Without proper teeth cleaning, flossing and gum massaging, gingivitis and periodontal disease can set in. Bleeding gums allow bacteria and toxins to access the circulatory system easily where they race to damage vital organs, and in some cases result in death. Autopsies very seldom state that the dog died from periodontal disease, but merely state that the dog died from failure of a vital organ. However, the damage to the vital organ is often a result of periodontal disease.