Maintaining your oral health is not just aesthetically pleasing and a way to avoid going to the dentist – it can extend your life. After following 5,500 adults for 18 years, University of California researchers found that those who didn’t brush their teeth at least once a day, had a higher chance (65%) of getting dementia. While this link was not fully explored or explained, other studies show that people who suffer from Alzheimer’s usually have more bacteria associated with gum disease in their mouths.