We’ve all heard that we are what we eat, but it turns out we might also be how we clean what we eat with. If you’re over 50, you’ve likely spent decades hearing your dentist nag you about flossing. As it turns out, they weren’t just trying to sell you extra-strength mint tape; they might have been trying to save your life.

A fascinating study of over 5,600 seniors in a California retirement community (The Leisure World Cohort Study) spent nearly two decades tracking the link between dental habits and longevity. The results are enough to make you reach for your toothbrush immediately.

The Midnight Brush: Your Secret Weapon

While most of us are diligent about morning breath, the study found that the nighttime brush is actually the MVP of longevity.

• The Nightly Ritual: People who never brushed their teeth at night before bed had a 20–35% higher risk of death compared to those who brushed every single night.
• The “Sometimes” Slacker: Even brushing “sometimes” at night wasn’t enough to bridge the gap. Consistency is the name of the game.
• Why it matters: Overnight is when bacteria throw a party in your mouth. Without that bedtime scrub, those uninvited guests have hours to cause inflammation that can affect more than just your gums.

Flossing: It’s Not Just for Getting Spinach Out

If you only floss when you have a steak dinner or right before a dental checkup, you might want to reconsider.

• The 30% Rule: The study revealed that people who never flossed had a 30% higher risk of mortality than daily flossers.
• Total Defense: Flossing reaches the “crime scenes” between your teeth where your brush can’t go, reducing the systemic inflammation linked to heart disease and other age-related issues.

The Power of 20 (Teeth, That Is)

As we get older, we might lose a tooth here or there to a rogue popcorn kernel or old sports injury. However, keeping as many of your natural “pearlies” as possible is a major predictor of a long life.

• The Benchmark: Individuals with 20 or more natural teeth had a significantly lower risk of death.
• The Edentulous Gap: Those who had lost all their natural teeth—even if they wore dentures—faced a 30% higher risk of death compared to those with a nearly full set.
• The Nutrition Connection: More teeth mean better “masticatory capacity” (that’s science-speak for being able to chew a salad). Better chewing leads to better nutrition, which keeps the rest of your body humming.

Your Longevity To-Do List

You don’t need a fountain of youth; you just need a good pharmacy aisle and a little discipline. Based on the findings, here is your daily survival guide:

• Brush Before Bed: If you’re too tired, do it while you’re watching the evening news. Just don’t skip it.
• Floss Daily: Think of it as a 60-second investment in your 90th birthday.
• See Your Dentist: People who hadn’t seen a dentist in a year had a 30–50% increased risk of mortality compared to those who went twice a year.
• Keep Your Natural Teeth: If your dentist suggests a crown or a root canal to save a tooth, it might be worth the investment for your overall health.

Takeaway

A healthy smile isn’t just about looking good in holiday photos. It’s about keeping the rest of you healthy, too. So, tonight, give your teeth some love before you hit the pillow—your future self will thank you!

Source:

Dental Health Behaviors, Dentition, and Mortality in the Elderly: The Leisure World Cohort Study