Formulation and Evaluation of an Antimicrobial Toothpaste for Oral Health

This study involves the development and assessment of a herbal toothpaste that uses natural ingredients that benefit oral health. The formulation uses Babul leaf powder, clove oil, Tulsi oil, honey, and camphor as antibacterial, antiseptic, and anti-inflammatory herbal ingredients. A total of nine batches (F1-F9) were prepared and assessed using a factorial design for the pH, abrasiveness, foam and spreadability, extrudability, homogeneity, moisture content, and antimicrobial activity for the biological and physicochemical criteria. The pH of the formulations ranges from 7.04 to 7.89, indicating that the formulation is neutral to mildly alkaline, which is ideal for promoting oral health and preventing enamel erosion. The foam and spreadability were optimal, which contribute to the ease of application and overall satisfaction from the user. For the antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, the batches F6 and F8 were the most notable, with inhibition of 25 mm and 22 mm, respectively. F8 is the most balanced in physicochemical and antimicrobial activity, which is why it was selected as the optimized formulation. These results show that the herbal ingredients, clove oil, Tulsi, and babul, indicated that they can replace the synthetic chemicals used in toothpaste.