Awareness among Indonesian people is still very low for dental and mouth care. A survey for household health (SKRT) in 2004 showed high prevalence of dental and oral health in Indonesia, which was 90.05% with caries and periodontium.
This has inspired three Dental students of UGM, Astiti Wahyu Murti, Novaria, Sofia Maulida, and two pharmacy students, Surya Yuli Astuti and Retika Gien Syaputri to create a product to solve the problem. In the Student Creativity Programme for Research, they made the remover of dental plaque and halitosis named as Salvadora Perisca Gum, or “Savica Gum”.
“Savica Gum is an innovative gum candy that contains extracts to clean the teeth made from Salvadora persica,” Retika said on Monday (6/6) at UGM.
Retika said Savica Gum can be an alternative solution to remove dental plaque and halitosis that is practical for easy use.
She added Savica Gum can work effectively to remove the dental plaque due to its formula as a gum that can control plaques mechanically, thus increasing the flow of saliva in the mouth cavity.
“Saliva production increase may reduce the remainders of food particles on the dental surface,” she said.
Retika added Savica Gum has the potential for mass production. So, it can be used as an alternative for mouth and dental care of Indonesian people.