Parafunctional habits and attitude to oral health reported by students attending public middle schools in the South of Italy.

Aim: This study aimed to assess the frequency of parafunctional habits and self-reported temporomandibular joint (TMJ) symptoms in middle school Sicilian students (Southern Italy), their attitude to oral health, and their eventual associations with some demographical variables.

Conclusion: Parafunctional oral habits were identified as highly frequent, exerting considerable impact on oral health; a gender-specific frequency was observed. Dental practitioners should include the screening of TMDs in their routine dental examinations; caregivers and teachers should encourage correct oral behaviours in children and adolescents.