A few adults maybe have one missing natural tooth. can bruxism, in the lack of periodontal disease, cause severe gum recession?

Yes/No: Missing teeth potentiate a sequale of pathology, from drifting and super-erupting teeth, to TMJ, abfraction and recession. Unless we are talking about wisdom teeth (3rd molars), all teeth that are extracted need to be replaced with some form of prosthetic. These can be implants, bridges, partials, or full dentures. Talk to you DMD about your concerns further. Teeth are a delicate balance.

Yes: That is one of the side effects of excessive grinding. That is why it is prudent to treat the condition in its infancy rather than being reactive and treating it when there is a problem.

Definitely, yes: Bruxism may cause tooth wear, severe gum recession, teeth movement and even damage or break teeth. Unfortunately, no therapy has been proven effective in treating sleep bruxism. See OFP specialist for diagnosis and proper guard fabrication.

Maybe: The research is limited and conflicted when it comes to the relationship between parafunction (grinding) and clinical recession. Bruxism may lead to abfraction (notching of the cheek side root surface) which may in turn lead to recession. But the jury is still out as to a direct correlation between bruxism and recession. Malocclusions like cross bites have been shown to be related to recession.

Barrel: It's like taking 1 stave out of a barrel. The other staves (or teeth) will collapse into the space, resulting in malocclusion. People sometimes grind to try to get their teeth to fit. Malocclusion and/or tooth grinding can cause bone and tissue loss. A professionally made Occlusal Orthotic (night guard) can work Lima a bandaid, but see an Orthodontist to asses your occlusion.