Table 1 Comparison of socio-demographic characteristics, oral health-related behaviours, and stress levels in xerostomia, Sicca syndrome, Sjögren’s syndrome patients and their controls

Socio-demographic characteristics

Sex

Total

114 (100)

228

(100)

0.931

24 (100)

48

(100)

1.000

31

(100)

62

(100)

1.000

Females

84

(74)

169 (74)

18

(75)

36

(75)

27

(87)

54

(87)

Males

30

(26)

59

(26)

6

(25)

12

(25)

4

(13)

8

(13)

Age

Total

114 (100)

228

(100)

0.957

24 (100)

48

(100)

0.838

31

(100)

62

(100)

0.089

Mean

(SD)

61.2 (12.0)

60.8 (11.0)

61.8 (13.7)

61.3

(9.3)

69.1 (19.4)

65.2

(12.1)

Median (interquartile range)

63

(15)

63

(15)

64

(13)

64

(11)

72

(24)

71

(14)

Education

Total

Mean

(SD)

114 (100)

228

(100)

0.845

24 (100)

48

(100)

31

(100)

62

(100)

0.960

14.1

(3.0)

14.1 (3.1)

13.7

(2.5)

14.1

(2.6)

0.600

14.2 (4.1)

14.3

(3.6)

Median (interquartile range)

14

(4)

14

(4)

14

(5)

14

(4)

15

(4)

15

(4)

Oral health-related behaviours

Tooth brushing frequency

Total

Twice a day or more

114 (100)

228

(100)

0.702

24 (100)

48

(100)

0.067

31

(100)

62

(100)

0.303

57

(50)

119 (52)

16

(67)

21

(44)

12

(39)

31

(50)

Once a day or less

57

(50)

109 (48)

8

(33)

27

(56)

19

(61)

31

(50)

Using dental floss or interdental brushes

Total

114 (100)

228

(100)

0.878

24 (100)

48

(100)

0.616

31

(100)

62

(100)

0.882

yes

63

(55)

124 (54)

10

(42)

23

(48)

13

(42)

27

(44)

no

51

(45)

104 (46)

14

(58)

25

(52)

18

(58)

35

(56)

Using fluoridated toothpaste

Total

114 (100)

228

(100)

0.014**

24 (100)

48

(100)

0.004**

30

(100)

62

(100)

0.001**

Yes

64

(56)

96

(42)

16

(73)

17

(35)

24

(80)

27

(44)

No

50

(44)

132 (58)

6

(27)

31

(65)

6

(20)

35

(56)

Frequency of consumption of sweets

Total

114 (100)

228

(100)

0.804

24 (100)

48

(100)

0.338

31

(100)

62

(100)

0.219

Low

74

(65)

156 (68)

15

(65)

19

(53)

9

(29)

18

(29)

Moderate

32

(28)

57

(25)

7

(30)

11

(30)

15

(48)

20

(32)

High

8

(7)

15

(7)

1

(5)

6

(17)

7

(23)

24

(39)

Last dental visit

Total

12 months ago or earlier

114 (100)

228

(100)

0.263

24

(100)

48

(100)

0.729

31

(100)

62

(100)

0.008**

69

(60)

152 (67)

16

(67)

30

(62)

15

(48)

47

(76)

More than 12 months ago

45

(40)

76

(33)

8

(33)

18

(38)

16

(52)

15

(24)

Stress levels (measure: PSS-10 – Perceived stress scale)

PSS-10 scores

Total

Mean (SD)

Median (interquartile range)

114 (100)

228

(100)

37 (100)

74

(100)

31 (

100)

62

(100)

17.0

(6.9)

17

(8)

16.3 (6.7)

16

(8)

16.5

(7.0)

16.0

(9)

16.9

(5.5)

17.5

(8)

0.625

19.6 (7.8)

20 (9)

17.2 (5.9)

18 (7)