lip getting shredded

[Vortex]

I recently got braces on both sets of my teeth, so as you could expect I'm having trouble playing. It's really limiting how much I can play, b/c if I play too long my bottom braces start digging into my gums and shredding them up as I play. I've tried dental wax, but it doesn't help much. Any suggestions?

[Andrew]

When I had my braces, I stuck the dental wax on and it was fine. I used a LOT of dental wax however...more than you can imagine.

[FrankB2]

My son just had braces put on last fall. I asked the orthodontist if
he'd be able to play tuba afterwards. He said "Yes", and I replied, "That's
great because he can only play violin now" (insert laugh track here<G>).
Seriously, my son does play violin, but had a good bit of discomfort
from his braces for the first couple of months. He applied liberal amounts
of dental wax, and now he's fine w/o wax. Maybe you can ask your
orthodontist about this when you make your monthly visit. Good Luck.
maybe a mouthpiece/reed combo that allows a more loose embouchure
might help the transition.

Frank

[Jazzophone]

I play with braces too and have never used wax on my bottom lip, I just get a braces dent in it every time I play sax :P ... I think I'm just getting used to it. Seriously though, wax would probably help a good deal. Use a reed that requires a looser embouchure and you should be OK.

It also depends on how you play ... there are different styles so if you change round a very little bit it might help you out.

good luck 'til the hardware comes out.

[alabamapinksax]

i had them too and i agree with Jazzophone

[Vortex]

Ugh... yeah, thanks for the advice. With any luck there's only a few months left.

[marvin3784]

Ezo denture pads. It is wax reinforced with string. A box will last you quite some time. Just cut a piece, warm it in your mouth, and then put it in place. You can get it at srug stores.

[Laurel Moore]

Hi, I've never heard of this 'denture wax'. Silly questions coming here I know but: where do you put it? I mean is it on the outside of your lip, or the inside over your bottom teeth?? Is there anything for the outside, I'm really suffering with sore lips at the moment. I'm biting down too hard, I know.

[Bloo Dog]

The OP mentioned DENTAL wax, which is used to cover the braces and to make them less irritating to the lips.

[trane in training]

I use the waterproof first aide tape (white) that you can find just about anywhere. Just fold the sticky sides together then fold it again over my teeth. It works very well, is reuseable for a short while, and is dirt cheap...

[sopranosaxman]

Just play until your mouth starts bleeding and when it starts to happen suck it up and keep on playing for a few more hours. Thats what I did when I had braces even though it would start bleeding it didn't even really phase me I just kept on going.

[zirbo]

I started sax with braces, so it wasn't a big problem at first, but in 8th grade i remember wincing in pain after playing in band everyday. I used A LOT of dental wax. You have to put it all over your bottom braces. That seemed to help me when my lip really started hurting.

Whoa I didn't realize the OP posted this in 2003 until after i posted...my bad

[kctess5]

I just stuck it out for the first few weeks after I go braces without wax and it didnt hurt after awhile. My main problem was my teeth hurt not mu gums or lips.

[martysax]

Play through the pain and blood.


It builds character.

[gspicer]

If you play with an embouchure that puts your lip over top of your bottom teeth, that would probably be part of the problem. I had to learn to just use my lip/jaw for pressure on the bottom of the reed because of a similar issue, and I feel is more comfortable. You could even look up those threads by Phil Barone in the tone production subforum on the Joe Allard method, which kind of goes along that principle. Good luck!

[kctess5]

Play through the pain and blood.


It builds character.

:cheers: totally with you

[martysax]

Back ~17 years ago, my then-tender lips weren't used to the abuse of a four set night of incessant wailing. My lips would generally bleed and soak my reed. At the end of the night, I would always raise my horn with the reed facing the audience to show the blood when my singer announced my name as "Bloody Reed!"

[alexd]

Back ~17 years ago, my then-tender lips weren't used to the abuse of a four set night of incessant wailing. My lips would generally bleed and soak my reed. At the end of the night, I would always raise my horn with the reed facing the audience to show the blood when my singer announced my name as "Bloody Reed!"

ew..!! bet you scored lots with that one! ;)

my old teacher used to recommend *** papers......not sure myself.

[geauxsax]

:cheers: totally with you

Agree. On the surface, it seems like a glib "if I did it, so can you" type retort. But I played for 4 years on braces. Man, I was pissed off when I got 'em, and told Mom and Dad my sax days were over. But obviously I kept on going, and all was OK. It gets to be a non-issue (unless you get punched in the mouth--different story though). Just keep on playing!

PS--alexd: The avatar's creeping me out. Who is that?