Associations of sleep bruxism with age, sleep apnea, and daytime problematic behaviors in children

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M Tachibana1,2, T Kato3,4, K Kato-Nishimura1,5

  • 1United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Suita, Japan.

Oral Diseases
|April 19, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Sleep bruxism affects 21% of Japanese children, particularly those aged 5-7. It is linked to sleep movements and snoring, and may indirectly impact daytime behavior through sleep disorders.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Sleep Medicine
  • Child Psychology
  • Dental Sleep Medicine

Background:

  • Sleep bruxism is a common condition in children.
  • Understanding its prevalence and associated factors is crucial for early intervention.
  • The relationship between sleep bruxism, sleep quality, and daytime behavior requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of sleep bruxism in Japanese children.
  • To explore the association between sleep bruxism and sleep-related factors.
  • To examine the link between sleep bruxism and daytime problematic behavior.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study involving 6023 children aged 2-12 years in Japan.
  • Guardians completed the Japanese Sleep Questionnaire.
  • Statistical analyses included multiple regression and structural equation modeling.

Main Results:

  • The prevalence of sleep bruxism was 21.0%, peaking at 27.4% in the 5-7 year age group.
  • Sleep bruxism correlated significantly with age (5-7 years), increased movement during sleep, mouth breathing, and loud snoring.
  • Structural equation modeling indicated a weak direct effect on daytime behavior, but a significant correlation with obstructive sleep apnea, which strongly influenced daytime behavior.

Conclusions:

  • Sleep bruxism is prevalent in Japanese children and associated with specific sleep characteristics and age.
  • Obstructive sleep apnea may mediate the relationship between sleep bruxism and daytime behavioral issues.
  • Further research into sleep-disordered breathing comorbidities is warranted for children with sleep bruxism.
Abstract

Keywords:
co-sleepingcommunity samplesdevelopmentsleep-disordered breathingtooth grinding

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