• Cavities, gum disease and abscesses can affect your health
• Untreated gum disease (gingivitis) can progress to periodontitis, a much more serious form of gum disease. Periodontitis can cause tooth loss and may even increase your risk of heart attack and stroke. What's more, women with periodontitis are far more likely to give birth to premature babies than are women with healthy gums. Periodontitis is also linked to osteoporosis, diabetic complications and respiratory diseases. See www.perio.org for more information on associated health risks.