Orofacial pain symptoms in sleep bruxer or non-sleep bruxer: Insights from a population-based survey of puerperal women

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of orofacial pain (OP) symptoms among a large sample of women who self-identified as sleep bruxers or non-sleep bruxers and who had given birth in 2019 in the municipality of Rio Grande, RS, Southern Brazil.

Methods

A standardized self-questionnaire was administered to assess OP symptoms. Chi-square tests were employed to compare proportions, and multivariate Poisson regression analysis with robust variance adjustment was used to estimate associations with sleep bruxers and non-sleep bruxers.

Results

A total of 2225 women were included in the study, with 78 (3.5 %) reporting OP symptoms. In the adjusted analysis, self-reported OP symptoms were significantly associated with non-sleep bruxer women living with three or more people in the household (PR=8.40; 95 % CI 1.85–38.11), as well as severe anxiety (PR= 4.73; 95 % CI 2.00–11.18). Among sleep bruxers, a significantly lower OP symptoms prevalence for those who were able to rely on their friends in times of distress (PR= 0.17; 95 % CI 0.10–0.30), while those with personality disorders exhibited significantly higher OP symptoms prevalence (PR= 3.30; 95 % CI 1.04–10.45).

Conclusions

The prevalence of OP symptoms was higher among non-sleep bruxer women living with three or more individuals in the household and among those experiencing severe anxiety. Indeed, sleep bruxer women with personality disorders had a higher prevalence of OP symptoms, while those with strong social support demonstrated a lower prevalence.