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US Army Develops Tooth Cleaning Gum

Posted by samzenpus on from the forget-the-brush dept.

pryoplasm writes "To help deal with some of the hygiene issues on the battlefield, the US Army worked on a gum to take the place of brushing your teeth. This might be eventually released and marketed to the public. While there are many gums out there that aren't so detrimental to your teeth, this one promises actually to help them out."

30 of 160 comments (clear)

  1. Let's hope these go international by nikomo · · Score: 3, Insightful

    As a proud xylitol-chewing Finn, this would really help.

  2. Sugarless gum??!? by BWJones · · Score: 3, Informative

    Hey, I thought thats what sugarless gum has been used for..... years now? Wonder what this development cost the military/US govt?

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    1. Re:Sugarless gum??!? by Jah-Wren+Ryel · · Score: 4, Funny

      "The report also explains that US Army researchers developed a protein that attacks the bacteria that causes plaque, which can lead to gum disease. This protein can easily be incorporated into the gum, making it a serious alternative to toothbrush and toothpaste, the researchers claim. "

      Lets hope ingesting the protein doesn't have any harmful side-effects, like priapism.

      --
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    2. Re:Sugarless gum??!? by ultranova · · Score: 5, Informative

      Read the article idiot.

      I guess the researchers forgot to read the Wikipedia article on Xylitol Jenkki first.

      "The report also explains that US Army researchers developed a protein that attacks the bacteria that causes plaque, which can lead to gum disease. This protein can easily be incorporated into the gum, making it a serious alternative to toothbrush and toothpaste, the researchers claim. "

      Seriously, this has been invented over 35 years ago (in 1975). And to add insult to injury, the word "Jenkki" is derived from "Yankee" and means an American in Finnish.

      Or is the problem that Xylitol is patent-free while this new molecule might not be? You can't charge $10 per piece for a nonproprietary gum...

      --

      Forget magic. Any technology distinguishable from divine power is insufficiently advanced.

    3. Re:Sugarless gum??!? by BWJones · · Score: 5, Informative

      Ah, I just love it when the self aggrandized call others idiot on the Internet, especially when they can do it from behind relative anonymity.

      As .... I .... said ... I thought that is what sugarless gum nee Xylitol has been used for years. Xylitol for the laymen out there inhibits bacteria, specifically mutans streptococci, one of the predominant bacteria involved in tooth decay.

      I know a little something about proteins and chemistry as I had to take years of coursework in chemistry and biochemistry to get the Ph.D., so please... tone down the arrogance a bit, O.K.? It makes Slashdot a much more pleasant place.

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    4. Re:Sugarless gum??!? by BWJones · · Score: 3, Informative

      Who said it was?

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    5. Re:Sugarless gum??!? by Jarik+C-Bol · · Score: 2, Interesting

      actually, if you look at the side effects of a lot of the drugs on the market, and consider how freakishly unrelated many of side effects are to the actual problem being treated, a dental hygiene product causing Priapism does not seem that outlandish at all.
      That, and to the parent: thanks, you nearly made me spew chocolate milk on my computer. well played.

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    6. Re:Sugarless gum??!? by camperdave · · Score: 3, Interesting
      From Wikipedia

      Xylitol inhibits mutans streptococci in the presence of other sugars, with the exception of fructose.

      Well, I guess that means it's ineffective for Americans.

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      When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
    7. Re:Sugarless gum??!? by cyn1c77 · · Score: 2

      Ah, I just love it when the self aggrandized call others idiot on the Internet, especially when they can do it from behind relative anonymity.

      As .... I .... said ... I thought that is what sugarless gum nee Xylitol has been used for years. Xylitol for the laymen out there inhibits bacteria, specifically mutans streptococci, one of the predominant bacteria involved in tooth decay.

      I know a little something about proteins and chemistry as I had to take years of coursework in chemistry and biochemistry to get the Ph.D., so please... tone down the arrogance a bit, O.K.? It makes Slashdot a much more pleasant place.

      Easy there Dr... You were not precise with your first posting and deserved to be corrected. Specifically, your first post did not mention Xylitol at all. You only said that you thought that "sugarless gum" has been used to clean teeth for years. Not all sugarless gums contain bacteria-inhibiting Xylitol and thus not all can be interpreted to clean teeth. Additionally, Xylitol is added to most gums in low quantities that make it ineffective as a bacteria inhibitor, so it's primary function in gum is as a sweetener.

      The article is about a gum that uses a different bacterial inhibitor, that is possibly effective in lower doses and possibly inhibits a broader range of oral bacteria. Since you have a PhD, I am sure you know how to search the relevant literature to read about it.

  3. Nothing new... by Lord+Kano · · Score: 3, Informative

    All kinds of military developments have filtered out to the civilian market.

    Antiperspirant/deodorant. GPS. Radar. Microwave communication.

    It's just how some things develop.

    LK

    --
    "Hi. This is my friend, Jack Shit, and you don't know him." - Lord Kano
    1. Re:Nothing new... by imakemusic · · Score: 4, Funny

      Yes. They were originally designed for killing people but were later found to have a wide range of household uses.

      --
      Brain surgery - it's not rocket science!
  4. It's a laxative! by sockman · · Score: 2, Interesting

    We always had a good rumor that the "gum" in the MRE's was a laxative. I wonder what rumor will pop up about this gum.

