Report by Artanti Hendriyana
Translation by Alifya Rofi
[unpad.ac.id, 22/10/2020] Four Unpad students developed an eco-friendly toothpaste tablet. The product, named “Ellite”, was developed as a solution to reduce plastic waste due to the use of toothpaste.
The students are Nur Fauziana Hayuningtyas, Ayu Safitrie, and Ayu Rahma Diana from the Faculty of Dentistry, and Rhayza Salsabila Mardhatillah from the Faculty of Pharmacy. This research was facilitated by the 2020 Unpad Student Pre-Startup Innovation Grant (Hipsmu).
“Toothpaste is also a contributor to plastic waste. We then thought about how to solve it. After discussing it, it turned out that toothpaste can be made in different packages than we often see. Toothpaste can also be made in a tablet form,” said Nur Fauziana Hayuningtyas or familiarly called Tyas when contacted by the Unpad Public Communication Office (KKP).
Unlike toothpaste in general, which is packaged in a tube, Ellite is packaged in a jar containing a number of tablets. To use it, the tablet can be immediately chewed and followed by brushing your teeth as usual.
“So the tablet is not swallowed, but chewed. The tablet is to be put inside the mouth and chewed. After a little foam emerged, brush it with a toothbrush,” explained Tyas.
Apart from being easy to use and environmentally friendly, Ellite is also believed to be superior because it contains active substances nano-hydroxyapatite and fluoride as remineralization agents.
According to Tyas, currently, there are not many kinds of toothpaste on the market that use nano-hydroxyapatite. In fact, this substance can cover the smallest holes in the teeth because of their nano size.
Furthermore, Tyas explained for one toothbrush, users only need to use one tablet. Tablet toothpaste is also considered to be a solution for users who are traveling and find it difficult to carry regular toothpaste.
“So for those who are traveling, just bring a few tablets. This also saves space, “she said.
Research on this tablet toothpaste is also being developed. Evaluation continues to be carried out for product improvement to enter the clinical trial stage.
This tablet toothpaste is planned to be packaged in bamboo jars because it is considered eco-friendly. In the packaging production process, the team also involved craftsmen in Jatinangor.
In the future, in addition to toothpaste, Ellite will also be developed into a number of other dental health products that are more environmentally friendly. Among these are the manufacture of toothbrushes, dental floss, and mouthwash from basic ingredients or dosage forms that are more environmentally friendly than those on the market today.
“We as students want to participate in reducing waste in this country. I want to start with the little things from our daily consumption. Our hope is to provide solutions for our own country,” hoped Tyas. (arm) *
You can read the original article in Indonesian here:
https://www.unpad.ac.id/2020/10/mahasiswa-unpad-kembangkan-pasta-gigi-tablet-ramah-lingkungan/