PERBEDAAN pH SALIVA MENGUNYAH PERMEN KARET XYLITOL DAN SUKROSA DI SDN 2 GUNTUNG PAIKAT BANJARBARU

Abstract

n Indonesia, the sweetest gum is consumed by children. One of them is sucrose
gum, which has a sweet, varied texture and shape. This is a factor that causes an increase
in sucrose consumption in all countries by ± 2% every year in the last decade. This increase
is greater than the increase in the world's population each year which is equal to ± 1.4% -
1.6%. Based on a preliminary study of 12 students, an average salivary pH of 6.1 showed
that the pH of the saliva was acidic. Chewing gum can reduce the occurrence of caries in the
teeth due to saliva which helps in reducing the number of bacteria in the oral cavity which is
the main cause of caries.
This study aims to determine the differences in the pH of saliva chewing xylitol gum
and sucrose in SDN 2 Guntung Paikat Banjarbaru. This research is a quasi-experimental
type of research with One Group Pretest Post Test research design. The sampling technique
was purposive sampling with a total sample of 66 students with data analysis using the
Independent Sample T-test.
The results of this study showed the average pH of saliva before chewing xylitol gum
was 6,967, before chewing sucrose gum (big babol) was 7,073, while the average value
after chewing xylitol gum was 7,270, after chewing sucrose gum was 6,624 with the
difference in value of xylitol gum was 0,303, and sucrose gum (big babol) was -0,448. The
unpaired t test results obtained p value = 0,000 (p = <0.05).
In conclusion there is a difference in the pH of saliva chewing xylitol gum and sucrose
in SDN 2 Guntung Paikat Banjarbaru. It is recommended that the public know the
composition of the gum consumed and prefer sugar-free gum for the sake of oral health.