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Army Develops New Chewing Gum
IEBEYEBALL writes "The Army is developing a new chewing gum to help soldiers fight dental problems in the field. The gum takes the place of brushing teeth, which the soldier in a combat situation might not have time or means to do. This sounds like the perfect solution for the geek on the go!"
I know several who think that simply chewing a stick of gum after a meal is a sufficient replacement for a full brushing. Damn Trident marketing.
These people also tend to have the DemonBreath from Hell TM.
Post-rock/Ambient/Drone and other noise.
Nothing really new there, NASA astro-nuts had teeth-cleaning gum for years.
The dental significance of xylitol was "discovered" in Finland in the early 70's, when scientists at Turku University showed it could prevent caries.
Xylitol-Jenkki, the first xylitol chewing gum in the world, was launched by the Finnish company Leaf in 1975.
http://www.xylitol.org/
TFA says that a professor is developing it and the Army may be interested.
The history of water fluoridation is really interesting. I don't believe in the benefits.
Look at the many, many studies showing the incidence of cavities in cities with fluoridated water and cities without fluoridation, the effect of fluoride in toothpaste and mouthwash. Anyone who studied chemistry in college can explain it to you. Fluoride prevents cavities, period. Anyone who claims otherwise is a scientific fraud and/or kook.
In fact, due to the popularity of bottled water (which generally isn't fluoridated), cavities are making a resurgence with many people.
Now if you want to argue that ingesting fluoride has side effects, or that it is possible to brush & floss sufficiently to prevent cavities without fluoride, that's another story.
This is what's modded as "interesting?" First, the Army (if you RTFA) is expressing an interest in this - it's being worked on by a researcher outside the DOD. Second, countless products like this end up in similar form, used in the private sector. Defense-funded/initiated R&D produces all sorts of technologies and techniques that impact the wider economy. I'm sure plenty of long-haul truckers, pilots, backpackers and other folks will find something like this useful.
... into other areas?"
You ask "how about investing the money
There are undreds of thousands of people on active duty in our military. Their health is hard to maintain in the field, and anything that assists in that, even if it costs a few million bucks, is well spent. Better body armor, better vehicles, and yes, better overall health from reducing gum disease as a vector for infection (especially overseas). Get a grip.
Don't disappoint your bird dog. Go to the range.
that's a load of shit.
Pot, kettle
what keaps cavities out is not the floride, althought one of it's chemical properties does retard the microbes that can reduce enimal layers and leach calcium.
Your teeth are made of a mineral called hydroxyapatite. Hydroxyapatite contains a hydroxide ion. There is a bacteria in the mouth (called S. Mutans) that produces an acid. This acid removes the hydroxide ion from the hydroxyapatite, making your teeth much, much weaker, leading to cavitites.
Fluoride ions (from toothpaste, drinking water, etc) replace the hydroxyide ions, creating fluoroapatite. Fluoroapatite is much, much more resistant to acid than hydroxyapatite, so the teeth are much, much stronger. Far less cavities occur.
It's simple high school chemistry. I guess someone wasn't paying attention in class.
It's the hot water recomended for not only comfort but to essectially disinfect your mouth.
You actually think that the hottest water that you can stand will kill bacteria? I've got a bridge in New York to sell you.
Also, if you don't take care of your teeth, you gums get really sensitive, which is why some people don't like going to the dentist for a check up and cleaning.
The bills you get afterward aren't such a comfort, either. They take full advantage of you if you don't have insurance.
I work in the field of dental research. (I work in a lab, so I never have to dig in anyone's mouth, ew).
The thing that really helps prevent cavities in your SALIVA. The bacteria in your mouth, streptococcus mutans, eats the sugar in your mouth. A byproduct of this is lactic acid, which breaks down the mineral in your enamel and dentin. Saliva acts as an acid buffer to prevent this. In addition there is a protein "web" called the pellicle layer which also protects teeth from acid and erosion.
Chewing gum stimulates saliva flow, which buffers the acid. Heck, chewing on plain old beeswax will help.
From my studying in chemistry and human physiology, this jives. Fluorine is much more stable than OH, especially when you're dealing with acids (free H+ ions) which want to form a bond with the OH group and leave the molecule. Also, they say that cavities often come from the enzymes and acids that the bacteria use to break down food particles on your teeth. These enzymes and acids end up breaking down hydroxyapatite and expose the dentum.
Fluoride should not need be ingested for the fluoridation to happen. Simply putting the fluoride ions in contact with the hydroxyapatite should cause a reaction.