Objective: Recently, it was reported that the frequency of nocturnal rhythmic masticatory muscle activity (RMMA) or sleep bruxism decreased after medication of proton pump inhibitor (PPI), i.e., a gastric-acid-inhibiting drug. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of two kinds of gastric-acid-inhibiting drugs on RMMA. Methods: Twelve healthy young adult volunteers participated in this study. We measured the masticatory muscle activity (EMG) and orofacial movements after medication of a placebo tablet, a PPI, a H2 receptor antagonist (H2RA) and both PPI and H2RA. The order of the medication was randomly determined. Using the EMG and audiovisual data, we scored an RMMA episode according to the research criteria of Lavigne et al. For comparisons within subjects, the paired t-test or Wilcoxon rank sum test was used according to the data distribution. For multiple comparisons, the probability was adjusted using the Bonferroni correction. Results: The frequency of RMMA episodes after the medication of both PPI and H2RA showed the lowest value. The frequency of RMMA episodes after the PPI medication showed the second lowest value, and that after the H2RA medication, third lowest value. The frequency of RMMA episodes after the medication of both PPI and H2RA and PPI was significantly lower than that after the placebo medication. As for the medication of H2RA, there was a similar tendency but there was no significant difference. Conclusion: The medication of both PPI and H2RA decreased the frequency of RMMA episodes most efficiently, and that of PPI, second most efficiently.

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