Table 1 Characteristics of participants according to presence or absence of dental caries

N = 239

N = 68

N = 171

n (%)

n (%)

Mean age (SD)

54.4 (13.5)

52.71 (13.06)

55.01 (13.71)

0.24

Age group

< 35years

16

4/68 (5.9%)

12/171 (7.0%)

1

35-60years

152

44/68 (64.7%)

108/171 (63.2%)

> 60years

71

20/68 (29.4%)

51/171 (29.8%)

Sex

Male

61

21/68 (30.9%)

40/171 (23.4%)

0.25

Female

178

47/68 (69.1%)

131/171 (76.6%)

Residence

Urban

102

23/68 (33.8%)

79/171 (46.2%)

0.085

Rural

137

45/68 (66.2%)

92/171 (53.8%)

Marital status

Single

20

9/68 (13.2%)

11/171 (6.4%)

0.22

Married

142

42/68 (61.8%)

100/171 (58.5%)

Divorced

20

5/68 (7.4%)

15/171 (8.8%)

Widowed

57

12/68 (17.6%)

45/171 (26.3%)

Education

None

41

11/68 (16.2%)

30/171 (17.5%)

0.031

Primary

121

43/68 (63.2%)

78/171 (45.6%)

Secondary

46

6/68 (8.8%)

40/171 (23.4%)

Tertiary

31

8/68 (11.8%)

23/171 (13.5%)

Occupation

Formally employed

18

6/68 (8.8%)

12/171 (7.0%)

0.47

Self employed

156

47/68 (69.1%)

109/171 (63.7%)

Not employed

65

15/68 (22.1%)

50/171 (29.2%)

Fresh fruit consumption

Less than once a week

199

56/68 (82.4%)

143/171 (83.6%)

0.85

More than once a week

40

12/68 (17.6%)

28/171 (16.4%)

Sugary foods consumption

No

213

63/68 (92.6%)

150/171 (87.7%)

0.27

Yes

26

5/68 (7.4%)

21/171 (12.3%)

Routine dental check up

< 6 months

15

1/68 (1.5%)

14/171 (8.2%)

0.014

6–12 months

16

1/68 (1.5%)

15/171 (8.8%)

> 12 months

208

66/68 (97.1%)

142/171 (83.0%)

Reason for last dental care visit

Consultation/advise

4

1/11 (9%)

3/90 (3%)

0.76

Pain

51

6/11 (55%)

45/90 (50%)

Treatment follow up

45

4/11 (36%)

41/90 (46%)

Routine check up

1

0/11 (0%)

1/90 (1%)

Frequency of cleaning teeth

Never

2

1/68 (1.5%)

1/171 (0.6%)

0.49

At least once a day

237

67/68 (98.5%)

170/171 (99.4%)

Toothbrush usage

No

214

61/68 (89.7%)

153/171 (89.5%)

0.96

Yes

25

7/68 (10.3%)

18/171 (10.5%)

Wooden toothpick usage

No

8

3/68 (4.4%)

5/171 (2.9%)

0.56

Yes

231

65/68 (95.6%)

166/171 (97.1%)

Plastic toothpicks usage

No

239

68/68 (100.0%)

171/171 (100.0%)

Dental floss usage

No

239

68/68 (100.0%)

171/171 (100.0%)

Charcoal usage

No

5

0/68 (0.0%)

5/171 (2.9%)

0.15

Yes

234

68/68 (100.0%)

166/171 (97.1%)

Chew stick usage

No

16

6/68 (8.8%)

10/171 (5.8%)

0.41

Yes

223

62/68 (91.2%)

161/171 (94.2%)

Use of other items/ materials to clean teeth

Yes

239

68/68 (100.0%)

171/171 (100.0%)

n (%)

n (%)

Use of toothpaste

No

205

56/68 (82.4%)

149/171 (87.1%)

0.34

Yes

34

12/68 (17.6%)

22/171 (12.9%)

Mean fasting blood glucose mmol/L ( SD)

10.01 (4.8),

9.80 (4.32)

10.09 (5.0)

0.68

Fasting blood glucose level

3.9–5.5

21

2 (2.9%)

19 (11.1%)

0.089

5.6–6.9

62

21 (30.9%)

41 24.0%)

> 6.9

156

45 (66.2%)

111 (64.9%)