Table 4 Shows multivariate analysis between DMFT and host characteristics

Age

 60–75 years

1.15 (0.42–3.15)

0.77

1.22 (0.46–3.19)

0.68

 More than 75 years

–

–

Gender

 Male

1.11 (0.49–2.52)

0.78

1.55 (0.69–3.50)

0.28

 Female

–

–

Ethnicity

 Chinese

0.19 (0.02–1.83)

0.15

0.14 (0.01–1.44)

0.10

Non-Chinese

–

–

Education

 No formal education

0.57 (0.11–2.80)

0.49

0.44 (0.08–2.26)

0.32

 Primary and above

–

–

Household income

 Below $5,000

0.69 (0.30–1.54)

0.36

0.54 (0.24–1.19)

0.12

 >  = $5,000

–

–

Volume of saliva

 Normal/hyper (> = 5 ml)

1.51 (0.47–4.78)

0.48

0.45 (0.13–1.56)

0.21

 Hypo (< 5 ml)

–

–

Buffering capacity

 Alkaline (pH > 7)

1.13 (0.28–4.45)

0.85

1.70 (0.45–6.42)

0.42

 Neutral (pH = 7)

1.11 (0.27–4.56)

0.88

1.42 (0.35–5.63)

0.61

 Acidic (pH < 7)

–

–

MS count

 High (> = 10⁵)

0.29 (0.11–0.77)

0.01*

0.67 (0.27–1.62)

0.37

Low (< 10⁵)

–

–

LB count

 High (> = 10⁵)

0.58 (0.26–1.29)

0.18

0.45 (0.20–1.002)

0.05*

Low (< 10⁵)

–

–