Brush teeth thoroughly and floss daily; replace missing teeth promptly

10. Brush teeth thoroughly and floss daily; replace missing teeth promptly

Cost: Dental floss or interdental brushes cost just a few dozen yuan per year, while professional cleanings run about 100–200 yuan each. It takes only two to three extra minutes per day. The real challenge is making flossing a daily habit.

In plain terms: People who floss daily have roughly a 10% lower chance of dying over the same period. For elderly individuals with no natural teeth, the risk of death is about 90% higher. Those with fewer than 20 natural teeth face roughly double the risk.

Benefit: A Japanese study followed 9,676 participants for six years. Those who used interdental cleaning tools saw their mortality risk drop by about 11% (hazard ratio 0.89). Those who used tongue cleaners saw a 23% reduction (HR 0.77). When multiple studies of community-dwelling seniors are combined, people with no natural teeth have roughly 1.87 times the risk of death (95% CI 1.35–2.59). Those with fewer than 20 natural teeth face about 2.04 times the risk (95% CI 1.67–2.49).

Evidence grade: B

Sources: Wang K, Matsuyama Y, Kiuchi S, et al. (2026). Routine oral health practices and all-cause mortality. Journal of Dentistry. <https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdent.2026.106789>; Ko MJ, Seo S, So JS, et al. (2026). Deteriorated oral health and function as risk factors for physical disability and mortality in community-dwelling older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. European Geriatric Medicine. <https://doi.org/10.1007/s41999-025-01319-4>

Notes: This topic remains debated. These studies are purely observational; individuals with poor dental health often also have poorer overall health and lower socioeconomic status. It is unclear whether poor dental health harms overall health or whether poor health leads to poor dental health. Regardless, the cost of proper dental care is very low, and periodontal disease and missing teeth do directly affect eating ability.