Klarinet Archive - Posting 000495.txt from 2003/03

From: "Leslie Schultz" <mewsic-ls@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] cutting lower lip
Date: Tue, 11 Mar 2003 13:07:14 -0500

There is an ongoing thread regarding playing with braces and the irritation
they might cause. Among the things that have been suggested as cushions for
bottom teeth are folded up floral tape, wax (the kind distributed by
orthodontists), and cigarette paper. The wax may not stay in place if
applied to the tops of your bottom teeth, but I've never tried it, so I
can't say. It was suggested that the cigarette paper may dissolve when it
meets saliva, but I've never had that problem, even when the same piece of
paper stays in my mouth for four or five hours. Of course, if you're a
student, it might be a good idea to leave it at home. I took mine to
school, because my band directors understood, but (along with my reed
working equipment) it never left the band room where other school employees
might see it. I know that there are some products commercially made
specifically for the purpose of covering sharp bottom teeth while playing.
I'm sure you could find these online.
Another thing to consider is to have a retainer made (not for the
purpose of correcting crooked teeth or anything like that). While at
All-State my junior year of high school, I noticed that my lower teeth
became visibly crooked over the course of only two or three days (from the
pressure of playing for so many hours without much of a break). I went back
to my orthodontist (I'd had my braces off three years prior to this) and he
made me a clear plastic retainer just for my bottom four teeth. This had
the unintended benefit of blunting the sharp edges of my bottom teeth.
Leslie

> My bottom teeth are crooked and as I'm starting to play more, I'm
> finding the skin on the inside of my mouth below my lower lip getting
> irritated. I'm not to the bleeding stage yet but I could see it
> happening when my embouchure can hold up to two hours of playing.

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