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Army Develops New Chewing Gum

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the losing-flavor-on-a-gunstock-overnight dept.

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!"

21 of 302 comments (clear)

  1. Some people already do this! by mpathetiq · · Score: 5, Informative

    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.
    1. Re:Some people already do this! by Mark+of+THE+CITY · · Score: 4, Informative

      Trident's ad pitch the virtues of sugarless gum. Dentyne uses, or used, the slogan "Brush your breath with Dentyne."

      --
      The clearance system sounds logical. It is not. It is completely arbitrary. -- John Bolton
    2. Re:Some people already do this! by SacredNaCl · · Score: 5, Informative

      Seeing as how the gum probably doesn't contain fluoride, I think we can say pretty safely that chewing it is not as good as brushing.

      The gum probably isn't as good as brushing, but that has to do with reasons of bacteria forming what is called a biofilm which needs to be broken up to be eliminated readily. A good brushing action is more effecting than the chewing action of gum.

      This is nothing to do with fluoride. Fluoride would be counter productive here. The only circumstances people benefit from low dose topical fluoride is when they are children, and the effect is rather unremarkable. You can look at places that use it, and don't use, and not see any tangible benefit in dental outcomes outside of a few years in the teens. Once adulthood sets in, fluoridated areas fare worse in several outcome measures than non-fluoridated. Once adulthood sets in and the teeth are formed, as in the case of combat soldiers, it becomes entirely counterproductive. Its also counterproducive when the dose is excessive, as in the case of many cities in the USA where they have fluoridated water, use fluoride toothpaste, and consume numerous products (cereals, beer [used to stop brewing process in American beers], other beverages, plant stores like tea..etc) that contain fluoride compounds, in addition exposure through the air from steel, aluminum, nuclear materials production, other metals, phosphate fertilizer manufacture, and burning coal.

      The teeth are not the only part of the body affected by fluoride as well. It has been shown to store in the bones and cause brittle bones, a demonstratable increase in hip fractures, it is neurotoxic (which has been demonstrated on multilple species of animals and people working in nuclear processing and aluminum manufacturing facilities) can cause confusion, delerium, decrease in intelligence and other damage to the nervous system that does not appear to be short term, it can lead to arthritic changes in the joints, there is also the matter of a demonstrable increase in bone cancer in boys, dental fluorsis, skeletal fluorosis, damage to the spine and nerves in the spine. It is a cumulative poison, and one of the more toxic ones in regular use.

      The military actually tried high dose fluoride treatments in combat situations to prevent tooth decay. They did this in Vietnam, every 6 months soldiers in the field would be called back to use a high dose fluoride tooth paste, and a high dose multicompound fluoride rinse. The results are what you would except, a very short term decline in dental carries, as the fluorsing effects did indeed make the outer enamel shell of the tooth harder, but this occured at the expense the material inside of the tooth. A year later their teeth were crumbling & they were far worse off than those who had not had the treatment at all. The only benefit was short term, it allowed the warfighter to stay out in the field without breaks for dental care for a few months at the expense of damage to all of their teeth later.

      There are other methods that could be employed with a delivery device like gum that would likely be more effective. Zinc gluconate and folic acid in a gum would make a very inhospitable environment for bacteria, you could also add antibacterial enzymes and low dose calcium to the gum. Zinc gluconate mouthwashes have demonstrated a high effectiveness for reducing bacteria and resulting decay. Folic acid washes reduce gum inflammation (thus the size of the pockets bacteria can get into to create problems). Antibacterial enzymes are used commercially already in dental mouthwashes such as biotene with a fair degree of effectiveness. Xylitol is also in wide use, though it is not as effective as the other methods. It will be interesting to see what their gum product actually contains. Even just increasing the saliva flow would be good in this environment. Stress tends to reduce the flow, and allows decay to set in faster. The body itself has means to deal with bacteria in the mouth, our normal state is not rotting t

      --
      Freedom is merely privilege extended unless enjoyed by one and all.
    3. Re:Some people already do this! by Schemat1c · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I haven't seen a dentist in... 12 years? No cavities that I know of, but I have a wisdom tooth lurking below the surface that I might need to have looked at, and that at age 31.

