It's often hard to avoid tantalizing your sweet tooth on Valentine's Day! And while you might fret about your waistline, your dentist is more worried about your smile…and not just because of cavities. "The mouth can reveal a lot about a person, their overall health, their nutrition…. Bleeding gums can be a sign of systemic disorder..disease. Bleeding gums are a sign of periodontal disease. Nearly three out of every four Americans have it. Many don't even know it. Yet if left unchecked, gum disease can lead to chronic disease in the rest of the body. Nat up heart operation Periodontal bacteria have been linked to hardening of the arteries. So if you have gum problems, you're almost twice as likely to have heart disease. Beep Beep glucometer Oral bacteria can also make it harder for diabetics to control their blood sugar levels. Nat up babies or pregnant women And pregnant women who have gum disease are seven times more likely to give birth too early or have underweight babies. Nat up dentist office…. Dr. Steve Drescher and his partner Solomon Cohen have been practicing dentistry for 20 years. What they learn by looking into a patient's mouth might actually cause your jaw to drop. "People who may be having acid reflux, or bulimia..too much acid in the mouth…that acid will break down their teeth. The good news is that gum disease is easily prevented. Just brush twice a day…properly…for a full two minutes. Nat up And don't forget flossing! It's once a day, at least 5 days a week. "I've asked some patients to show me how they do it, and they flick, flick. Actually you want to wrap around the tooth and go up and down and then you wrap around the back of the next one." Change your toothbrush often, and whatever you do, don't share! Periodontal disease can spread through direct contact…and that's one valentine's kiss you may not want to steal. For WebMD, I'm Sandee LaMotte