It may help keep your arteries healthy!

A 2008 New York University study showed that daily flossing reduced the amount of gum-disease-causing bacteria in the mouth. These bacteria are thought to enter the bloodstream and trigger inflammation in the arteries, a major risk factor for heart disease. Other research has shown that those who have high amounts of bacteria in their mouth are more likely to have thickening in their arteries, another sign of heart disease. "I really do think people should floss twice a day to get the biggest life expectancy benefits," says Thomas Perls, who studies the century-plus set at Boston University School of Medicine.

A 2009 study at the University of Utah School of Medicine found that a low-intensity activity like standing, by itself, has little effect on mortality risk. Those people in the study who spent a few minutes each hour engaged in such low-intensity activities did not show much if any decline in death risk, compared with those who sat the most.

But those who walked around after standing, replacing some of their sitting time with a light-intensity activity like strolling, gained a substantial benefit in terms of mortality risk.

In fact, if they replaced as little as two minutes of sitting each hour with gentle walking, they lowered their risk of premature death by about 33 percent, compared with people who sat almost nonstop.

In a 2015 study from Cambridge University, participants with the highest levels of cereal and vegetable fibre consumption had a 19% and 16% lower risk of developing diabetes respectively, compared with those with the lowest consumption of these types of fibre.

Fiber also seems to improve physical performance in older people. A 2013 study in Taiwan found that adjusting for all potential confounders, participants with higher fiber intake had significantly faster gait speed, longer 6-minute walk distance, faster TUG, higher summary performance score, and higher hand grip strength (all P <.05).

“Sleep services all aspects of our body in one way or another: molecular, energy balance, as well as intellectual function, alertness and mood,” says Dr. Merrill Mitler, a sleep expert and neuroscientist at NIH.

When you’re tired, you can’t function at your best. Sleep helps you think more clearly, have quicker reflexes and focus better. “The fact is, when we look at well-rested people, they’re operating at a different level than people trying to get by on 1 or 2 hours less nightly sleep,” says Mitler.

“Loss of sleep impairs your higher levels of reasoning, problem-solving and attention to detail,” Mitler explains. Tired people tend to be less productive at work. They’re at a much higher risk for traffic accidents. Lack of sleep also influences your mood, which can affect how you interact with others. A sleep deficit over time can even put you at greater risk for developing depression.

It may work for Woody Allen, who infuses his worries with a healthy dose of humor, but the rest of us may want to find new ways to deal with stress. "We have a new study coming out that shows that centenarians tend not to internalize things or dwell on their troubles," says Thomas Perls, who studies the century-plus set at Boston University School of Medicine. "They are great at rolling with the punches."

If this inborn trait is hard to overcome, find better ways to manage when you're stressed: Yoga, exercise, meditation, tai chi, or just deep breathing for a few moments are all good. Ruminating, eating chips, or otherwise getting stressed out? Bad, very bad.

Check out this YouTube video.

Even if you hate HIIT, love the elliptical and consider cleaning cardio, you might want to take your workouts to the next level. New research published in the Journal of Internal Medicine shows that people who participate in vigorous exercise have a lower risk of mortality compared to moderate exercisers — regardless of their total time spent active.

In other words, even if you don’t do much of it, vigorous workouts pay off in the long run. “It is very important for health to do moderate physical activity…[however] a small, but significant additional benefit is associated with engaging in some vigorous activity,” says study author Dr. Klaus Gebel, of James Cook University’s Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention in Cairns, Australia.

Having regular social contacts with friends and loved ones is key to stimulation, brain activity and avoiding depression which can even lead to premature death, something that's particularly prevalent in elderly widows and widowers. Some psychologists even think that one of the biggest benefits from regular exercise is the strong social interactions that come from walking with a buddy or taking a group exercise class. Having a daily connection with a close friend or family member gives the added benefit of having someone who’s got your back. Thomas Perls, who studies the century-plus set at Boston University School of Medicine, says "they might push you to see a doctor before you recognize that you need to see one yourself."

Centenarians tend to live by strict routines, says Olshansky, eating the same kind of diet and doing the same kinds of activities their whole lives. Going to bed and waking up at the same time each day is another good habit to keep your body in the steady equilibrium that can be easily disrupted as you get on in years. "Your physiology becomes frailer when you get older," explains Ferrucci, "and it's harder for your body to bounce back if you, say, miss a few hours of sleep one night or drink too much alcohol." This can weaken immune defenses, leaving you more susceptible to circulating flu viruses or bacterial infections.