Decrypting the putative interrelation between sleep bruxism, masticatory muscle pain and sleep breathing disorders: Nosology and the role of hypoxia

Abstract

This commentary on sleep medicine explores whether the potential relationship between sleep bruxism (SB), masticatory muscle pain (MMP) and sleep breathing disorders (SBDs) contributes to improving the management of co-occurring conditions. The paper is divided into 2 sections: (1) reviewing the debate on SB nosology; and (2) based on the publications from the Martynowicz & Wieckiewicz research group, exploring the role of intermittent hypoxia as a putative mechanism endotype that may link such co-occurrence among individuals for whom characteristics are not yet clear.