Background: Bleaching is the procedure of re-whitening teeth that have darkened to a shade near to their natural hue. Due to the unfavorable impact of chemical bleaching materials on enamel demineralization, the quest for natural bleaching solutions that have the same whitening effect while minimizing the negative consequences is encouraged. The punica granatum fruit is one of the natural components that can be employed. Purpose: This study aims to analyze the application of white pomegranate extract as an external bleach on the physical properties of the enamel surface of the tooth. Methods: thirty post-extraction bovine teeth were divided into treatment and control groups, then enamel surface hardness was measured using a Micro Vickers Hardness Tester, enamel surface roughness using a Surface Roughness test, and calcium levels using an EDS SEM tool before application of white pomegranate extract which is performed for 2 hours a day for two weeks. After two weeks, the enamel surface hardness, enamel surface roughness, and calcium levels were measured again. Results: The results of the treatment group using white pomegranate extract showed that there was no decrease in enamel surface hardness (p>0.05), a decrease in enamel roughness (p<0.05), and no decrease in calcium levels (p>0.05). The control group's results using 16% carbamide peroxide showed a decrease in the hardness and surface roughness of the enamel, but it did not decrease the calcium content. Conclusion: white pomegranate extract can be used as an external bleaching agent because of not reduce the surface hardness, reduce the surface roughness and not reduced the calsium of the enamel tooth

Background: Poor oral hygiene increases the risk of dental caries. One of the efforts to improve oral hygiene is to remove plaque regularly by using miswak. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to analyse the effectivity of correct habits of miswak in improving oral hygiene behaviour in school children. Material and methods: Study was given to 31 participants with an age range of 10-15 years at secondary school at Kediri, East Java, Indonesia. The method is carried out through 3 stages, which were the field data collection, field intervention, and the establishment of a sustainability program. Field data collection was carried out through a questionnaire method and skill assessment using miswak with a pre-test and post-test design. The intervention uses poster media, and to ensure the sustainability of program implementation, collaboration with institutions is carried out in the procurement of miswak facilities and mandatory miswak programs in the Madrasah environment. Indicator analysis was carried out through a paired 2-group comparative test with a 95% confidence level processed with IBM SPPS 21. Results: Wilcoxon statistical test before and after the delivery of intervention materials showed an increase in knowledge and skills (p <0.05) of the participants. Increased awareness of oral hygiene behavior in intervention participants is known through increasing both knowledge and skills in maintaining oral hygiene before and after intervention. Conclusion: It can be concluded that miswak is effective in improving oral hygiene behavior in school children aged 10-15 years.

Background: Dental caries is the destruction of hard tissues of the teeth due to activities of bacteria that change food debris, especially sugar and starch into acid and then demineralize the teeth. Dental caries is a common infection affecting mostly schoolchildren as they usually consume snacks at schools and rarely have mineral water after. Based on the research, 28.5% of children in the age of 5-9 years and 25.2% of children in the age of 10-14 years have oral health problems. Purpose: This study assessed the risk factors influencing the severity levels of dental caries. Methods: This study was observational descriptive research using a cross-sectional approach. The samples used in this study were 118 students selected through stratified proportional random sampling. Data were collected through interviews, intra-oral examination, and school data observation. All data collected were analyzed using cross-tabulation and odds ratio with the SPSS program. Results: As many as 68.6% of the respondents had highly severe dental caries (dmf-t>3). The value of theodds ratio between the severity of caries and oral hygiene status was 5.63. While the value of the odds ratio between the severity of caries and water drinking after snacking was 1.89. The odds ratio tests showed oral hygiene status and water drinking after snacking were the risk factors of caries. Conclusion: Age, gender, parent’s knowledge, parent’s occupation, snacking habit, teeth-brushing habit, water drinking habit, and oral hygiene status were the risk factors influencing the severity levels of dental caries.