ABSTRACT
The use of removable orthodontic appliances for a long time may cause plaque adherence, thereby increasing the prevalence of the growth of oral microorganisms, such as Candida albicans, Streptococcus mutans, Lactobacillus, and others. Mechanical cleaning with a brush is usually sufficient to remove debris but is not effective for disinfection and requires chemical cleaning as well. The objective of this study was to compare the effectivity of the two plants in inhibiting the growth of Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans, identifying an effective cleaning solution for patients treated with removable orthodontic appliances. This study was an experimental test using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method to assess the effectiveness of bacteria. The results showed that the ethanol extract of Moringa leaves and papaya leaves with concentrations of 3.13%, 6.25%, and 12.5%, had a clear zone diameter in Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans, while the negative control group did not have a clear zone diameter. One way ANOVA test showed a significance value of p = 0.000, indicating a significant difference between the effectiveness of the ethanol extract of Moringa leaves and papaya leaves in inhibiting the growth of Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans. The ethanol extract from the papaya leaf was better than that from the Moringa leaf in inhibiting the growth of Streptococcus mutans, while the Moringa leaf ethanol extract was better than the papaya leaf in inhibiting the growth of Candida albicans.
