Effect of Cheese and Xylitol Gum on Saliva pH and PHP Index

Background: Mastication of food in the mouth undergoes a process of mastication which stimulates salivary secretion so that it will facilitate the digestion of food. Foods that are beneficial for dental health are cheese, which contain lots of calcium, phosphate, casein and are able to reduce enamel demineralization. Cheese can stimulate and accelerate the release of saliva, so that through the ionization process it can increase the pH of saliva. Foods other than cheese that can reduce the number of bacteria that cause tooth decay is xylitol, its properties can inhibit the growth of plaque and accelerate the process of rebuilding tooth minerals. Purpose: To determine the effect of cheese consumption and xylitol chewing gum consumption on saliva pH and PHP index. Method: The type of research used is quasi-experimental, with a non-equivalent two group design pretest and posttest. The sampling technique was purposive sampling, as many as 66 people consisted of: 33 people in the group who were given cheese intervention and 33 people were given xylitol intervention. The measuring instrument used to measure the pH of saliva is using a pH meter and measuring plaque using the PHP-index status. Measurements were taken before and after the intervention in each group. Data analysis in this study used the paired sample test. Result: Saliva pH before and after consuming cheese showed p=0.039. The pH of saliva before and after consuming xylitol gum showed p=0.035. PHP index value before and after consuming cheese and xylitol gum showed the same p=0,000. Conclusion: there is an effect of cheese consumption and xylitol chewing gum consumption on saliva pH and PHP index.