article_snippet: Gum disease causes bad breath, bleeding gums and, if untreated, cavities, receding gums and tooth loss.
article_snippet: Worldwide, 15- 20 per cent of adults aged 35-44 years have severe gum disease, which may result in the loss of teeth.
article_snippet: In the UK, the The Adult Dental Health Survey of 2009 found 47 per cent of  the population had moderate to severe gum disease - around 30 million people.
article_snippet: Research shows losing teeth could signal a higher risk of suffering heart disease and diabetes.
article_snippet: Swedish researchers found people with fewer teeth and bleeding gums were more likely to have a range of cardiovascular problems, including heart disease, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
article_snippet: Swedish researchers found poor dental hygiene and bleeding gums could allow up to 700 different types of bacteria to get into the bloodstream, which increases the risk of a heart attack regardless of how fit and healthy the person is.
article_snippet: Previous studies have also linked bad teeth to Alzheimer's, heart disease, strokes, diabetes, lung disease and even miscarriage and premature birth.