PENGARUH KONSUMSI PERMEN KARET YANG MENGANDUNG XYLITOL TERHADAP PEMBENTUKAN PLAK GIGI

Abstract

Background: Dental plaque is either soft deposit which tight adhered to teeth surface, distinguishable from material alba, calculus, and stain. Therefore need prevention effort to accumulation of plaque. Xylitol is alternative sugar of polyalcohol class which can inhibit the growth of plaque bacteria. Xylitol also able to reduce syntheses of extracelluler polysaccharide that effected adhered of plaque bacteria. Chewing gum is one of product that contains of great xylitol. Objective: To find out the effect of xylitol containing chewing gum consumption concerning dental plaque formation. Method: This research was single blind cross over pretest-posttest control group design with t-test analyzing. The samples of the study were 30 female university student of Nurse Academy of Kesdam IV Diponegoro Semarang, divided into two groups, control group (without any treatment) and treatment group that consuming xylitol containing chewing gum. Plaque was measured by using modification plaque index of Quigley & Hein (1970) before and after consuming the xylitol containing chewing gum three times a day by masticate time about five minutes. After two days both group are changed. Xylitol containing chewing gum was independent variable and plaque index was dependent variable. Result: Based on independent t-test, the difference of plaque index between before and after treatment of both groups was significant (p<0,05). Conclussion: Xylitol containing chewing gum influence to decreasing of plaque index. Keyword: xylitol, dental plaque.