PENGARUH PERMEN KARET DENGAN PEMANIS XYLITOL TERHADAP pH PLAK

Abstract

Introduction Xylitol is a natural sweetener came from hard wooded plan called white birch in Findland. Xylitol could inhibit growth and metabolism of caries inducing bacterias in mouth. Chewing xylitol containing-chewing gum can be one of the alternatives for caries prevention. Objective The aim was to investigate the effect of Xylitol–containing chewing gum on the intradental plaque pH. Methods Research was done using single blind parallel group-pre and post test design. Subjects were 18 healthy students (9 male and 9 female), age between 18-23 years. Subjects were allocated into 2 groups: control group and test group. Subject in the test group were instructed to chew 2 pieces of xylitol-containing chewing gum (1356 mg of xylitol), 3 X/day for 5minutes for 14 days periods. Subject in control group did not receive any intervention. Intradental plaque pH was measured at baseline, day 7th and 14th using microtouch electrode pH-meter (Orion 9863 BN). Results The means and  SD of plaque pH in the test group at baseline, after7 and 14 days were 4.9  0.41; 4.9  0.20; 4.8  0.16, respectively, while those in the control group at baseline, day 7th, and 14th were 5.0  0.42; 5.10.40; 4.70.38, respectively. There were no significant difference between intradental plaque PH between the test group and the control group at baseline (p = 0.6), day 7th (p =0.2), and day 14th (p=0.7). Conclusion Chewing Xylitol gums 2 pieces a day had no significant effect on intradental plaque pH Key words: xylitol, dental plaque, pH