1. Bleeding Gums

Gums that bleed when you brush your teeth, or gums that are super-sensitive to the touch, are often a sign of gum disease. If this condition is left unchecked, it can spread and lead to tooth loss, so it is important to get it treated as soon as possible.

2. Sensitive Teeth

If you notice that your teeth are becoming increasingly sensitive to hot or cold, then you should speak to your dentist. An increase in sensitivity can be caused by dental enamel wearing away. Once the enamel has worn down, cavities can quickly form in the teeth. It is always better to treat cavities while they are still small to prevent decay from spreading into the inner part of the tooth. Your dentist may also suggest enamel-strengthening toothpastes or rinses that you can use to help your teeth stay healthy.

3. Bad Breath

Bad breath is embarrassing, but your dentist might be able to find a solution, so do not suffer in silence! For some people, smelly breath comes from the foods they eat, but if you have tried altering your diet with no success, then you may have an underlying problem, such as gum disease or dry mouth. Your dentist can help to identify conditions that might be causing your bad breath and give advice about fixing the problem.

4. Mouth Sores That Don’t Heal

It’s not unusual to occasionally get a sore spot on the inside of your cheek or lip, but if you have long-lasting or recurrent sores in your mouth, then you should let your dentist know. Sore or discolored patches on the soft tissue inside the mouth can be caused by fungal infections, ongoing irritation from misaligned teeth, or even something as serious as oral cancer.

5. Loose Teeth

Teeth should not move or feel loose. Underlying conditions such as gum disease or even osteoporosis could be causing your teeth to loosen. See your dentist about teeth that feel loose so that steps can be taken to save them.

For starters, check out these websites and resources to register for great programs that take place each and every day across Greater Vancouver. What’s more, many of these events and programs take place near 123 Dentist clinics, so you can easily have an outing and come in for a check up at the same time.

City of Vancouver Recreation

http://vancouver.ca/people-programs/recreation-programs-and-centres-for-seniors.aspx

The Seniors Hub (South Vancouver)

http://www.theseniorshub.org/

411 Seniors Centre Society

http://411seniors.bc.ca/

North Vancouver Recreation

http://www.northvanrec.com/programs/seniors-adults-55-plus/

Mingle Online Dating For Seniors

http://mingle2.com/online-dating/washington/vancouver/senior-dating

West Vancouver Recreation

http://westvancouver.ca/parks-recreation/community-centres/seniors-centre-programs-and-activities

Burnaby Recreation

http://www.burnaby.ca/Things-To-Do/Community-Centres/Seniors-Centres.html

Surrey Seniors

http://www.surrey.ca/community/14344.aspx

Curling

A great Canadian pastime and winter sport is curling. A little more active than bowling, it’s easy to play with limited mobility and is a great way to get some exercise without feeling out of your depth. Every city in Greater Vancouver offers curling of some kind, and if you aren’t sure what your skill level is, start with a class or training session. Most rinks in town offer a seniors league too, so depending on your age you can join the league that fits your skill and fitness level.

Site Seeing

Just because you live in Vancouver doesn’t mean you have to stop enjoying it. Each weekend you can join hundreds of other adventure minded folks on tours of Gastown, Capilano Suspension Bridge and Stanley Park. Visit the Burnaby Museum or take a hike in North Vancouver. Rent a bike for a leisurely journey around Vancouver’s Sea Wall or just grab lunch and a show at Granville Island.

Yoga

Need to maintain your fitness level but worried about going too far? Yoga is a relaxing, easy way to get back in touch with your body and stay flexible and maintain mobility as you age. In fact, yoga might go beyond activity and should be counted as necessity. Nothing matters more than mobility as you get older, because it gives you the power to do everything else on this list without relying on others for help. The senior and community centres throughout Greater Vancouver offer seniors and beginners yoga so you can learn how to stay in charge of your body and mind longer.

Dating

Who’s to say you can’t be romantic as you get up there in age. Age brings experience, wisdom and the added benefit of knowing what really matters in life. If you’re single and looking to connect, online dating might be a good way to test the waters. Beyond that, check out all the great options for speed dating in Vancouver, because many groups offer special seniors nights with great rates. If you’re a little computer shy just have someone you trust help you set up your profile, it’ll be a great opportunity to connect with someone at the same time. Even though it can be scary or awkward, take the chance and try online/speed dating. You may just meet someone to do these other activities with!

