When your gums are infected, the bacteria that flourish there can easily travel throughout your body to other tissues and organs. Because this process takes time, you may not even realize that you are at risk until more pressing symptoms arise. Medical problems that have been linked to untreated gum disease include the following:     

• Complications in pregnant women, including pre-mature birth and low birth weight infants      
• Dementia in older patients      
• Pancreatic cancer      
• High blood pressure     
• Heart attack     
• Stroke     
• Rheumatoid arthritis and other bone/joint problems     
• Complications in the treatment of diabetes