The union’s Head of Health, Christina McAnea, said: ‘Things are bad when people start neglecting their oral health for money reasons.
‘Some people suffer for hours, sometimes days, with severe tooth pain and find themselves with no other option but to go to A&E as they can’t afford to pay the dentist.
‘Families are struggling with high energy bills, rising childcare costs, expensive fuel and transport so something has to give.
‘After they’ve paid their bills, rent and food, low-paid families find themselves out of pocket and that’s when extra expenses, such as dental treatments, become a luxury…