Lockdown impact on lifestyle and its association with oral parafunctional habits and bruxism in a Spanish adolescent population

Abstract

Aim To analyse the possible association between decreased physical and social activity and an increase in the use of mobile devices, internet, and social networks with increased anxiety and the appearance of oral parafunctions and bruxism for adolescents before and during COVID‐19. Design A total of 213 adolescents attended private clinics at two different times: before lockdown (T0) and after completion of total lockdown (T1). In T0 and T1, a clinical examination was carried out to assess dental wear (IA) and only in T1 were they given the self‐report questionnaire which focuses on the periods before and during lockdown (self‐reported bruxism, state anxiety, mobile phone and internet, social network use, physical and social activity, and questions on parafunctions). Results There were a decrease in physical activity at T0‐T1 and an increase in social media use, internet, state anxiety, and clinical and self‐reported bruxism at T0‐T1. There was a positive correlation between increased self‐reported bruxism, increased social media use, mobile device use, and state anxiety. Conclusions There has been a change in adolescent lifestyle during lockdown with an increase in the prevalence of oral parafunctions and bruxism. In particular, the increase in the use of social networks at night and also in anxiety levels during lockdown were associated with of the increase in self‐reported bruxism.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic lockdown on movement behaviours of children and adolescents: a systematic review

“…Fourteen studies85–98 assessed the impact of COVID-19-related lockdown on movement behaviours (physical activity: 10, screen time: 9, sleep duration: 4, and sleep quality: 4) of children with health conditions such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), type 1 and type 2 diabetes, obesity, physical disability, neurodevelopmental disability, psychiatric disorder, fragile X-syndrome and dental wear.…”

Was the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic Associated with an Increased Rate of Cracked Teeth?

“…As shown in the HPI poll by ADA ( 6 ), the majority of dentists in the United States reported seeing higher numbers of patients with bruxism and TMD. Other studies have shown increased stress levels among the public ( 8 , 13 , 14 ), increased self-reported bruxism ( 15 ), increased prevalence of sleep disorders ( 16 ), and exacerbation of symptoms in TMD patients ( 13 ) following the outbreak of COVID-19. The increase in rate of cracked teeth shown in the present study may be associated with increased stress, bruxism, parafunctional habits and other depressive symptoms that were brought on by the pandemic.…”

The Evaluation of the Relationship Between Oral Habits Prevalence and COVID-19 Pandemic in Adults and Adolescents: A Systematic Review

“…Carrillo-Diaz et al investigate the relationship between a decrease in physical and social activity and an increase in the use of mobile devices, the internet, and social media. There was an increase in anxiety and the appearance of oral para-functions and bruxism for adolescents during COVID-19 pandemic; based on their data, the increase in social network use at night and anxiety levels during lockdown appear to be associated with an increase in self-reported bruxism ( 16 ).…”

“…They also indicated an increase in the outbreak of bruxism after COVID-19 pandemic compared to that before COVID-19 pandemic due to stress originating from the Corona pandemic. Also, they implemented self-reported method to assess bruxism ( 16 ). The controversy between the results of these two studies might be related to race.…”