Investigation of Respiratory Functions, Respiratory Muscle Strength, Balance and Sleep Quality in Patients With Bruxism

Bruxism is defined as an involuntary, irregular, or rhythmic parafunctional oral activity characterized by clenching or grinding of the teeth, without serving any functional chewing purpose. Various central, pathophysiological, psychosocial, morphological, environmental, and biological factors have been proposed in the etiology of sleep bruxism. Three subtypes of bruxism are described: awake (diurnal) bruxism, which occurs during wakefulness; sleep (nocturnal) bruxism, which occurs during sleep; and combined bruxism, in which features of both are present. Common symptoms include temporomandibular joint pain, discomfort in the masticatory and cervical muscles, headaches-particularly in the temporal region-poor sleep quality, fatigue, and recurrent migraine attacks. Increasing evidence suggests that respiration plays a notable role in the pathophysiology of sleep bruxism. Researchers have reported specific alterations in breathing patterns among affected individuals, proposing that sleep is often associated with a mandibular open or retruded position, which may lead to reduced airway patency due to relaxation of the tongue muscles. It has also been suggested that sleep bruxism may be associated with reduced airway flow or increased upper airway resistance, particularly in individuals who tend to sleep in the supine position.

Clinicians are encouraged to consider the coexistence of sleep-related breathing disturbances-such as snoring, upper airway resistance, or apnea-hypopnea-in patients presenting with sleep bruxism. Snoring, the most common initial respiratory disturbance during sleep, is defined as an oropharyngeal sound resulting from turbulent airflow that causes vibration of soft tissues. In addition, patients with bruxism frequently experience symptoms associated with upper respiratory tract involvement, including rhinitis, sinusitis, and mouth breathing. Upper respiratory tract infections have been shown to reduce lung volumes, and mouth breathing is thought to influence cerebral oxygenation and provoke involuntary contractions of the facial musculature, potentially triggering sleep bruxism. Despite these associations, no studies to date have investigated pulmonary function or respiratory muscle strength in individuals with bruxism.

Bruxism is also associated with dental damage, temporomandibular joint dysfunction, headaches, and postural alterations. These findings indicate that bruxism affects not only the masticatory muscles but also the craniofacial complex and the musculature of the neck and shoulders. Previous studies have demonstrated that individuals with bruxism, particularly children, exhibit a more pronounced forward head posture compared with non-bruxism controls. A forward shift of the head increases the mechanical load on the cervical region and can alter the body's center of gravity, potentially contributing to muscular imbalance and impairments in postural stability. Thus, head posture should be considered in the clinical evaluation of bruxism. Although balance has been examined in individuals with temporomandibular joint dysfunction, studies focusing specifically on balance in patients with bruxism are lacking, and research including bruxism populations within broader temporomandibular dysfunction cohorts remains limited.

Sleep is a vital physiological process during which sensory perception and neuromuscular function are restored and hormonal rhythms are regulated. It consists of multiple stages that differ physiologically and interact with circadian mechanisms to regulate the sleep-wake cycle. When sleep is disrupted-by sleep bruxism, chronic insomnia, narcolepsy, sleep apnea, or other disorders-functional alterations in sleep architecture may occur, negatively affecting quality of life and contributing to public health concerns. Despite the known associations between bruxism, respiratory disturbances, postural alterations, and sleep disruption, no studies have investigated respiratory muscle strength or pulmonary function specifically in individuals with bruxism, and only a few studies have evaluated balance in this population.

The aim of the present study is to assess respiratory muscle strength, respiratory function, balance, and sleep quality in individuals with bruxism using valid, reliable, and objective measurement methods, and to compare these findings with those of healthy controls. This work seeks to address important gaps in the literature and contribute novel insights into the multisystem effects of bruxism.