Film Festivals

Everyone can see movies, there are new releases every week and there’s something out there for you, even if it’s hidden in one of a few smaller theatres and not the big multiplex. Beyond the smarter, more mature films playing at theatres like Cineplex Fifth Avenue and International Village, the Vancouver International Film Festival and Whistler Film Festival are world class film markets that come to Vancouver every year and offer special rates for seniors. You can take advantage of early screenings and discounts to see more films than the average festival goer too.

Darkened teeth

Depending on whether you have consumed a lot of foods and drinks that cause staining (e.g. coffee and red wine), you feel that your healthy smile is undermining by discoloration. However, even people who practice great dental hygiene and have a generally healthy smile can start to notice stained teeth due to subtle chances in tooth tissue that occur in older age. If you are concerned about this, talk to your dentist about the possibility of whitening procedures.

Gum disease

Once again, even if you have worked to keep a healthy smile by seriously limiting your exposure to decaying substances, you may find that your underlying health problems (such as diabetes, anemia and some forms of cancer) make you more likely to develop gum disease. Look out for swollen, bleeding gums, and consider a regular trip to a dental hygienist to help keep your mouth even cleaner.

Stomatitis

If, like many older adults, you have decided to get dentures in order to create the appearance of a maximally healthy smile, you might develop inflammation of the tissue underneath the dentures. If you notice painful, recurring mouth ulcers, speak to your dentist about the underlying cause. Sometimes, acquiring dentures with a better fit can help to prevent reoccurrences and help you to maintain a healthy smile.

Oral cancer

Oral cancer can develop at any age, and it is one of the most important reasons why you should see your dentist on a regular basis. In particular, any unexplained sores or patches of discolored tissue should always be examined if they do not disappear over the course of several weeks. In addition, although you may look as though you have an entirely healthy smile, an expert can notice subtle signs that could lead to an early diagnosis and a better outlook.

With that in mind, we thought it would be fun to look at some cartoon dentists that might be a bit better way to show your children dentistry for the first time. Show your children these dentists and they might not be quite as scared to come visit us for the first time.

Finding Nemo

First of all, Finding Nemo’s Australian dentist is just trying to give a pet fish to his little niece. He has no idea what poor Nemo and his father have been through, how could he? This clip shows just how misunderstood a dentist can be, while showing a really pleasant office space that would be wonderful to visit.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

No cartoon dentist has ever shown the science of dentistry in such positive light. The likable elf who longs to become the antithesis of his fellow elves, fixing teeth instead of filling mouths with sugar. This origin of a dentist has more truth than all the live action ones we could find. One question though, how did the elves keep their teeth so clean before Hermey the Elf? That’s a lot of cavities for Santa and his team.

Bob & Margaret

Bob & Margaret won an Academy Award for presenting audiences with an average couple just getting by with their two dogs. Bob was a dentist, and a decent one at that. He loved helping people and once again shows a realistic portrayal of a dentist not marred by evil deeds or cruel intentions. Bob just wanted to do his job, love his family and live a comfortable life. Don’t we all just want what Bob wanted?

Mr. Bean (Animated Series)

After Bean made it from TV series to specials to the big screen, he made it into animation for a short lived animated series. The show mostly recreated bits from his live action series, recreated for children with more outlandish stunts and hygiene from Bean himself. What’s great about this sketch is how it shows Bean reacting just like any child would. He sees a terrifying dentist, who reveals himself to be a kindly little man who just wants to help Bean repair a missing tooth.

Topsy & Tim

Another British series, Topsy & Tim, has gone through numerous adaptations and incarnations. The series is aimed at the youngest of children, educating them and parents on new experiences, like visiting the dentist. Topsy & Tim’s visit to the dentist may be the perfect way to directly introduce your younger children to the dentist. The animation might be a little tacky, but the message is spot on, and it even shows how much fun seeing the dentist can be for children!

Charlie Brown For The American Dental Association

This infotainment special was made by the same team behind the famous Charlie Brown specials, only it was never used on television at all. Instead, the educational film shows Snoopy, Charlie, Linus and others learning how to brush their teeth take better care of their smiles. Sure it doesn’t really feature any dentists, but it does show Charlie leaving a dentist quite enthusiastically, the same way we want all our patients to leave us; happy and excited to maintain a great smile.

What animated dental heroes did we miss? Tell us in a reply to this blog on social media and be sure to send us other animated clips of dentists so we can share those with you too.