General Willy Wonka, Sir: (Everlasting?) Combat Chewing Gum

This sounds like a pretty viable civilian consumer product as well. And think about all the people in Britain with rotten teeth.

The gum, described at the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists convention this week in Nashville, would contain a special bacteria-fighting agent to prevent plaque, cavities and gum disease.

Soldiers in the field often lack the necessary time and means to brush and floss. Compounding the problem is the stress of combat, which can encourage bacterial growth in the mouth, said Col. Dennis Runyan, commander of the Army Dental and Trauma Research Detachment in Great Lakes, Illinois.

Gum was considered an ideal solution because the Army already issues gum to soldiers in their field rations.

Dr. Patrick DeLuca, a University of Kentucky drug product developer, is working to perfect the prototype, trying to make it taste better and ensure that it retains its flavor and bacteria-fighting ability for 30 minutes to an hour.

Okay, there just had to be somebody from UK working on the everlasting gum. This might be the best development out of Lexington on the horizon short of the rumored Viagra nasal spray.

Go Cats!