Klarinet Archive - Posting 000253.txt from 2001/12

From: TwistdPrincess7@-----.com
Subj: Re: [kl]Braces
Date: Tue, 11 Dec 2001 15:23:05 -0500

I had regular braces in middle and high school and I agree with Kelly Abraham totally about it being harder to get used to them coming off then getting them put on. Sure, the metal cuts your lips like crazy, but you can put wax on the brackets to help with the pain. It's kind of harder to deal with not having as much in your mouth to use. I had a real problem with biting the mouthpiece before braces (and really I'm still struggling with it a little when I'm not paying attention) but the extra metal forced me to relax my jaw some and it got easier from there. Plus, my bottom teeth move fairly easily and once the braces came off they slipped back and turned to the left considerably, so that now I play more from the side of my mouth. I guess what I'm saying is, good luck to any players with braces. It makes playing so much stranger after they're gone.
Lindsay

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