The Impact of Lifestyle and Physical Activity on Self-Reported Bruxism Symptoms in Young Adults

OBJECTIVES: Bruxism is an oral habit that sums symptoms like tooth clenching, grinding and jaw contractions. This study aimed to evaluate self-assessment bruxism among dental students. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A questionnaire assessing the perception of bruxism symptoms was administered to a cohort of students (n=301) from "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania. Data regarding demographics, lifestyle and current symptoms were collected. RESULTS: Statistically significant associations between sedentary behavior (lack of sport participation) and bruxism symptoms were found. Participants who did not practice a sport were more likely to report sleep grinding (36.1% vs. 24.5%, p=0.041), increased tooth wear (21.5% vs. 10.9%, p=0.027) and clenching upon waking (31.4% vs. 20.9%, p=0.049). Conversely, those who reported never clenching during stressful situations were more likely to be physically active (43.6% vs. 25.1%, p=0.009). Similarly, absence of clenching during tense moments was associated with sports participation (47.3% vs. 27.7%, p=0.005). CONCLUSION: Psychosocial factors and lifestyle significantly impact the presence of bruxism symptoms. The results of the present study suggest that physical activity may reduce the risk of bruxism-associated symptoms. However, correlating perceived symptoms with objective clinical assessment remains necessary.