Many new technologies have come from the military, and the latest one is gum.
The military has played a large role in developing many new technologies over the years. The RAF gets credit for coming up with the radar technology that eventually morphed and led to the modern microwave oven, while the German army led the charge in developing ballistic missiles and jet engines that have allowed modern space exploration and jet liner air travel, respectively. Not to be outdone by the rest of the world, the U.S. Army has introduced quite a few useful technologies of its own. In the 60s they pioneered the technology that led to digital photography and the internet. Then in the 70s they were the first ones to use GPS. So what is next area the army is tackling that will likely spill over into civilian life?
Believe it or not, the army is investing a lot of money into gum. They are looking for better ways to care for the teeth of troops who are deployed. Oral issues account for 10% of all non-combat related ailments that require a soldier to be air lifted out an area. These dental issues eat a huge chunk of the budget every year, and the Army thinks that they can prevent most of these issues with a renewed focus on oral hygiene. The problem is that it can be hard to remember to brush your teeth when you are camped out waiting for battle.
So the government is developing a way for soldiers to keep their mouths healthy. They have code named it KSL-W, and it is gum. However, it is slightly more advanced than normal sugar-free gum. Where sugar-free gum helps to stimulate saliva production which washes away sticky bits of food, KSL-W takes it a step further. There is an active ingredient in this new gum that creates tiny holes in the cell membrane of harmful bacteria. The bacteria basically ooze-out and die, and become unable to reproduce enough to colonize or cause any type of serious dental issue.
KSL-W gum is not meant to replace brushing, and it must be chewed three times a day, every time for 20 minutes, to be affective. This may seem like a lot, but remember that most people have not trouble walking and chewing all at once. This new gum is also largely safe. If someone swallows it by accident, they will be a little uncomfortable for a day or so, but it will eventually pass without any serious complications.
The Army also says that they would love to team up with a civilian company and mass produce this gum. The way they see it is, if they can create a generation of citizens with healthier teeth, they will also create a generation of soldiers who have fewer dental issues when they enter the Army. They envision a ‘developed by the U.S. Army’ tagline in the branding, similar to the ‘developed by N.A.S.A.’ tags. This gum is still in its testing phase, but there have already been a few interested companies, such as Cadbury, who see this as potentially being a big hit in this newly health conscious society. Whoever ends up producing it, I’m sure that little kids all over will rejoice when they are told to make sure they chew their gum before bed.
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