Efektivitas berkumur Ekstrak Kurma Ajwa (Phoenix Dactylifera L.) terhadap penurunan indeks plak pada mahasiswa pengguna Ortodonti Cekat di FKG UMI Angkatan 2019-2021

Abstract

Dental and oral health is an integral part of health in general. It is very important to maintain dental health because it is closely related to diseases in the oral cavity. According to a survey conducted by the Indonesian National Dental Research Institute (NIDR) in Indonesia, as many as 70% of people suffer from periodontal disease, this causes periodontal disease to be the second main problem that occurs in society. Some causes of periodontal disease include systemic disease, medications, malnutrition, and dental plaque. The main factor that plays a role in periodontal disease is dental plaque. One way to maintain healthy teeth and mouth is to rinse your mouth. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 80% of the world's population is more dependent on the use of traditional medicine, because natural or traditional medicine has no side effects. Alternatives that meet these criteria are herbal ingredients, one of which is Ajwa Dates. The aim of this study was to determine the reduction in plaque index in orthodontic students at FKG UMI after gargling with Ajwa date extract. Materials and Methods: This research is quasi-experimental with pre-test and post-test group design and sampling using purposive sampling. The statistical test used is the Independent T–Test. The results obtained from the Independent T-Test showed that between before and after gargling Ajwa date extract there was a significant decrease in plaque index (p=0.000). Based on the Independent T-Test, Ajwa date extract is effective in reducing the plaque index. So it can be concluded that Ajwa date extract can reduce the plaque index in orthodontic users.