 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: robin
Date: 2000-05-19 03:59
Hi everyone.
Sorry to let you in on these sorts of things, but I've developed a nasty blister on my lower lip from my clarinet playing. It has been with me for five days and looks just as horrible as it did when it began.
I have an exam coming up and I'm getting desperate because playing clarinet is impossible! I've been putting creams galore on it but it won't go away. Can anyone offer me any advice?
Thankyou
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Author: Donn
Date: 2000-05-19 14:15
Try Campho-Phenique. Good for cold sores, blisters, etc.
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Author: Ken
Date: 2000-05-19 18:14
Two suggestions: 1) If you're fighting the clock go see an emergency room doctor instead of waiting for an appointment with your regular Health Care Provider. Tell him the urgency of your situation and you think you may contracted Herpes-Simplex (oral herpes). Ask him to prescribe a tube of ZOVIRAX cream. Very strong stuff! (NOT the pill form, a typical prescription of 25 pills is very expensive if you're out-of-pocket and takes 36 hours to get into your system and begin to work). Apply as directed, preferably before bedtime as you're not supposed to eat or drink with it on. It'll knock that blister out in 48 hours or less. 2) While you're at the pharmacy get a box of EZO Denture Cushions (upper or lower HEAVY is the best) Take a single cushion and cut a piece the length of your bottom three/four front teeth and mold it around them for added protection. It will soften as you play and form-fit around your teeth, you're chops will get used to it after about ten minutes and it won't impede air stream or tonguing either. Good Luck! <;-)
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2000-05-19 20:55
try rinsing frequently with listerine. this usually enables me to play right away, and it is totally gone in a few days.
hope that helps!
Katrina
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Author: Joslyn
Date: 2000-05-19 21:01
The best and easiest way to prevent this is by using masking tape or gardening tape. You simply take a little strip and cover your two front teeth with it. There is no taste to it, and it doesn't stick to your teeth. No glue goes down your clarinet, either. I use it alot. It's a pretty common thing to find and works fairly well. And if you use gardening tape, it's fun to go around and smile at people with your green teeth!!!!!!!! Good luck!
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Author: William
Date: 2000-05-19 21:05
Probably a cold sore. I have had good results with direct applications of liquid vitamin E on the sore. My cold sores usually develope if I try to do a sudden abnormal amount of playing. Stress, I guess. Good luck--they should eventually go away, but a physicians consul is recommended if they persist.
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Author: robin
Date: 2000-05-20 07:30
Well, thankyou all, for your advice.
I've sorted it out. It was a cold sore - the woman at the pharmacy spotted it from miles away. I just instantly discouted this possibility because I have never had a cold sore, and because it looked like a blister at first. As a result, I was putting all sorts of stuff on it and touching it heaps. (I will have to speak to my new girlfriend about just how I may have got it!!)
Luckily in Australia, where I live, we do not need prescriptions for Zovirax, and I can already see improvement. i'll be playing soon.
Thanks again, folks.
rob
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Author: Terry Horlick
Date: 2000-05-21 09:18
Joslyn, It sounds like you missed on Robin's problem but you win a star for creativity! I am a dentist who has been playing clarinet for about 35 years. When I get an ulcer inside my lower lip from practicing or performing too much I generally just tough it out and wait for it to keratinize (get a sort of callous). Most folks I have talked to don't like to do that.
So since you are one of the folks who like to do something may I suggest a mouth guard. You dentist can make one just like the ones for a football player, only for the lower teeth! The materials are available in various thicknesses, and if you must... colors! Your dentist will make an impression of your teeth and in a few days have your guard ready. It is especially effective for folks with crooked lower front teeth. I charge about $25 for the service and can easily make 5 or 6 from one model. They will last years, have no gooey adhesive, and no taste. In fact you will probably get so used to it you wont feel it there. I recommend the clear vinyl ones as they look nicer when you are in front of an audience.
Terry
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Author: robin
Date: 2000-05-21 10:27
Update!! I'm doing very well down under - almost playing again.
Terry and Joslyn, what a good idea. But I have a way of protecting bottom lip and not having to deal with "gardening tape" (you mentioned glue!)or pay the dentist bill [sorry Terry] .
I use florist tape, a soft plastic tape used to bind bunches of flowers so that they hold, but that the stalks aren't damaged. Just fold it back on itself and mould it to your bottom teeth. It's really cheap and I've been on the same A$4.00 roll for more than two years!
Bye.
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