Comparison of the Effectiveness of Chewing Manalagi Apples (Malus sylvestris) and Green Melon (Cucumis melo L.) as Self-Cleansing Regarding Changes in the Debris Index on Dentistry Students of Universitas Prima Indonesia

Introduction: Problems regarding dental and oral health have an important influence on overall health. Accumulation of food waste is a key factor in this influence on dental and oral health, and poor oral hygiene can cause periodontal problems and dental tissue disorders. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of chewing manalagi apples and green melons in cleaning dental debris on dentistry students of Universitas Prima Indonesia. Methods: The research used various materials such as disclosing solutions to identify debris, biscuits chewed by the samples, and two types of fruit, namely manalagi apples and green melons. The research design involved a pre-test and post-test with an experiment for the sample group, without a comparison group. Results: The study showed that consuming manalagi apples was more effective in cleaning dental debris than green melons. This difference is significant with a value of p = 0.000. Conclusion: Manalagi apples have better potential to improve self-cleaning of the oral cavity, which contributes to overall dental and oral health.