Are you at risk of tooth loss?

Disembodied dentures smiling back at you from a glass. A sunken-in, toothless face. Hours in a dental chair, awaiting expensive implants.

If images like these give you concern, take heart. Although tooth loss is common, it's not an inevitable part of ageing, says Richard Price, a retired dentist.

"Teeth do not die a natural death - we kill them," Price says. Exactly how do we do that? In short, by disease or trauma, Price says.

Tooth loss from trauma

"When an irresistible force meets the immovable object, something gives," Price says. Trauma might be anything from getting hit by a ball to biting on a frozen chocolate bar.

Your teeth are great tools, but not for things like:

• Removing caps, tops or lids
• Cracking ice cubes, nut shells or popcorn kernels
• Chewing on pencils or pens
• Holding clothes hangers
• Loosening knots or tearing off tags
• Cutting thread

Clenching and grinding - often done in response to stress - can also put too much stress on your teeth. It can also mean a bite is unbalanced, Price says. Both deserve your attention.

Tooth loss from disease

Plaque - bacterial build-up that resides in sticky stuff on your teeth - causes decay and can lead to periodontal disease, which inflames gums and destroys supporting tissues such as ligaments and bones. With their demise can come loose - and eventually lost - teeth.

Poor oral hygiene and lack of professional care are big contributors.

Other factors that put you at greater risk for periodontal disease and potential tooth loss include:

• Smoking
• Poor nutrition
• Diabetes
• Hypertension
• Arthritis

Changing hormones during pregnancy can also affect a woman's response to disease. So it's especially important to get regular professional care throughout pregnancy.

People with developmental and other disabilities are at greater risk as well, due to the challenges of home care. This means caregivers need to be creative about helping with this task.

Early onset of periodontal disease is another concern. "If I see a patient under 40 with periodontal disease, that's worrisome to me because I know this person will be particularly susceptible," says Donald S. Clem III, a periodontist (a specialist in the tissues that surround the teeth).

Keep your dentist appointments

Dental care to prevent tooth loss is a partnership between you and your dentist. Make those routine appointments and keep them.

How often you need to go depends on your particular case. Once or twice a year is typical, but if you have gum disease you may need to go more often.

Make sure your dentist is doing a complete periodontal evaluation at least yearly, Clem says. This may include measuring spaces under gums with a periodontal probe. A complete set of X-rays to assess bone levels is usually done during the first visit to a new dentist. Afterwards, X-rays are taken as needed, depending on the dental health of the person being treated.