Klarinet Archive - Posting 000764.txt from 2000/01

From: Shouryu Nohe <jnohe@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] playing with braces
Date: Mon, 24 Jan 2000 19:44:20 -0500

On Sun, 23 Jan 2000 Selims7@-----.com wrote:

> I'm in high school and many of the clarinets in my section play with braces,
> I've noticed that most of the time that when they play to prevent cut up,
> sore lips they take the wax that the orthodontist gives them and layer some
> over their front teeth. I don't know if this actually helps a lot, or if it
> just makes it bearable, but it might be something for her to try.

Wax eventually tends to melt and allow the brace metal to stick thru
eventually -- I suggest florist's tape, which is available at any crafts
store. Cut off a strip about 3 inches long, and fold it over six times
lengthwise, and then fold it over your bottom teeth widthwise and keep it
there with your tongue and lips for about half an hour (while you're
watching TV or something). It's a wax coated cotton paper, so unlike
regular paper, it doesn't decintegrate (sp?), and unlike wax alone, it's
held in form by the paper, so the braces won't eventually poke thru.
After you've had it in place for the half hour, practice with it, and it
will have formed to your lower teeth. Then keep it in a small tin or
something (like those old asprin tins...you younger players may not be
familiar with such a device) to keep in your case when not playing. One
guard last between 1-2 weeks, depending on how much you play, before it
becomes just a little unsanitary. Thing is, a 100 ft. roll of florist
tape MIGHT cost you 1.50 at most, so it's a very cheap solution, compared
to the dentist made guards and cutting up $10 rubber sports guards.

J. Shouryu Nohe
http://web.nmsu.edu/~jnohe
Professor of SCSM102, New Mexico State Univ.
"If I wanted a 'job,' I'd have gone music ED, thank you very much!"

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