Medication use was not associated with bruxism, whereas agitated sleep was associated with higher odds of bruxism in the full sample and neurotypical subgroup of autistic and neurotypical children aged 4-12 years.
Agitated sleep was associated with significantly higher odds of bruxism in the full sample of children.
Agitated sleep was associated with higher odds of bruxism specifically in neurotypical children but not in autistic children.
Increasing age was inversely associated with bruxism in the full sample.
Medication use was not associated with bruxism in the full sample or in any subgroup analyses.
Autism diagnosis, sex, and anxiety were not independently associated with bruxism.
The study had several methodological limitations that require cautious interpretation of findings.
This research suggests that in a group of 227 children aged 4 to 12 years — including 40 autistic and 187 neurotypical children — the quality of a child's sleep, specifically having agitated or restless sleep, was linked to a higher likelihood of bruxism (teeth grinding or clenching). This association was strongest in neurotypical children, where agitated sleep was associated with nearly three times the odds of bruxism. Interestingly, this relationship was not statistically significant in the autistic subgroup, though the small size of that group means conclusions about autistic children specifically should be made carefully. Older children were less likely to have bruxism than younger children, suggesting bruxism may decrease as children age. Contrary to what some might expect, use of medications was not linked to bruxism in any group analyzed, though the study lacked data on medication dosages, which is an important limitation. Similarly, anxiety, sex, and an autism diagnosis itself were not independently associated with bruxism once other factors were taken into account. Exploratory analyses looking at sensory differences and support needs within the autistic subgroup also found no significant relationships with bruxism. This research matters because bruxism can cause dental damage and pain, and understanding what factors are associated with it can help caregivers and dental professionals identify children who may be at higher risk. The finding about sleep quality being linked to bruxism highlights the potential importance of addressing sleep problems in children. However, because this was a cross-sectional study relying on parent-reported information rather than clinical measurements, and because the autistic subgroup was small and mostly male, the findings should be considered preliminary and not generalized too broadly.
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Upload Your LabsKammer P, Nascimento N, Moro J, Bolan M. (2026). Bruxism in Autistic and Neurotypical Children: Associations With Medication Use and Sleep.. Special care in dentistry : official publication of the American Association of Hospital Dentists, the Academy of Dentistry for the Handicapped, and the American Society for Geriatric Dentistry. https://doi.org/10.1111/scd.70217