Flossing daily may help fight the effects of aging over the long-term. You leave 40 percent of your teeth dirty with bacteria if you’re not flossing, which causes staining and yellowing between and around teeth, Dr. Eugene Antenucci, a spokesperson for the Academy of General Dentistry, told MSNBC for a recent article.

Too much plaque can lead to gingivitis—the first stage of gum disease. Symptoms of gum disease include red, swollen, or bleeding gums, receding gums, and the formation of deep pockets between teeth and gums, according to WebMD. If left untreated, it can end with tooth loss due to destruction of the tissue that surrounds your teeth.

“You register an older look because you see more spaces, less and uneven gum tissue,” according to Antenucci. Hence the old saying that someone looks “long in the tooth.”

Eventually gum disease can cause the bones underneath to dissolve away, explains Dr. Donald Clem, a dentist in Fullerton, Calif. “In later stages of periodontal disease we would see disfigurement in terms of caving in of the lips and cheek and wrinkles around the lips and cheeks.”

In a recent study in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery journal, researchers looked at issues related to how specific bony aspects of the face change with age and what implications these structural changes may have on the techniques used in facial cosmetic surgery, according the abstract.

So between your cosmetic procedures—whether it’s a breast augmentation or Botox—don’t forget that good hygiene, such as flossing daily, can go a long way in helping you age well. Dr. Branman offers a full range of surgical and non-surgical procedures in Little Rock, Arkansas to help patients look their best.