Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

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."

16 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?

    --
    Visit Jonesblog and say hello.
    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.

      --
      When information is power, privacy is freedom.
    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.

      --
      Visit Jonesblog and say hello.
    4. Re:Sugarless gum??!? by BWJones · · Score: 3, Informative

      Who said it was?

      --
      Visit Jonesblog and say hello.
    5. 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.

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

  5. 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.

  6. Article dated 21st Dec 2005? by Rexdude · · Score: 5, Insightful

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

    --
    "..One hosts to look them up, one DNS to find them, and in the darkness BIND them."
    1. Re:Article dated 21st Dec 2005? by rabiddeity · · Score: 4, Funny

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

  7. 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!
  8. 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!!!

  9. 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)