Association between sleep and awake bruxism with sleep quality and duration in children and adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Abstract
Sleep is essential for health, potentially influencing awake and sleep bruxism, which may lead to outcomes that can persist from childhood through adult life. The objective of this systematic review was to investigate the association between sleep quality and awake or sleep bruxism in children and adolescents. PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar databases were searched until June 2025 to assess the association between bruxism and sleep quality or duration. Only observational studies were analyzed. Biases were assessed by the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist and the Newcastle-Ottawa scale for cross-sectional and case-control studies, respectively. Fourteen studies were included. Meta-analyses showed no differences between sleep bruxism and control individuals regarding polysomnography parameters and subjective sleep duration. Individuals with caregivers' reports of poor sleep quality showed a higher odds ratio (OR) for presenting sleep bruxism (OR = 1.92; 95 % confidence interval [CI] = 1.48-2.48; I2 = 32 %). The single study on awake bruxism showed an association with self-reported poor sleep quality in adolescents. The certainty of evidence was rated as low for objective parameters and very low for subjective parameters. Objective sleep quality was not associated with sleep bruxism, while poor sleep quality reported by caregivers was. The perception of sleep quality in children and adolescents stood out as a relevant factor for…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a meta-analysis, done in people. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid.
Read the paper
Related studies
- Tryptophan Metabolism and Gut-Brain Homeostasis
- Rationale for a Multi-Factorial Approach for the Reversal of Cognitive Decline in Alzheimer’s Disease and MCI: A Review
- Prioritized Research for the Prevention, Treatment, and Reversal of Chronic Disease: Recommendations From the Lifestyle Medicine Research Summit
- Relationship between sleep disorders and gut dysbiosis: what affects what?
- The role of CLOCK gene in psychiatric disorders: Evidence from human and animal research
- Genetic, Transcriptome, Proteomic, and Epidemiological Evidence for Blood-Brain Barrier Disruption and Polymicrobial Brain Invasion as Determinant Factors in Alzheimer’s Disease
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.