Aisyah Uswatun Nisa MAN 2 KOTA MALANG
Dental caries remains a prevalent yet preventable chronic disease, affecting 3.5 billion people globally. In Indonesia, prevalence exceeds 80%, especially among children aged 5-9 years, signaling failure of current prevention strategies. Local wisdom offers promising solutions, as ethnographic evidence from Sumba confirms nginang (betel chewing) preserves natural dentition into old age. Nevertheless, the tradition of chewing betel has begun to fade gradually due to impractical, social stigma, and concerns regarding dosage and safety of its components, particularly lime. To bridge this gap, we introduce BETELSTRIP, a dental strip innovation transforming indigenous knowledge into precision technology. The strip combines betel leaf and areca nut extracts with a pH-responsive colorimetric feature for early cariogenic biofilm detection. Fabricated through solvent casting, the formulation comprises 5-10% betel leaf extract and 2.5-3.5% areca nut extract within an HPMC polymer matrix at ±0.5 mm thickness. The strip is designed for once-daily application (15-30 minutes) to prevent dental caries. Our in vitro assays confirmed that phenolic compounds within the strip disrupt bacterial metabolism and dismantle cariogenic biofilm structures. The detection mechanism relies on a pH-responsive colorimetric feature that signals acid-producing biofilms at an early, reversible stage. Our In silico analysis demonstrated compliance with Docking, Lipinski's rule of five, and favorable ADMET safety profiles. In sum, BETELSTRIP offers a scalable solution aligned with the WHO Global Oral Health Action Plan 2023-2030. Further graded concentration and food-grade safety studies are warranted to confirm long-term efficacy for population-wide use.