The Impact of Lifestyle and Physical Activity on Self-Reported Bruxism Symptoms in Young Adults

Bruxism is an oral habit that sums symptoms like tooth clenching, grinding and jaw contractions. This study aimed to evaluate self-assessment bruxism among dental students.

A questionnaire assessing the perception of bruxism symptoms was administered to a cohort of students (n=301) from "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania. Data regarding demographics, lifestyle and current symptoms were collected.

Statistically significant associations between sedentary behavior (lack of sport participation) and bruxism symptoms were found. Participants who did not practice a sport were more likely to report sleep grinding (36.1% vs. 24.5%, p=0.041), increased tooth wear (21.5% vs. 10.9%, p=0.027) and clenching upon waking (31.4% vs. 20.9%, p=0.049). Conversely, those who reported never clenching during stressful situations were more likely to be physically active (43.6% vs. 25.1%, p=0.009). Similarly, absence of clenching during tense moments was associated with sports participation (47.3% vs. 27.7%, p=0.005).

Psychosocial factors and lifestyle significantly impact the presence of bruxism symptoms. The results of the present study suggest that physical activity may reduce the risk of bruxism-associated symptoms. However, correlating perceived symptoms with objective clinical assessment remains necessary.