Perbandingan Efektivitas Mengunyah Tebu (Saccharum officinarum L.) dan Permen Karet Berxylitol terhadap Pengurangan Indeks Plak pada Anak di Panti Asuhan Amal Alwashliyah

Abstract

Xylitol is a substance often used for plaque control, but it is difficult to find in remote areas. Sugarcane is a natural material that contains fiber and bioactive compounds, making it effective in preventing plaque formation. The aim of this study is to compare the effectiveness of sugarcane and xylitol in reducing the plaque index in children at the Amal Alwashliyah Orphanage. The research sample consists of children aged 6 – 12 years. A total of 30 samples were divided into three groups (n=10): the Sugarcane Group, the Xylitol Chewing Gum Group, and the Paraffin Group. Each sample was given 30 grams of sugarcane, 2 pieces of xylitol chewing gum, and 1 piece of paraffin, according to their respective groups, to be chewed for 3 minutes. Plaque index measurements were taken before and after the treatment that lasted for 5 daysThe Shapiro-Wilk test results showed that the data were not normally distributed, so the differences in plaque index values in each group were tested with the Wilcoxon test. The Wilcoxon test results showed a significant difference (p<0.05). The average difference in index plaque in all three groups were tested with the Kruskal-Wallis test that showed significant difference with p=0,000. The average difference in index plaque after chewing xylitol gum was higher than sugarcane. Both groups’ average difference were tested with the Mann-Whitney test that showed significant difference, with p=0,049. It can be concluded that there is significant difference between the effectiveness of chewing sugarcane and xylitol chewing gum on plaque index.