I was grinding my teeth in my sleep; when I would wake up, I would have terrible headaches. I ended up getting a bite guard. It was a little pricey; however, it was totally worth it. I sleep better, and I no longer get headaches. Now, in addition to cleaning my bite guard every morning myself, I also bring it in to Dr. Eggers when I go to get my teeth clean, and they clean it for me as well.
I recommend you see a dentist as soon as possible. It looks like the tooth has had a root canal and a post was placed in the root to hold the crown. There may be an infection in the bone around the tooth since the root has been open to bacteria. You will need find out from the dentist if there is enough healthy tooth remaining to restore with a permanent crown of if the tooth should be extracted at this point.
Great job for improving your oral hygiene! If the gum tissue is red and swollen form inflammation it can return to a healthy appearance after a couple of weeks. If there is underlying tartar build up causing inflammation called gingivitis or bone disease called periodontitis then it will require more advanced treatment from a dentist or hygienist to resolve the infection and allow the gums to heal fully.
Yes. Absolutely teeth can be made longer. If you pay attention to bite and speech issues that may arise and design the teeth properly then longer teeth that fit the proportions of your face better can definitely be achieved. Options can include veneering the teeth with either composite bonding or porcelain. Sometimes the teeth are covered by too much gum tissue and can be made longer in appearance simply by removing some of the excess tissue.
I would recommend commercially manufactured bleaching products for the best and safest result. Either store bought bleaching products or stronger bleach placed into custom trays made by your dentist may provide the results that you desire.
It looks like the space was being filled in with tartar/calculus build up on the teeth. This is living and dead mineralized bacteria built up on the teeth and should be removed in order to eliminate the infection and help you keep your teeth. Once the dentist has treated and stabilized the active gum disease you can close the spaces with braces for a healthier and better looking smile.
