Klarinet Archive - Posting 000079.txt from 2011/01

From: Donna Higgins <donna@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Depression, anti-depressants, teeth grinding and embouchure
Date: Tue, 11 Jan 2011 09:00:38 -0500

On 1/11/11 4:19 AM, Kathy Williams-DeVries wrote:

>
> I may have mentioned once or twice that I suffer from depression, and take
> anti-depressants as part of an overall treatment of bipolar disorder. Now, I
> am one of those people who channel their tension through their jaw,
> involving a lot of teeth grinding. I'm sure if I ever visited a dentist,
> they would find the condition of my back teeth to be equivalent of a meth
> user, I have heard.

I had a problem with teeth grinding due to stress, and using a mouth
guard really helped. Not one you buy "off the shelf" at a pharmacy,
which don't work well. You need to get one made for you by your
dentist. They're expensive but worth it.

At first I wore the guard during the day as well as at night, to break
myself of the habit of clenching. Now I just use it at night. I have
noticed that my embouchure is more relaxed and I don't "bite" on the
reed so much. It's also helped tremendously with my chronic headaches,
which was the reason I decided to try the mouth guard.

Hope this helps.

Donna
_______________________________________________
Klarinet mailing list
Klarinet@-----.com
To do darn near anything to your subscription, go to:
http://klarinet-list.serve-music.com