      Well, you are the exception not the rule. But, 12 years since anyone's looked at your teeth. You could very well have multiple cavities and not even know or worse yet the beginning stages of gum disease. Just because you are not in pain doesn't mean your teeth are healthy.

      --

      "Nobody knows the age of the human race, but everybody agrees that it is old enough to know better." - Unknown
  2. Everyone. by joemawlma · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Why wouldn't they just market and sell that to everyone? I'm sure most people would buy and chew gum if it could effectively replace brushing.

    1. Re:Everyone. by Sen.NullProcPntr · · Score: 5, Insightful
      Give it to solders and if it doesn't work; oh well - we tried.
      Sell it to the public and it doesn't work; "You owe me $1M for each tooth that fell out!"

      Seriously, most stuff designed for the military eventually makes it into the consumer market. Just a matter of time.

  3. NOT!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    They reason they are geeks is because they are NOT on the go!

  4. News just in from Singapore! by external400kdiskette · · Score: 5, Funny

    Visiting Marine battalion jailed for life after found with chewing gum.

  5. treading gum... by williamhb · · Score: 5, Funny

    So when it gets stuck all over the streets the way regular chewing gum does, will it help prevent potholes?

  6. Nothing really new there by Pig+Hogger · · Score: 4, Informative

    Nothing really new there, NASA astro-nuts had teeth-cleaning gum for years.

    1. Re:Nothing really new there by Fear+the+Clam · · Score: 5, Funny

      Meanwhile, the Russians just used a pencil.

    2. Re:Nothing really new there by Fox_1 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Do you mean this paragraph from your linked article?
      Astronauts can brush their teeth much the way they do on Earth, with just a few minor changes. They can't leave the water running the way some people do, and they can't spit and rinse the toothpaste. They must either swallow it or spit it into a towel. Astronauts do have several dental aids. In weightlessness, salivation becomes more concentrated, which can lead to more tartar forming on the teeth. To prevent this, many astronauts chew gum and massage their gums to keep their mouths healthier.
      Because if that is where this happened before then you are really stretching your interpertation of the article. I see nothing here to indicate that the astronauts aren't just chewing normal gum because of spitty mouths. I do see something here to indicate that the astronauts brush their teeth like normal folks on Earth.
      This product, if tasty enough, could really change dental care for children and others in situations where they don't have their toothbrush and clean water. It's kinda a natural evolution of gum, I'm just surprised that it's only in recent years that the whitening gums and now cleaning gums are being developed.

      --
      The rock, the vulture, and the chain
  7. where does it stop? by caffeinemessiah · · Score: 4, Funny

    First it's the microwaves and fridges and coffee makers in the labs/cubicles/dungeons that we work in. Then come along hyper-caffeinated beverages to keep you going longer and longer. Choose anti-glare screens. Choose ergonomic mice. Choose Microsoft f***ing natural keyboards with advanced wrist support and a line of shortcut keys at the top. Choose free soda and free sugar, pumped handily into your veins. What next? Briefcase-sized port-a-potties so that we never, EVER have to leave the glare of the monitor?? STOP THE MADNESS!!!

    --
    An old-timer with old-timey ideas.
  8. Sounds nice, but the dentist told me... by NCraig · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I've been told a few times that if you don't floss you might as well not even brush. I don't see how any gum could possibly be effective in the same way as flossing.

    However, I'm impressed that the Army has finally found something of use for both soldiers and really lazy people.

    1. Re:Sounds nice, but the dentist told me... by Alioth · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Well, not quite. If you don't brush at all (especially with the typical sugary diet) you'll get cavities in no time.

