Although limited evidence exists on the relationship between sleep and oral health, this study aimed to examine the associations of sleep duration with masticatory discomfort and subjective oral health among Korean adults.
This study analyzed 155,106...
Although limited evidence exists on the relationship between sleep and oral health, this study aimed to examine the associations of sleep duration with masticatory discomfort and subjective oral health among Korean adults.
This study analyzed 155,106 adults aged ≥45 years from the 2024 Community Health Survey conducted by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. Sleep duration was determined from self-reported sleep hours on workdays and weekends, averaged weekly, and classified into six categories. Masticatory discomfort and oral health status were measured using structured questionnaires. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to assess the associations between sleep duration and self-reported masticatory discomfort.
Short (<7 hours) and long (≥9 hours) sleep durations were significantly associated with higher odds of masticatory discomfort. Compared with individuals sleeping 7.0–7.9 hours, those sleeping <5 hours had an adjusted odds ratio (AOR) of 1.377 (95% CI: 1.273–1.491). Stronger associations were observed among men (AOR = 1.503), adults aged 45–64 years (AOR = 1.467), individuals with moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms (AOR = 1.611), white-collar (AOR = 1.712) and service/sales workers (AOR = 1.602), divorced individuals (AOR = 1.640), and urban residents (AOR = 1.405).
Shorter or longer sleep duration than 7–8 hours was associated with increased masticatory discomfort, most notably among men, older adults, certain occupational groups, divorced individuals, and urban residents.