A review about risk factors for bruxism in adults

Abstract

Bruxism is the involuntary occurrence of rhythmic activity of the masticatory muscles in a non-physiological functional state in humans, resulting in rhythmic, intermittent grinding or clenching of the maxillary and mandibular teeth. The etiology of bruxism is complex and the pathogenesis is unknown; it may be associated with a number of factors. Risk factors for the development of bruxism in children and adolescents differ from those for adult bruxism. Emotional stress, tobacco, alcohol or coffee, sleep apnea syndrome and anxiety disorders are considered important factors for adult bruxism. In this paper, we will discuss the risk factors for the development of adult teeth grinding disorder from the following aspects: psychosomatic factors, exogenous factors, occlusal factors, and pharmacological factors, by synthesizing the relevant literature.