The oral / systemic disease connection came into prominence with the U.S. Surgeon General's report in May of 2000. (US Department of Health and Human Services) Oral Health in America: A Report of the Surgeon General-- Executive Summary., 2000.
The report states: "The terms oral health and general health should not be interpreted as separate entities". Oral health is integral to general health; this report provides important reminders that oral health means more than healthy teeth and that you cannot be healthy without oral health. Studies have demonstrated an association between periodontal diseases and diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and adverse pregnancy outcomes. The past half century has seen the meaning of oral health evolve from a narrow focus on teeth and gingiva to the recognition that the mouth is the center of vital tissues and functions that are critical to total health and well-being across the life span. Periodontal disease may increase risk for a variety of health concerns including heart disease, stroke, pre-term birth, diabetes, osteoporosis, lung disease and others. The statistical relationship between periodontal disease and systemic diseases has been well documented and was referred to in the Surgeon General's report

The recent research shows:

• Periodontal disease is a persistent inflammation which increases C - reactive protein, now considered to be more predictive of heart attack than High Cholesterol and implicated in colon cancer and Alzheimer’s. (2),(3),(4) (5)
• Periodontal disease allows the release of the anaerobe P. Gingivalis  into the bloodstream which increases Hba1C- the factor which determines how well a diabetic can control his blood sugar and if individuals are at risk for diabetes. (6)
• P. Gingivalis  in a pregnant woman, can increase release of the hormone PGE2 which accelerates birth resulting in pre-mature low birth weight babies. (7)

• Significantly decrease C. Reactive protein often from the high risk to the safe level. (8)
• Significantly reduce Hba1c, aiding diabetics. (9)
• Reduce the chance of pre term birth by a factor of 6 to 8. (10)
• Actually reduce the cost of medical care due to Cardiovascular disease,
  stroke and diabetes. (31)

• November 29, 2005 - Spokesman for the American Heart Association confirms the link between Perio and Heart Disease - Healthday News
• December 2005 - Readers Digest - "How your dentist can save your life"
• January 2006 - ADA/Colgate Begin "Oral Systemic Education Campaign"
• January 2006 - CIGNA begins 'Dental Oral Health Maternity Program"
• January 2006 Canada Begins 'Just Say Gingivitis' Program
• February 2006 - First Joint ADA-AMA Conference
• March 2006 - Consumer Articles increase- Save Your Smile and Health
• March 2006 - Aetna-Columbia U. Research - 'periodontal care appears to have a positive effect on the cost of medical care, with earlier treatment resulting in lower medical costs for members with diabetes, coronary artery disease (CAD), and  stroke.
• May 2006 - CIGNA announces Diabetes & Cardio perio reimbursement.
• Casey Hein on - The Oral Systemic Connection, Past, Present & Future

References

The following is a live reference list . Whenever possible there are live links to the research on the Internet.

(1) US Department of Health and Human Services. Oral Health in America: A Report of the Surgeon General-- Executive Summary. Rockville, MD: US Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, 2000.
http://www2.nidcr.nih.gov/sgr/execsumm.htm#message

(2) ) Elevation of systemic markers related to cardiovascular disease in peripheral blood of periodontitis patients. Loos BG, Craandijk, et al  J Periodontology, 2000 Oct;71(10): 1528-34

(3) "Comparison of C-Reactive Protein and Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Levels in the Prediction of First Cardiovascular Events," abstract, New England Journal of Medicine, Nov. 14 (vol. 347, issue 20), Paul M. Ridker, et.al.
http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/347/20/1557

(4) Inflammation Marker Predicts Colon Cancer, Feb. 4, 2004  The Journal of the American Medical Association, Tate" P. Erlinger, M.D., M.P.H., Johns Hopkins Univ.
http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/Press_releases/2004/02_10_04.html  

(5) Inflammation Linked to Cognitive Decline- J. Neurology July 8, 2003 Dr. Kristen Yaffe,  professor of psychiatry, neurology and epidemiology University of California, San Francisco.
http://www.hon.ch/News/HSN/514115.html

(6) The Severity of Periodontal Disease is Associated with the Development of Glucose Intolerance in Non-diabetics The Hisayama Study, Dent Res 83(6): 485-490, 2004Department of Preventive Dentistry, Kyushu University Faculty of Dental Science;  2 Department of Medicine and Clinical Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan;  http://jdr.iadrjournals.org/cgi/content/full/83/6/485