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

Abstract

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. 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. 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]. 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.