability.

Separate research from Frontier Economics has shown the value preventative oral health measures – like chewing more sugar-free gum – could deliver by avoiding the need for urgent treatments and making the need for check-ups less frequent.