The use of herbal dentrifice is intended to help reducing the plaque on
teeth so that the teeth are cleaner and more convenient. It is because there is no
dangerous chemical substance such as fluoride having the side effect. Therefore,
there should be an alternative formulation of herbal dentifrice such as by using
betel leave which has the kavikol substance that is 5 times more effectively limits
the growth of bacteria than the phenol. The research also varied the basis because
the choice of the basis used in the preparation may influence the release of active
material from the dentifrice preparation. If the drug material cannot be released
from the carrier, the medicine will not effectively work. This research is aimed at
comparing the physical characteristic of dentifrice based on the different basis and
determining the effectiveness towards the decrease of plaque on teeth using the
betel leave with the various basis used in the formulation. The extract of betel
leave is obtained by the maceration using 70% ethanol. The bacteria activity test
from the dentifrice using betel leave is done through pitting method with the
positive control of herbal dentifrice in market. It is done the time-contact test of
the betel leave dentifrice with 1% consentration towards the bacteria
Streptococcus mutans dan Lactobacillus. The dentifrice formula is made by
several basis such as PGA, PEG and HPMC. It is also done the physical
characteristic evaluation from the preparation including organoleptic,
homogeneity, spread power, stickiness and pH. The result of the research showed
that the various basis in the dentifrice influenced the physical characteristic
including organoleptic, homogeneity, spread power, stickiness and pH. The best
formula of dentifrice based on the preparation evaluation done in the formula
using PGA basis. The most effective formula to obstruct the growth of S.mutans
and L.bacillus is the formula using PEG basis. Based on the time-contact test, the
betel leave dentifrice can kill the S.mutans bacteria in second minutes but not the
L.bacillus. Based on the research, it could be concluded that the betel leave
dentifrice with 1% concentration can obstruct the growth of S.mutans dan
L.bacillus bacteria.