 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Kathy Handyside
Date: 2000-06-02 23:56
Dear Folks - Not sure if anybody can answer this question - I probably need to find a dentist/orthodontist who is also a clarientist (yeah, right! ha ha), but I am just getting back to playing my clarinet after being away from it for 28 years. (I've posted a few times here about this, so please forgive me if I'm boring everyone.) Anyway, I was ecstatic to discover that my tone was still there after all these years. I remember, though, when I played in high school, that I had trouble trying to tongue quickly. I'm wondering if getting my teeth straightened will help with that. (That's not the sole reason I'm considering braces, but the question did occur to me.) I have an overbite in front of about 1/4 inch. Has anyone experienced trying to play clarinet before and after getting braces on their teeth?
Thanks much.
Kathy
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Author: Nicole Y.
Date: 2000-06-03 13:15
I play the clarinet now with braces. And though I admit it has been rough going. I couldn't play for 2 weeks after I got them. The general deterioration in tone because my mouth muscles had to adjust at first. It is still fun. After my mouth muscles adjusted to make a tighter seal around the mouthpiece my tone has been coming back gradually and right now it is almost like it was. So there's no problem with braces and playing. Just occassionally you'll cut open your lip with your braces *not during playing...at least it's never happened to me* and then you'll try to play and you'll put it down and just wait for the cut to heal. But it's okay. Anything to play.
Nicole
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Author: Blake Arrington
Date: 2000-06-03 17:54
Kathy,
I got braces 6 months ago to straighten bottom teeth. My clarinet playing had really pushed my teeth around, so I decided to get it fixed now instead of messing things up later in life. The braces haven't really messed my tone up, but I know that they have changed things. I feel that the shape of my oral cavity has changed, and that there is something different about my tone. You will have to deal with some pain until you build up a scar from the braces. I have found relief in using EZO denture pads, though. Good Luck,
Blake Arrington
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Author: Nicole Y.
Date: 2000-06-03 22:11
Weird, I still haven't built up any scar yet from the cuts. And I've had them for umm...let's see...7 months.
Nicole
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Author: Kim L
Date: 2000-06-04 02:57
When I had braces and used those denture pads, the adhesive leaked into the clarinet. IMHO, that's not good for any clarinet--especially professional wood ones! I stopped using them when I first blew into my clarinet. Also, what about the reeds!?!??
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Author: Carola
Date: 2000-06-04 12:56
Kathy,
About four years ago I had braces and I never had any extreme difficulties while playing the clarinet. At first you have to get used to it, while your lips are further of your teeth because of the braces. And if you play for a long time, like two hours or so, it hurts, because the mouthpiece pushes the brace into your lips. But after a while you get used to it and you play like before. Well, I must say it's quite a relief when the braces are removed.
Good luck! Carola
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Author: Meredith H
Date: 2000-06-04 23:58
If you are thinking about getting braced go for it. I had quite a severe overbite which I had corrected with braces when I was in high school, 14 years ago. Braces had no effect on my playing once I was used to the way they felt in my mouth. Brass players experience far more difficulty adjusting to braces then most windwind players do. I personally don't think it will make any difference to the tonguing problem you have but consistant practice will.
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