The Effect of Rinsing with Young Coconut Water on Changes in Saliva pH in Elementary School Students

Abstract

Salivary pH plays an important role in maintaining oral health, particularly in regulating the oral environment and preventing dental caries. Young coconut water contains various minerals and bioactive compounds that may influence oral conditions, including salivary pH. However, evidence regarding the effect of rinsing with young coconut water on salivary pH among elementary school students remains limited. This study aimed to determine the effect of rinsing with young coconut water on changes in salivary pH among sixth-grade students at SD Negeri Kajhu, Baitussalam District, Aceh Besar Regency. A quasi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest non-equivalent control group design was conducted on 60 sixth-grade students, comprising 30 students in the intervention group and 30 students in the control group. The intervention group rinsed with 30 mL of young coconut water for 30 seconds, while the control group rinsed with 30 mL of mineral water for 30 seconds. Salivary pH was measured before and after the procedure using a digital pH meter. Data were analyzed using paired sample t-tests and an independent sample t-test at a significance level of ? = 0.05. The mean salivary pH in the intervention group decreased from 6.577 before rinsing to 5.940 after rinsing (p = 0.001). In the control group, the mean changed from 6.500 to 6.473 (p = 0.595). The independent sample t-test showed a significant difference in post-test salivary pH between the groups (p = 0.001). Rinsing with young coconut water significantly affected salivary pH and caused a decrease toward a more acidic condition