Sleep Bruxism in Children: Etiology, Associated Factors, Diagnosis, and Interventions

Abstract

Introduction: Sleep Bruxism (SB) is characterized by repetitive movement of the jaw muscles during sleep, manifesting as teeth grinding or clenching. It is an involuntary muscular activity, currently understood not only as a disorder but also as a possible motor behavior with protective functions in certain situations. Objectives: To map and synthesize the available evidence on associated factors, diagnostic methods, and clinical management strategies for SB in childhood. Methodology: This study is an integrative literature review, conducted through electronic searches in the MEDLINE/PubMed and SciELO databases using terms related to sleep bruxism combined with descriptors on children and pediatric dentistry, applying Boolean operators AND and OR to optimize the retrieval of relevant articles. Results: Twelve studies on SB in children were analyzed, highlighting its multifactorial etiology involving biological, environmental, psychosocial factors and lifestyle habits such as screen time, sleep quality, and anxiety. Diagnosis is challenging—polysomnography is the gold standard, while clinical methods and reports have limitations. Regarding treatment, photobiomodulation emerged as the most promising intervention, outperforming occlusal splints and pharmacotherapy, reinforcing the need for individualized and multidisciplinary approaches. Conclusion: Pediatric sleep bruxism is a multifactorial condition associated with neurological, psychological, respiratory, and genetic factors, requiring individualized assessment. Its effective management demands a multidisciplinary approach, with emphasis on therapies such as photobiomodulation, behavioral interventions, and, in some cases, pharmacological treatment.