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By Mayo Clinic staffComplications that periodontitis can cause or be associated with include:
- Tooth loss
- Coronary artery disease
- Stroke
- Low birth weight babies
- Poorly controlled diabetes
- Respiratory problems
Some of these complications may come as a surprise. But research suggests that the bacteria responsible for periodontitis can travel through your bloodstream, affecting many parts of your body. For instance, bacteria may travel to the arteries in your heart. There, they can trigger a cycle of inflammation and arterial narrowing that contributes to heart attacks.
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