Cancer. Poor oral health behaviors, such as smoking or using tobacco products, can obviously contribute to mouth and throat cancers, but gum disease has also been related to other forms of cancer. People with poor dental health have a considerably increased chance of developing kidney cancer, pancreatic cancer, and blood malignancies. They are also more likely to suffer from heart disease and stroke. Gum disease has been linked to increased rates of kidney cancer. This connection has been reported by several studies. One study conducted in Sweden found that people who suffered from gum disease were nearly twice as likely to develop kidney cancer as those who did not have the disease. Another study conducted in the United States found that patients who had undergone kidney transplants were more likely to die from causes other than transplant rejection if they had gum disease at the time of their transplant surgery. Gum disease has also been linked to increased rates of pancreatic cancer. One study conducted in Sweden found that people who suffered from gum disease were more likely to develop this form of cancer. Another study conducted in the United States found that patients who had undergone pancreas transplants were more likely to die with cancer or acute rejection episodes if they had periodontal disease at the time of their transplant surgery. Gum disease has been linked to increased rates of blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma. People who have these diseases often experience many problems with their immune systems, which makes them more susceptible to infections.