title: Knowledge of parents/guardians about nocturnal bruxism in children and adolescents.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bruxism is a repetitive jaw-muscle activity characterized by the clenching or grinding of teeth and/or the bracing or thrusting of the mandible.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study assessed parents/guardians' knowledge of nocturnal bruxism in children/adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study using a validated questionnaire was carried out on 134 Brazilian guardians. Data were analyzed descriptively and through the chi-square test to assess the association if guardians reported bruxism and the causes and consequences of nocturnal bruxism.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mothers (68.7%) were the main contributors; 23.1% said their child had bruxism. Although most participants (73.9%) had no opinion, some believe bruxism is linked to emotional stress (13.4%), mysticism/religiosity (3.7%), health (3.7%) or dental problems (3.0%), and presence of parasites (2.2%). Among the parents/guardians of children without bruxism, 81.9% were unaware of some possible cause versus 18.1% of those with bruxism (p=0.011). There was no association between children with bruxism and the type of sleep (p=0.191) or sleep duration (p=0.377). The majority (90.3%) of guardians whose children have bruxism believe the condition affects their health (p=0.006).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Guardians have a widespread ignorance about the causes and consequences of sleep bruxism.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics , School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro , Rio de Janeiro , Brazil.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tavares Silva
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics , School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro , Rio de Janeiro , Brazil.
authors.forename: Ivan Raphael
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Calabrio
authors.affiliation: b Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics , School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais , Belo Horizonte , Brazil.
authors.forename: Júnia Maria
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Serra-Negra
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics , School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro , Rio de Janeiro , Brazil.
authors.forename: Andréa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fonseca-Gonçalves
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics , School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro , Rio de Janeiro , Brazil.
authors.forename: Lucianne Cople
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Maia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007872:Legal Guardians / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology; D020186:Sleep Bruxism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Children; Sleep bruxism; Sleep disorders