<![CDATA[The innovation of toothpaste made from HAp–ZnO composites derived from pokea shells has been successfully carried out. This study aims to synthesize and characterize the HAp/ZnO composite and to investigate the antibacterial activity of the HAp/ZnO composite toothpaste against Streptococcus mutans. Characterization of the HAp/ZnO composite was conducted using FTIR, XRD, and SEM-EDX analyses. Based on the FTIR results, absorption bands appeared at wavenumbers 400–600 cm⁻¹ corresponding to Zn–O, along with specific vibrations for the –OH (3500 cm⁻¹) and –PO₄ (1050 cm⁻¹) groups. XRD data showed characteristic ZnO peaks at 2θ = 33.01°, 36.37°, and 47.22°, while SEM-EDX results confirmed a uniform distribution of ZnO on the surface of HAp particles. The toothpaste formulation containing 14 g of HAp–ZnO, 1.75 g of Na-CMC, glycerin, SLS, methyl paraben, and peppermint oil produced a semi-solid cream that met commercial standards: yellowish-white color, mint-sweet aroma and taste, pH 5.69 (within the range of 4.5–10.5), viscosity of 20,000 cps (range 20,000–50,000 cps), and good stability and homogeneity. The antibacterial activity of the HAp–ZnO toothpaste against S. mutans was classified as very strong, showing an average inhibition zone of 20–21 mm—2.44 times larger than that of pure HAp. These results highlight the potential of HAp–ZnO as an active ingredient in next-generation toothpaste formulations for the prevention of dental caries]]>
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