FORMULATION OF GEL TOOTHPASTE WITH SUNGKAI LEAF EXTRACT (Peronema canescens Jack) AGAINST THE ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF STREPTOCOCCUS MUTANS

The use of toothpaste in brushing teeth is an effort to control dental plaque, which is a sticky layer on the tooth surface that contains bacteria and serves as a predisposition for various oral diseases. Sungkai (Peronema canescens Jack) leaves are natural ingredients known for their antibacterial properties and are increasingly being used. This research aimed to test the antibacterial activity of gel toothpaste with Sungkai leaf extract against Streptococcus mutans bacteria. This study was a true-experimental design that compared the inhibitory effect of gel toothpaste with Sungkai leaf extract using the disk diffusion method at various concentration formulations (5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, and 25%) compared to the control. The results showed that the higher the concentration of Sungkai leaf extract, the inhibitory effect was also significantly increases (p < 0.005). At a concentration of 25%, it even had an inhibitory effect that was not significantly different from the control (p = 0.184). It can be concluded that gel toothpaste with Sungkai leaf extract is effective in inhibiting the growth of Streptococcus mutans bacteria.