Students from the Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FKG UGM), who are part of the ChewMelo PKM-RE 2026 team, have successfully developed an innovative chewing gum product designed to support dental health. Interestingly, this cavity-preventing chewing gum is made using natural and environmentally friendly ingredients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The innovation utilizes brown algae as a source of alginate, which plays a role in creating tooth-strengthening materials. First, alginate acts as a reducing agent that helps process raw materials into mineral particles. Second, alginate functions as a capping agent, stabilizing the material by coating the mineral particles and preventing them from clumping together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unlike conventional chewing gum, this product is designed as a delivery medium for active ingredients that may support the remineralization process of tooth enamel. Nano-fluorapatite serves as a source of calcium (Ca), phosphate (P), and fluoride (F) ions, three essential components involved in rebuilding tooth minerals lost through demineralization. Meanwhile, erythritol is known to inhibit the growth of cavity-causing bacteria, providing dual benefits for oral health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To provide sweetness, this functional chewing gum uses erythritol. Erythritol can inhibit the growth of caries-causing bacteria because oral bacteria cannot metabolize this natural sweetener. As a result, the chewing gum provides dual benefits: strengthening teeth while remaining safe for the digestive system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The leader of the ChewMelo Team, Achmad Musa Nurhadi, explained that the innovation was inspired by the high prevalence of dental caries in Indonesia, particularly among adolescents and young adults. According to him, the high prevalence of cavities highlights the need for preventive approaches that are appealing and easier to incorporate into daily routines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe wanted to provide a solution that is closely connected to people\u2019s habits and easy to implement. Chewing gum is a product that is widely liked and frequently consumed by adolescents, making it a potential delivery method for active ingredients that can help maintain dental health in a more practical way,\u201d he said at the UGM campus on Friday (July 24).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To evaluate the effectiveness of the functional chewing gum, the team conducted antibacterial tests at the Microbiology Laboratory of the UGM Faculty of Pharmacy. Preliminary results showed a reduction in the growth of Streptococcus mutans, the primary bacteria responsible for dental caries. These findings indicate that the formulation has potential in controlling the growth of cariogenic bacteria in the oral cavity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition, remineralization tests were conducted at the Materials and Production Laboratory of the UGM Vocational School using bovine teeth as a research model. Preliminary results showed increased enamel hardness after the application of chewing gum eluate for seven days, as well as the ability to maintain enamel hardness after undergoing a pH cycling process that simulated acidic challenges in the oral environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThese findings indicate that the chewing gum has the potential not only to inhibit the growth of cavity-causing bacteria but also to support the tooth remineralization process,\u201d Achmad said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The ChewMelo Team consists of Achmad Musa Nurhadi (Dentistry 2024), Dimar Raihan Ganendra Putra (Pharmacy 2024), Fajar Sindu Aji (Medicine 2025), Najwa Laili Fajri (Chemical Engineering 2024), and Tsabita Puan Najla (Dentistry 2024). The research, supervised by Dr. Dyah Anindya Widyasrini, DDS, MDSc, is titled: \u201cThe Potential Combination of Erythritol Chewing Gum and Green-Synthesized Nano-Fluorapatite from Brown Algae: An In Vitro Study of Antibacterial Activity, Remineralization, and Acid Resistance of Teeth.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During the development process, the team conducted various stages, including green synthesis of nano-fluorapatite, material characterization, chewing gum formulation, texture testing, and evaluation of biological activity. One of the biggest challenges was producing chewing gum that remained elastic and comfortable to chew while maintaining the effectiveness of its active ingredients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Currently, the ChewMelo Team is refining the research and continuing tests on the release of calcium, phosphate, and fluoride ions to further evaluate the product\u2019s remineralization potential. Through this innovation, the team hopes to develop a practical preventive dental health product based on local resources while contributing to the advancement of Indonesian dental technology toward the 2026 National Student Scientific Week (PIMNAS).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Author: Achmad Musa | Photo: ChewMelo PKM-RE 2026 Team
Editor: Fajar Budi Harsakti<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Mahasiswa Fakultas Kedokteran Gigi Universitas Gadjah Mada (FKG UGM) yang tergabung dalam Tim PKM-RE 2026 ChewMelo berhasil menciptakan inovasi permen karet untuk mendukung kesehatan gigi. Menariknya, permen karet pencegah gigi berlubang ini dibuat menggunakan bahan-bahan yang alami dan ramah lingkungan. Inovasi ini memanfaatkan alga coklat sebagai sumber alginat yang berperan menciptakan material penguat gigi. Pertama, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":293,"featured_media":21266,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[136],"tags":[535,302,289,291,297],"class_list":["post-21265","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-berita-terbaru","tag-pkm","tag-sdg-12-konsumsi-dan-produksi-yang-bertanggung-jawab","tag-sdg-3-kesehatan-dan-kesejahteraan-yang-baik","tag-sdg-4-pendidikan-berkualitas","tag-sdg-9-industri-inovasi-dan-infrastruktur"],"gutentor_comment":0,"yoast_head":"\n