EFFECTIVENESS OF USING HERBAL AND NON-HERBAL TOOTHPASTE ON REDUCING PLAQUE INDEX

Abstract

Dental plaque is a soft layer that adheres to the surface of the teeth if a person neglects dental and oral hygiene, which is a microorganism that reproduces in an intercellular matrix. One simple, effective way to remove plaque is to brush your teeth with toothpaste. The addition of herbs in toothpaste is expected to inhibit the growth of dental plaque, this is related to the ability of several types of herbs to inhibit microbial growth. This research is analytical, using a quasi-experimental design with a pre-test and post-test control group design, and aims to determine the effectiveness of herbal and non-herbal toothpaste in reducing the plaque index of female students of the Midwifery Study Program at Polkesmed. This research examined 42 Midwifery students. The research obtained that the average plaque index through the post test in the herbal group was 1.59 ± 0.617, and in the non-herbal group it was 2.29 ± 0.561. Mann-Whitney analysis showed a difference in the average plaque index through the post test in the two groups, where p = 0.000. The conclusion of this study is that herbal and non-herbal toothpastes are both effective in reducing the dental plaque index significantly with a p value <0.05. Statistically, herbal toothpaste has more potential to reduce the dental plaque index than non-herbal toothpaste with a p value <0.05. It is recommended that people use herbal toothpaste in their daily lives, because this toothpaste is more effective in reducing the plaque index and can help reduce the factors that cause caries in Indonesia.