Relationship Between Short Sleep, Exercise Frequency and Media Use with Oral Health in Korean Elementary School Children: A Cross-Sectional Study
Abstract
Highlights What are the main findings? - Short sleep duration, low exercise frequency, and excessive media use were significantly associated with poor oral health in Korean elementary school children.- Dental caries prevalence and periodontal disease were strongly related to insufficient sleep. What is the implication of the main finding? - Improving sleep duration and healthy lifestyle habits should be prioritized to prevent oral diseases in children.- Pediatric dentists can use these findings to guide preventive strategies and parental education. Abstract Background: Dental caries, periodontal disease, and malocclusion are common childhood oral diseases strongly influenced by lifestyle factors, including sleep, exercise, and media use. In Korea, the prevalence of dental caries among elementary school children is approximately 20–25%, periodontal disease 1–2%, and malocclusion 12–18%. Sleep is a key determinant of child health; insufficient sleep is linked to weakened immunity, higher systemic inflammation, and greater susceptibility to cariogenic bacteria, suggesting a potential pathway to poor oral health. This study aimed to analyze the combined effects of sleep duration, exercise frequency, and media use on oral health indicators in Korean elementary school students. Methods: We analyzed Student Health Examination data from the Ministry of Education (2021–2023) for 93,220 children aged 6–12 years. Oral health indicators included dental caries prevalence (DCP), required…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a cross-sectional, done in people. Its evidence level is 4 of 5 (Low · observational). Observational designs can show an association but not prove cause. Reported size: 93,220 participants or records.
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