gum recession

[cyan41]

Hi, I am a 19 year old full-time college student paying my way through college. Four months ago I started using night guards for tmj, seeing as they eliminated headaches I had as a result of bruxism. I went to the dentist, then the periodontist because I noticed that one of my bottom lower teeths' gums had receeded. The periodontist suggested a gum graft even though it was only 1-2 mm of recession. I was incapable of affording the surgery as I cannot afford dental insurance. In the last three months I have experienced even more gum recession, leaving my bottom front 6 teeth receeded about 2 mm and feeling very sensitive. I don't know what my options are at this point, and I am in a very desperate and hopeless state.  Will I be able to stop my gums from receding further? Will I have to live with this sensitivity forever?

[Jerome Tsang, DDS]

Hopefully the nightguard helps with the sensitivity.  The toothpaste should help as well.  Yes, some people have thin gum biotype.  Unfortunately that means your gums are very delicate.  You just need to be more diligent about taking care of it.  Let me know how things go.  

[cyan41]

Dr. Tsang,
Thanks for you response!! The periodontist said i have a thin gum biotype, but the pain I was experiencing was most likely from bruxism, as I showed no signs of gingivitis. I have been using crest sensitivity toothpaste and I am using the "doctors nightguard", OTC every night.  

[Jerome Tsang, DDS]

The nightguard should help with the bruxism and it should help to slow down the recession of the gums due to the trauma of bruxing.  Did your dentist or periodontist have any recommendations to prevent the gum recession?  As for the sensitivity, you may want to try some sensitivity toothpaste such as Sensodyne or Colgate Total and see if that helps you out.  You can always go back to your dentist to see if he can apply some desensitizer such as MI Paste to see if that helps as well.