      One of the important things about toothpaste in general is the flouride. The flouride helps calcium present in your saliva precipitate out, and prevent incipient cavities from worsening. My Dad by the time he was 20 had many fillings. Thanks to the better toothpaste formulations, I'm 33 and still don't have a single filling - no tooth pain - no gum bleeding. I don't religiously floss my teeth every day either. Just brush my teeth with flouride toothpaste after each meal.

      --
      Oolite: Elite-like game. For Mac, Linux and Windows
    2. Re:Sounds nice, but the dentist told me... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

      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.

    3. Re:Sounds nice, but the dentist told me... by cocoamix · · Score: 5, Informative

      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.

  9. Noooo by pcgamez · · Score: 4, Funny

    The gum was the only good thing inside a MRE (other than the rare bag of Skittles).

  10. This could be really dangerous! by Chocolate+Teapot · · Score: 4, Funny

    I mean, what if this stuff actually tastes good too? Frontline soldiers will be chewing it incessantly, thus rendering them an easy target for snipers in the dark, who will be able to spot them because of their gleaming white teeth. "OK men, keep your heads down, watch your backs and for God's sake, KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT!" I'd rather have plaque than a bullet in the gob anytime.

    --
    Modest doubt is called the beacon of the wise. - William Shakespeare
  11. Once Again, Correlation != Causality by Myriad · · Score: 4, Insightful
    They reason they are geeks is because they are NOT on the go!

    <sigh>, when will Slashdot get it... once again, Correlation does not equate to Causality!

    For example, sick people are not on the go. Geeks are not on the go, ergo geeks must be sick! Doesn't make sense, does it?

    Now, that geeks are not on the go is supported by the fact that I'm sitting here on a lovely Saturday afternoon writing this. I'm certainly not on the go. However it's not because I'm not on the go that I'm sitting here posting on /., rather it's the other way around. I'm sitting here posting, which is preventing me from being on the go. Thus not being on the go is an effect rather than the actual cause.

    Or something. I think I need some fresh air. :)

    Blockwars: a free multiplayer, head to head game!

    --
    "They do not preach that their god will rouse them, a little before the Nuts work loose." Kipling, 'The Sons of Martha'
  12. Let me tell you about fluoridation, Mandrake by Tetravus · · Score: 4, Funny

    General Jack D. Ripper: Mandrake, do you realize that in addition to fluoridating water, why, there are studies underway to fluoridate salt, flour, fruit juices, soup, sugar, milk... ice cream. Ice cream, Mandrake, children's ice cream.
    Group Capt. Lionel Mandrake: Lord, Jack.
    General Jack D. Ripper: You know when fluoridation first began?
    Group Capt. Lionel Mandrake: I... no, no. I don't, Jack.
    General Jack D. Ripper: Nineteen hundred and forty-six. Nineteen forty-six, Mandrake. How does that coincide with your post-war Commie conspiracy, huh? It's incredibly obvious, isn't it? A foreign substance is introduced into our precious bodily fluids without the knowledge of the individual. Certainly without any choice. That's the way your hard-core Commie works.
    Group Capt. Lionel Mandrake: Uh, Jack, Jack, listen, tell me, tell me, Jack. When did you first... become... well, develop this theory?
    General Jack D. Ripper: Well, I, uh... I... I... first became aware of it, Mandrake, during the physical act of love.
    Group Capt. Lionel Mandrake: Hmm.
    General Jack D. Ripper: Yes, a uh, a profound sense of fatigue... a feeling of emptiness followed. Luckily I... I was able to interpret these feelings correctly. Loss of essence.
    Group Capt. Lionel Mandrake: Hmm.
    General Jack D. Ripper: I can assure you it has not recurred, Mandrake. Women uh... women sense my power and they seek the life essence. I, uh... I do not avoid women, Mandrake.
    Group Capt. Lionel Mandrake: No.
    General Jack D. Ripper: But I... I do deny them my essence.

    Copied gratuitiously from the IMDB Memorable Quotes section. So you see, it's not a US plot. It's a commie plot.