Military Fights Cavities with Xylitol Gum in MREs
In February 2007 I wrote two articles about how to prevent and cure dental cavities. One of the things I uncovered was Xylitol, a natural sugar, kills the bacteria that causes cavities. When I was in Thailand I saw that all the chewing gum there was sweetened with Xylitol. But in the Americas gum was either sweetened with sugar or toxic artificial sweeteners. It looks like finally the USA has caught up with Asia. The US Military will be putting gum sweetened with Xylitol in the Meals Ready to Eat (MRE) that soldiers eat when in the field. http://www.armymedicine.army.mil/hc/healthtips/13/200403mre.cfm
“Don’t wait to start using xylitol gum,” said dela Cruz. “The gum can be purchased on the local economy and at commissaries, although the choice of flavors may be limited at smaller commissaries. Read the ingredients on the label and make sure that xylitol is the first ingredient. Chewing the gum at least five minutes is extremely important for maximum effectiveness.”
From the US Military Fact Oral Health Sheet – Fight Tooth Decay With Xylitol
You brush and floss your teeth daily, visit the dentist every year for an exam and a cleaning, avoid sugary foods and treats, and drink fluoridated water. Do you also have to give up chewing gum or mints?
No! In fact, some gum or mints can actually give you more protection if they contain a sugar called xylitol (zy-li-tol). It is a natural sweetener found in fruits and vegetables such as yellow plums, strawberries, and raspberries. It is usually made from certain hardwoods such as the birch tree.
How does xylitol work?
- Blocks bacteria from producing the acids that cause tooth decay.
- Decreases the level of cavity-causing bacteria.
- Decreases plaque formation.
- Enhances remineralization (hardening) of weakened teeth.
Because it fights bacteria so well, people who chew xylitol gum can reduce their risk of cavities. This is especially important for deployed Soldiers who may be at higher risk of tooth decay if they are not able to brush regularly and eat meals with high
amounts of carbohydrates (starch), such as Meals-Ready-to-Eat (MREs).
Other reasons to chew xylitol gum
- It is safe for the whole family.
- Has 40% less calories than sugar.
- Makes your mouth feel fresh and cool.
- Tastes as sweet as sugar with no aftertaste.
- You can buy it at the candy counter.
- It is a natural sweetener.
- It relieves “dry mouth” by increasing saliva.
- It can reduce ear infections.
How can I get the most benefit from xylitol?
- Chew 1.5 – 2 grams of xylitol gum for 5 minutes, 3 to 5 times a day.
- Chew xylitol gum after meals or as a snack.
- Xylitol-sweetened mints can be used by people who can’t or prefer not to chew gum.
How do I find gum or mints that contain xylitol?
Read the label. Xylitol should be the first ingredient listed on the label before other sweeteners. If you can’t find xylitol gum or mints at your PX or Commissary, ask the manager to order them.
First Step for Dental Innovation “No Cavity”
I had a cavity and the American dentist gave me only one option and I didn’t like it. I wanted better options. So I started innovating to satisfy my desire. Before you think that I started inventing something let me clarify innovation. Innovation is satisfying a demand. If you can find something that already exists and use it to satisfy the demand you innovated. So I began searching. The innovation I wanted was No cavity.
Since I wasn’t an expert on dentistry I did a little research to understand at a high level how dental caries (cavities) function.
Acid from bacteria eat left over food and cause decay in teeth. Your mouth has a natural defense for the acid. Your saliva is alkaline, it neutralizes acid. Unfortunately bacteria can stick to teeth blocking saliva from neutralizing the acid.
Saliva has another positive feature. If the infection that causes decay is caught early enough teeth re-mineralize all on their own using material in your saliva.
If too much damage is done there is a hole that could collect food and bacteria. Once that hole gets through the hard enamel, a cavity can quickly grow in the softer dentin. It’s still possible for a tooth to heal at this point but often some type of repair is needed. But most important is stopping the infection and decay.
Many cavities form in areas of teeth that catch food and are hard to clean. The tendency for bacteria to stick to teeth makes this even worse.
Functional Diagram
Taking all the information I gathered I created a Functional Diagram. The red boxes describe how cavities work. The green boxes describe the process of filling a cavity. And the yellow boxes show the natural process of saliva re-minerizing teeth.
The Functional Diagram give you a high level starting point to start looking for innovation alternatives.
Why I drove 3 hours in a snowstorm to another country to see a dentist and LOVED IT!
My trip to Canada to access one dental innovation uncovered a complete system filled with innovation. This is the first part of a story of innovation with fabulous success. This series of articles will:
- Demonstrate innovation with the OutCompete Predictive Innovation Method
- Give examples of several innovative technologies.
- Give an example of innovative service.
- Predict some future innovations.
- Diagnose reasons an organization fails to innovate.
- Show you how to improve your organization’s innovativeness.
Damaging radiation, toxic metals, caustic poisons, and amputations with power tools.
Does that sound like health care?
Predictive Innovation Training
Predictive Innovation: Core Skills Book
RoundSquareTriangle.com