Makna Pemanfaatan Tanaman Obat Tradisional dalam Pemeliharaan Kesehatan Gigi: Studi Kualitatif pada Masyarakat Pesisir

Abstract

Indonesia’s coastal communities, limited access to formal dental services has led people to rely on traditional medicinal plants as an alternative for maintaining oral health. This study aims to analyze the meaning of traditional medicinal plant utilization for dental care among coastal communities using a qualitative phenomenological approach. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, participant observation, and documentation, and analyzed thematically. The findings reveal that local communities employ various plants, including miswak, guava leaves, turmeric, clove, and neem, prepared as chewed sticks, decoctions, or traditional remedies. These plants are believed to serve as natural cleaners, analgesics, antiplaque, and anti-inflammatory agents. Beyond their pharmacological roles, these practices carry symbolic values, cultural identity, and ancestral heritage transmitted across generations. This indicates that oral health is not merely understood in biomedical terms but also as a socio-cultural construction rooted in local wisdom. The study underscores the importance of integrating traditional practices with modern healthcare services, in line with Indonesia’s “saintifikasi jamu” program and global policies on traditional medicine. By highlighting the socio-cultural dimensions of oral health, this research contributes to the development of community-based oral health promotion and addresses a gap in the literature, which has largely focused on pharmacological aspects. Furthermore, it opens avenues for future clinical studies on the efficacy and safety of traditional medicinal plants in dental care within coastal populations.