Hi, im just wondering does anyone else out there have this and if u know what u can do to stop this happening....I went to the dentist the other day and he said my gums are receding like wearing away to expose the root of the tooth. I had braces for 2 years, 3 years ago and i still wear my plate/retainers at night when I go to sleep to keep them straight. The thing is is that he said its caused by plaque building up and eating away the gum-but the thing is; is that i brush my teeth twice a day, always, i use the best brand toothpaste and am very fanatical about keeping my teeth clean since i had to spend a lot of hard earned money to get them straightened with braces. I floss, I use flouide mouthwashes and I havent ever had any decays and I am 18 and I have had my teeth coated to avoid getting any decays. But, he said my gums are receding which makes it senstitive since the root becomes a little exposed at the base of the teeth. He said that the gums cant grow back and so i just have to take care from now on. But u see, how can I take any more care than what Im already doing? I dont know anyone who cares nearly as much as i do about my teeth and so it makes me wonder what more I could do. And so Im worried that when I am 50 they will all be worn away by then and i wil have terrible trouble. Does anyone else have this? What can i do? or is just hereditary or something...

I have recession also, but it was caused from brushing too hard and incorrectly. You may be brushing too much and not correctly. Believe it or not, there is a cetain way we should way to brush. It is called the Bass technique, the dentist, his hygienist or assistant can instruct you.
Recession can be treated with a gum graft. It sounds terrible, but it is a very common, short, procedure done by a periodontist. You don't have to lose your teeth. I would see a periodontist, a dentist who specializes in gums and graft procedures, as well as hygiene.