A method for predicting caries risk in a subject, characterized in that said method comprises the following steps: (a) determining the concentration in saliva from said subject of (i) at least one compound selected from salivary components of the immune system selected from the list consisting of Cathelicidin LL-37, IgA and Beta-Defensin-2; and (ii) at least one compound selected from salivary components involved in microbial adhesion to a surface of the buccal cavity selected from the list consisting of Statherin, Fibronectin and Collagen I; and (iii) at least one compound selected from salivary components involved in metabolism in the buccal cavity or in regulating the pH of the buccal cavity selected from the list consisting of Phosphate, Lactate and Formate; (b) comparing a response variable with a corresponding reference response variable in a population of subjects without caries or comparing a response variable with a corresponding reference response variable in a population of subjects with caries, wherein a response variable is calculated from at least one of the concentrations determined in i) and at least one of the concentrations determined in ii) and at least one of the concentrations determined in iii) in step (a); and (c) determining the caries risk based on the degree of difference in response variable compared in step (b), wherein - a greater degree of difference between the response variable of the subject and the corresponding reference response variable in a population of subjects without caries, or - a smaller degree of difference between the response variable of the subject and the corresponding reference response variable in a population of subjects with caries, is indicative of higher caries risk in said subject. (a) determining the concentration in saliva from said subject of (i) at least one compound selected from salivary components of the immune system selected from the list consisting of Cathelicidin LL-37, IgA and Beta-Defensin-2; and (ii) at least one compound selected from salivary components involved in microbial adhesion to a surface of the buccal cavity selected from the list consisting of Statherin, Fibronectin and Collagen I; and (iii) at least one compound selected from salivary components involved in metabolism in the buccal cavity or in regulating the pH of the buccal cavity selected from the list consisting of Phosphate, Lactate and Formate; (i) at least one compound selected from salivary components of the immune system selected from the list consisting of Cathelicidin LL-37, IgA and Beta-Defensin-2; and (ii) at least one compound selected from salivary components involved in microbial adhesion to a surface of the buccal cavity selected from the list consisting of Statherin, Fibronectin and Collagen I; and (iii) at least one compound selected from salivary components involved in metabolism in the buccal cavity or in regulating the pH of the buccal cavity selected from the list consisting of Phosphate, Lactate and Formate; (b) comparing a response variable with a corresponding reference response variable in a population of subjects without caries or comparing a response variable with a corresponding reference response variable in a population of subjects with caries, wherein a response variable is calculated from at least one of the concentrations determined in i) and at least one of the concentrations determined in ii) and at least one of the concentrations determined in iii) in step (a); and (c) determining the caries risk based on the degree of difference in response variable compared in step (b), wherein - a greater degree of difference between the response variable of the subject and the corresponding reference response variable in a population of subjects without caries, or - a smaller degree of difference between the response variable of the subject and the corresponding reference response variable in a population of subjects with caries, is indicative of higher caries risk in said subject. - a greater degree of difference between the response variable of the subject and the corresponding reference response variable in a population of subjects without caries, or - a smaller degree of difference between the response variable of the subject and the corresponding reference response variable in a population of subjects with caries,