JADA Looks at How Alcohol, Caffeine, Tobacco, Drug Abuse Relate to Sleep Bruxism.

November 11, 2016

Alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine could facilitate or exacerbate sleep bruxism, according to a systematic review featured in the November issue of The Journal of the American Dental Association.

Researchers investigated the association between sleep bruxism and alcohol, caffeine, tobacco, and drug abuse by assessing seven studies with samples ranging from 51 to 10,229. The authors concluded that, on the basis of limited evidence, sleep bruxism was associated positively with alcohol, caffeine, and tobacco. Furthermore, the association between abused drugs with sleep bruxism remained without sufficient evidence.

“If a patient shows signs and symptoms of sleep bruxism, a more detailed exploration of alcohol, tobacco and caffeine should ensue,” says corresponding research author André Luís Porporatti, DDS, MSc, PhD, an adjunct professor at the Federal University of Santa Catarina Department of Dentistry in Brazil, in a release.

The article, “Association Between Sleep Bruxism and Alcohol, Caffeine, Tobacco and Drug Abuse: A Systematic Review,” can be read online in full along with the entire issue of November JADA.

The issue includes an article that discusses the association between oral health literacy and missed dental appointments; a meta-analysis that addresses the question “Does a higher glycemic level lead to a higher rate of dental implant failure?” and a case report that looks at electronic cigarette explosions involving the oral cavity.

Some of the articles have accompanying online continuing education activities at jada.ADA.org/CE/home.