Potential of Natural Ingredients for Tooth Paste from Red Betel Leaf Extract ( Piper crocatum Ruiz & Pav.) and Mint Leaf Extract ( Mentha piperita) to Support the Availability of Drug Ingredients in Dental and Mouth Diseases

Bacteria are the normal flora in the oral cavity, one of which is Streptococcus mutans, if there is an increase in the population of bacteria then cause the formation of dental caries. Dental caries is a chronic disease which lasts quite a long time, in the form of chronic loss of mineral ions and so on on the tooth enamel surface caused by bacteria and other products they produce. The damage is initially only visible microscopically, but over time it is visible on the enamel in the form of white spot lesions/melting of the cement on the roots of the teeth. Various ways are done to prevent the formation of dental caries by using effective toothpaste to inhibit the bacteria that cause dental caries. The purpose of this study was to make toothpaste with the active ingredient red betel leaf extract combined with mint leaf extract, and test the antibacterial activity of toothpaste preparations containing the efficacious ingredient of red betel leaf extract combined with mint leaf extract. The research samples were red betel leaf and mint leaf. obtained in Makassar City, the extract obtained by maceration method of extracting red betel leaves and mint leaves respectively using ethanol 70% v/v. The extracts obtained were then subjected to standardized extract tests, namely testing the chemical components using TLC, testing for heavy metal contamination and testing for water content and ash content. The extract obtained was made into toothpaste preparations using various concentrations of the active ingredients of red betel leaf extract and mint leaf extract in a ratio of 1:1, 2:1 and 1:2. Toothpaste that has been made is tested for physical quality, namely organoleptic test, pH test, viscosity, sag test, antibacterial activity test and hedonic test. It is hoped that the results of the research can be drawn conclusions regarding standardization of extracts, obtaining toothpaste preparations that meet the physical quality requirements of toothpaste preparations and their hedonic and antibacterial properties, so that the results of this study serve as a basis for developing products and ensuring the availability of raw materials from plants, especially paste preparation products teeth as a medium in the treatment of teeth and mouth, especially dental caries