Pentagon develops cavity-fighting combat gum for soldiers to avoid dental emergencies

Friday, 21 March 2014 03:03 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Reuters: The Pentagon is reportedly developing a ‘Combat Gum’ that would kill disease-carrying bacteria in the mouths of soldiers in the field. According to USA Today, dental emergencies account for 10 percent of all injuries that result in soldiers being evacuated from the battlefield. The New Yorker reported that there are forty-seven dental emergencies, ranging from the mildly uncomfortable such as gingivitis, moderately painful like pericoronitis, and severe like a totally avulsed tooth. When in severe conditions, a soldier might need to be helicoptered into a dental studio on another continent. To avoid such dental complications, the Pentagon has been developing, for seven years now, the new gum which contains an antimicrobial peptide able to fight plaque, cavities and periodontal disease. Colonel Robert Hale, Commander of the Army’s Dental and Trauma Research Detachment was quoted by the New Yorker as saying that peptides are very fast acting and can kill bacteria within five minutes. Soldiers would be asked to chew the new gum three times a day, for up to 20 minutes after each meal. The gum however does not replace flossing and brushing. Combat Gum would cost, at least at first, about $2 per piece and would therefore be reserved for high-risk soldiers, which total around 15% of the fighting force, USA Today reported. Hale predicts that Combat Gum could save the military as much as a hundred million dollars each year. According to Newser, the first phase of human trials is complete, and another year of testing will take place before Combat Gum gets distributed to the troops. If everything goes well, Combat Gum could eventually also be available for civilians over the counter, like nicotine gum, Hale said.

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