How to live 100 years by washing and brushing your teeth every day

Oral health is important not just for teeth and gums, but for overall bodily health. This is a point lost on most people who consider teeth and general oral hygiene as an isolated system. Though the separation of "health" and "dental" insurance in the U.S. might be responsible for this faulty perception, the medical reality is of course different. The human organism is an integrated whole, and one part can have surprisingly large effects on the other. Here, the focus will be on washing and brushing your teeth every day. Doing this will help you live better, save some money and maintain a positive mindset for many years. 

Live Better
First, brushing and washing your teeth reinforces good health habits and discipline that can be a foundation for other self-improvement moves in your life. You will be faced with a challenge or boring drudgery of something else related to health. Consider the infamous instance of new dedication to a workout routine, and suddenly there is a "good excuse" to skip it. In those cases, along with whatever other accomplishments you can claim, think back to the simple procedure of brushing your teeth. At first, long ago, you very likely did not want to do it. However, over time, brushing grew on you and now it's difficult to feel right without a timely brush. The same process will happen with whatever else you may be struggling with at the moment. Conquest of the lazy self, even with something seemingly mundane as brushing teeth or some other "minor" chore or preventative health measure, can do wonders for your confidence. 

Save Money
When there is illness, there are almost certainly bills to pay. Failing to rinse and brush teeth regularly will eventually result in financial as well as physical pain. Dental procedures can cost several hundred dollars, with more complex treatment such as root canals and dental implants easily running into the thousands. Even though dental insurance helps, it has its limits. This is not a hassle you want, so keep brushing and washing if for no other reason than to hedge against dental treatment costs. 

Maintain a Positive Mindset
As a result of diligent brushing and washing, you will feel better. People notice a clean smile, and, fairly or not, will give you the benefit of the doubt more than they otherwise would. You'll feel better too, with the positive feedback loops of physiological and mental well-being reinforcing longevity. 

The American Academy of Periodontology links heart problems and oral hygiene. One of the connectors seems to be persistent stress and a poor immune system. Both factors allow for greater probability of an infection that leads to periodontal disease. The consequent stress on the body as well as the mind increases the chances of cardiovascular problems. Though more research needs to be done to confirm and fully explain these findings, the observed correlation between oral hygiene and cardiovascular health is significant. People would be wise to regularly brush, wash and live to 100.