Effectiveness of chitosan tooth paste from white shrimp (Litopenaeusvannamei) to reduce number of Streptococcus mutans in the case of early childhood caries

Early childhood caries is one of the most common dental caries in children. one possible cause is the bacterium streptococcus mutans. the most effective method for preventing the accumulation of plaque is brushing with toothpaste. chitosan is a natural biopolymer as antibacterial and can be combined with toothpaste. this study aims to determine the effectiveness of chitosan shell toothpaste white shrimp (litopenaeusvannamei) in reducing streptococcus mutans in cases of early childhood caries. this research uses experimental field and laboratory research design pretest-posttest control group design. a sample of 30 children consisted of 3 groups: 10 children use toothpaste placebo,10 children use toothpaste chitosan 2.5%,and 10 children use toothpaste chitosan 5%. then bacteria sampling before and after brushing teeth. they are then taken to the laboratory for counting the number of colonies of streptococcus mutans using colony counter with units of cfu. processing and analysis of data using spss version 22.0 for windows. paired t-test results showed a significant decrease in the number of colonies of streptococcus mutans before and after brushing with toothpaste chitosan 5%. the number of bacterial colonies on is as much as 120.4 cfu pre and post as much as 11.4 cfu. the test results of data obtained p = 0.000 (p < 0.05). this shows a significant reduction of the number of colonies of streptococcus mutans in the case of early childhood caries. toothpaste chitosan 5% effective in reducing the number of bacterial colonies of streptococcus mutans in the case of early childhood caries in children.