Daily screen time, sleep pattern, and probable sleep bruxism in children: A cross‐sectional study

• Published in: Oral diseases Vol. 29; no. 7; pp. 2888 - 2894
• Main Authors: Amaral, Cássia Cardozo, Fernandez, Matheus dos Santos, Jansen, Karen, da Silva, Ricardo Azevedo, Boscato, Noéli, Goettems, Marília Leão
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Malden Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.10.2023
• Subjects: Children; Cross-sectional studies; Families & family life; Screen time; Sleep; Socioeconomic factors; Teeth
• ISSN: 1354-523X; 1601-0825
• DOI: 10.1111/odi.14395

Abstract Objective This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of probable sleep bruxism (SB) in children aged 7–8 years and its association with sleep pattern and the time spent using devices with a screen. Material and Methods A cross‐sectional study was conducted with children from Pelotas, Brazil ( n  = 556). Parents/caregivers were interviewed and provided demographic/socioeconomic information, children's daily screen time, nighttime tooth grinding or clenching, sleep duration and answered the Biological Rhythms Interview for Assessment in Neuropsychiatry for Kids (BRIAN‐K‐sleep domain). Probable SB was determined based on a positive clinical inspection with/without a positive parental/caregiver's reports of tooth clenching or grinding. Hierarchical Poisson regression was performed. Results The prevalence of probable SB was 15.83% ( n  = 88). There was no difference in the probable SB prevalence according to the daily screen time ( p  = 0.744), and low family socioeconomic status was associated with higher SB prevalence (Prevalence Ratio [PR] = 1.95; 95% Confidence Interval [95% CI]: 1.21–3.17; p  = 0.006). Higher scores in the sleep domain of the BRIAN‐K scale were associated with probable SB [PR = 1.07; 95% CI: 1.01–1.30; p  = 0.013]. Conclusions Difficulties in maintaining sleep and low family socioeconomic status were associated with probable SB in schoolchildren, while screen time spent using devices with a screen was not associated.