Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 12, 2026
A Chronic Sleep Fragmentation Model using Vibrating Orbital Rotor to Induce Cognitive Deficit and Anxiety-Like Behavior in Young Wild-Type Mice
Published on: September 22, 2020
Bruxism in Autistic and Neurotypical Children: Associations With Medication Use and Sleep
Pedro Vitali Kammer1, Natalia Goes Nascimento1, Juliana da Silva Moro1
1Deparment of Dentistry, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
Insights
Agitated sleep, not medication, is linked to bruxism (teeth grinding) in children. This association was found in neurotypical children but not autistic children, suggesting different factors may influence teeth grinding in autistic individuals.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Sleep Medicine
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Child Psychology
Background:
- Bruxism, or teeth grinding, is common in children and may be influenced by various factors.
- Understanding the relationship between bruxism, medication, sleep quality, and anxiety is crucial for effective intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the associations between medication use, sleep quality, anxiety, and bruxism in autistic and neurotypical children.
- To identify potential differences in these associations between autistic and neurotypical pediatric populations.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study utilizing parent-reported data from 227 children (4-12 years old), including 40 autistic and 187 neurotypical children.
- Multivariable logistic regression was employed to analyze associations with bruxism.
- Stratified and exploratory subgroup analyses were conducted to examine specific populations.
Main Results:
- Agitated sleep was significantly associated with higher odds of bruxism in the overall sample and the neurotypical subgroup.
- Medication use, autism diagnosis, sex, and anxiety were not independently associated with bruxism.
- Increasing age showed an inverse association with bruxism.
Conclusions:
- Agitated sleep is a significant correlate of bruxism in neurotypical children, but this link was not observed in the autistic subgroup.
- Medication use did not demonstrate an association with bruxism in this study.
- Findings should be interpreted with caution due to the study's cross-sectional design, reliance on parent reports, and the characteristics of the autistic subgroup.
Objective:
To examine whether medication use, sleep quality, and anxiety were associated with bruxism in autistic and neurotypical children.
Methods And Results:
Cross-sectional parent-reported data were collected from 227 children aged 4-12 years, including 40 autistic and 187 neurotypical children. Associations with bruxism were examined using multivariable logistic regression, with stratified and exploratory subgroup analyses. Medication use was not associated with bruxism in the full sample or subgroup analyses. Agitated sleep was associated with higher odds of bruxism in the full sample (AOR = 2.23, p = 0.005) and the neurotypical subgroup (OR = 2.95, p = 0.002), but not in the autistic subgroup. Increasing age was inversely associated with bruxism (AOR = 0.74, p = 0.035). Autism diagnosis, sex, and anxiety were not independently associated with the outcome. Exploratory analyses within the autistic subgroup found no significant associations for sensory differences and support needs.
Conclusions:
Medication use was not associated with bruxism, whereas agitated sleep was associated with higher odds of bruxism in the full sample and neurotypical subgroup. Findings should be interpreted cautiously given the cross-sectional design, parent-reported measures, small and predominantly male autistic subgroup, and absence of medication dosage data.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...
01:15REM Sleep Behavior Disorder
RBD is significantly associated with...
01:17Sleepwalking and Sleep Talking
Factors that increase the likelihood of sleepwalking include sleep deprivation and alcohol consumption. Contrary to common beliefs, it is safe...
01:17Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Miscellaneous Agents
Melatonin congeners like ramelteon (Rozerem) and tasimelteon (Hetlioz) selectively bind to melatonin receptors (MT1 and MT2) and thus mimic the actions of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles. Tasimelteon is primarily used for non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder, common in blind patients. They are also used to treat conditions like insomnia...
01:07Narcolepsy
01:19Autism Spectrum Disorder
These core symptoms manifest differently among individuals, ranging from mild to severe. The disorder's complexity extends beyond its clinical presentation, encompassing a diverse range of biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences.