The bacteria which infect the gums due to periodontal disease also travel through the vascular system, causing instances of blood vessel inflammation and damage, which can lead to small blood clots, heart attack, and stroke. A number of studies suggest that successful periodontal treatment could reduce the incidence of cardiovascular events.

Periodontal disease is a known risk factor for low birth weight because the bacteria which infect the gums get into the vascular system and can stimulate inflammation which interferes with the onset of delivery, triggering premature birth.

Periodontal disease is caused by low-level chronic infection, resulting in continuous inflammation which can lead to endothelial dysfunction – a coronary artery disease in which the large blood vessels on the heart’s surface constrict instead of dilating, causing pain and discomfort. Endothelial dysfunction is a driver of kidney disease.

Though the exact nature of the link is not yet known, studies have shown that people who suffer with periodontal disease are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes later in life. Research into the link continues, but one of the working theories is that the inflammatory markers caused by periodontal disease can induce insulin resistance. In people with Type 2 diabetes, periodontitis is associated with worse diabetes complications. However, treatment of periodontitis in people with diabetes has been shown to result in improved glycaemic control, therefore management of periodontitis in this group of patients has significant benefits for the management of diabetes.

Studies have shown that people with gum disease who suffer from mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease decline in memory ability six times faster than those with good periodontal health. Further clinical studies are taking place to investigate the link between an increase in cognitive decline and the body’s inflammatory response.

The Health Professionals Follow-Up Study in the US began in 1986, and was commissioned to investigate the link between periodontal disease and pancreatic cancer. From a sample size of 51,529 men, the researchers confirmed that of 216 cases of pancreatic cancer between 1986 and 2002, 67 also had periodontal disease. After careful analysis of other factors, the study concluded that those with periodontal disease had a 63% higher risk of developing pancreatic cancer.

The bacteria responsible for gum disease can lead to the earlier onset, rapid progression and increased severity of rheumatoid arthritis, resulting in increased damage to bone and cartilage. Studies show that an increase in antibodies against gum disease occurs before the onset of rheumatoid arthritis symptoms.

A 2013 study by the British Dental Health Foundation concluded that those with gum disease are five times more likely to develop asthma than those with good periodontal health, even after other risk factors are taken into account. Asthma claims three lives every day in the UK.

Some studies suggest a greater tendency to lose alveolar bone, i.e. the bone that supports the teeth in the jaw, in patients with osteoporosis, especially in cases with pre-existing periodontitis. This indicates that osteoporosis can be a risk factor for progression of advanced gum disease. However, periodontal health can be restored even in patients with osteoporosis. Establishing periodontal health becomes even more important in cases where bisphosphonates are used for the treatment of osteoporosis, in order to prevent potential side effects from those medications (osteonecrosis of the jaw).