    1. Re:It's a laxative! by insertwackynamehere · · Score: 2, Informative

      If it contains xylitol, then it IS a laxative (as a side effect)

  5. I Read That as "Gun" For A Second There by Greyfox · · Score: 4, Funny

    A tooth cleaning gun would be way more cool, and would probably strike a lot more fear in the hearts of our enemies. God knows if I had a choice between a sit down with a military dentist and being waterboarded, I'd take the waterboarding as the more humane alternative (I'm an Air Force brat and the worst pain I've experienced in my 40 years of life so far was at the hands of an Air Force Dentist when I was 11 or 12.)

    --

    I'm trying to teach myself to set people on fire with my mind... Is it hot in here?

  6. Original attribution by KingSkippus · · Score: 5, Informative

    Every time I see that quote attributed to Duke Nukem, I bristle. The original quote came from a 1988 movie called They Live, starring wrestler "Rowdy" Roddy Piper and Keith David. I actually paid good money to go see that at a theater!

    I guess Duke Nukem made the phrase famous, but still, it was blatantly stolen. The exact quote is:

    I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum.

    In the movie, Roddy had just burst into a bank with shotguns looking to kill him some aliens. When he delivered the line, I thought I was going to die laughing, it was so over-the-top. Anyone who likes Duke Nukem should see the movie at some point to enjoy the original source of the quote in all of its glory.

    1. Re:Original attribution by jones_supa · · Score: 2, Informative

      Here's an YouTube clip of the scene.

    2. Re:Original attribution by Trogre · · Score: 2, Informative

      Agreed 100%. They Live and the Evil Dead series are required watching for all fans of Duke Nukem.

      --
      "Nine times out of ten, starting a fire is not the best way to solve the problem." - my wife
  7. Article dated 21st Dec 2005? by Rexdude · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Why is a nearly 5 year old article making news just now?

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    1. Re:Article dated 21st Dec 2005? by rabiddeity · · Score: 4, Funny

      Indeed, this story is a bit long in the tooth.

  8. Re:Oblig. Futurama reference by camperdave · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Actually, I'd love ham flavoured gum. Why is it that sweet toothed people get all the calorie free snacks? What about those of us who like savoury/salty snacks? All we get is potato chips and pretzels. It's all carbs. So how about it? How about some ham flavoured gum, or taco flavoured candies, or pizza flavoured lollipops?

    --
    When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
  9. Re:Oblig. Futurama reference by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Why don't you just chew on a piece of ham?

  10. Crooked teeth by Noam.of.Doom · · Score: 2, Funny

    There is also the fact that frequently chewing gives you crooked teeth. I wonder if they started developing a battlefield alternative for braces.

    --
    It is the universe that makes fun of us all.
    1. Re:Crooked teeth by jamesh · · Score: 3, Insightful

      There is also the fact that frequently chewing gives you crooked teeth.

      No it doesn't. In fact research has shown that chewing gum actually straightens your teeth, correctly aligns your jaw, assists in building upper body muscle strength, improves learning and memory function in the brain, and can increase the size of your penis and duration of your erections by up to 58%.

      (you didn't provide a source for your 'fact' so I don't see why I should)

  11. hygiene issues IS news for nerds by G3ckoG33k · · Score: 3, Funny

    When they help deal with some of the hygiene issues, it IS news for nerds; stuff that matters!!!

  12. Really? No link checking at ALL? by CyberTech · · Score: 2, Funny

    US army develops tooth-cleaning gum
    By Simon Pitman, 21-Dec-2005

    -=- 2005-=- Maybe it's been stuck in the queue this whole time?

    --
    -- CyberTech
  13. Re:Robots don't have teeth... by jamesh · · Score: 2, Funny

    safe at home, remote controlling robotic drones -- toothpaste only yards away.

    a job that they'll then outsource to a country where they don't have to pay their 'soldiers' so much. In order to keep productivity up, some real soldiers will be required to stand guard with great big whips. Those soldiers will need gum - no time to brush your teeth when there's whipping to be done!

  14. Actually NOT Sugarless gum. by phulegart · · Score: 2, Informative

    No, I doubt the researchers forgot to read that short informative piece about a Finnish gum that contains Xylitol http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xylitol however, the US Army is not claiming to be the first to use an artificial sweetner in their gum, nor are they claiming to be the first to use Xylitol specifically. Now, if you read the article on Xylitol http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xylitol and there is a link again, you will see that it is COMPLETELY different from a protein that attacks the bacteria that causes plaque... KSL http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KSL they are calling it. Note, on the link I just provided, KSL is notes as a synthesized peptide. So... the US Army's development with KSL, is very different and unrelated to Xylitol. I guess reading the article *WOULD* have been helpful in avoiding Idiot status.

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    1. Re:Actually NOT Sugarless gum. by SLi · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Xylitol is not an artificial sweetener.

  15. Been There, Done That by imscarr · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I thought Dentyne gum did that many years ago?

    --
    Like the beaver, it's just Dam one thing after another
  16. Re:Oblig. Futurama reference by camperdave · · Score: 2, Informative

    Why don't you just chew on a piece of ham?

    You can chew a piece of gum for half an hour. A piece of ham would be gone in two minutes.

    --
    When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!