Self-Prescribed Analgesic Use for Acute Dental Pain Among Saudi Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

Self-medication with analgesics is a common practice for managing dental pain and may delay appropriate dental care. This study aimed to assess the prevalence, awareness, and practices related to self-prescribed analgesic use for toothache among adults living in Saudi Arabia.

A cross-sectional survey was conducted over one week using an online convenience sampling method targeting adults aged ≥18 years across five regions of Saudi Arabia. Data were collected using a structured Arabic questionnaire covering sociodemographic characteristics, dental history, pain characteristics, and self-medication practices. Ethical approval was obtained prior to data collection. Statistical analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS).

A total of 1,588 participants were included, of whom 750 (47.2%) reported using analgesics to manage dental pain. Ibuprofen was the most commonly used analgesic (58%). Alternative pain management methods included herbal remedies (10.8%), rinsing with salted water (5.4%), and seeking medical consultation (4.7%). Multiple pain relief methods were reported by 27.3% of participants. Self-prescribed analgesic use was significantly associated with age (p = 0.005), marital status (p = 0.017), region of residence (p < 0.0001), dental insurance status (p = 0.032), pain source (p = 0.033), and pain severity (p < 0.0001).

Self-medication with analgesics for dental pain is highly prevalent among adults in Saudi Arabia and is influenced by demographic and pain-related factors. These findings highlight the need for public health interventions focusing on patient education regarding the risks of self-medication and improving access to timely and affordable dental care.