Braces are often considered a rite of passage for many young children and teens, and if your child is finally undergoing orthodontic treatment, you might be looking for ways you can ensure a smooth process. However, if they play a musical instrument, such as a woodwind or brass instrument, you might be feeling pretty stumped. Luckily, they don’t have to give up their instrument or even decrease their practicing hours – but they may benefit from making a couple of lifestyle adjustments. