Nano-Hydroxyapatite toothpaste of rice field snail shell combined with basil leaf extract as a remineralizing and antibacterial agent to prevent dental caries.

Background: This study aimed to compare rice snail shell nano-hydroxyapatite (nano-HAp) toothpaste combined with basil leaf extract and 1450 ppm fluoridated herbal toothpaste as remineralizing and antibacterial agents.

Material and methods: Experimental toothpastes were prepared with different concentrations of nano-HAp (5% nano-HAp, 10% nano-HAp) and a fixed concentration of basil leaf extract (5% extract). 24 bovine tooth enamel samples were divided into 4 treatment groups. After 6 days of pH cycling, surface microhardness was tested using Vickers Microhardness Test and microporosity was observed using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The pitting diffusion method was used to test the antibacterial activity of toothpaste against Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus acidophilus.

Results: Enamel surface microhardness showed an increase with increasing nano-HAp concentration, while fluoride toothpaste showed the highest level of surface microhardness. Microporosity observation showed the disappearance of microporosity as nano-HAp concentration increased, while fluoride toothpaste still left microporosity. Antibacterial activity of the toothpaste showed that the mean inhibition zone of each group was not significantly different with a very strong inhibition zone.

Conclusions: Rice snail shell nano-HAp toothpaste combined with 5% basil leaf extract is effective as a remineralizing agent by reducing the level of tooth enamel microporosity but cannot match 1450 ppm fluoride toothpaste in increasing surface hardness. In addition, nano-hydroxyapatite toothpaste of paddy field snail shell combined with 5% basil leaf extract is effective as an antibacterial agent for preventing dental caries because it has antibacterial activity equivalent to 1450 ppm fluoride herbal toothpaste. Key words:Nano-hydroxyapatite, basil leaf extract, toothpaste, remineralization, antibacterial.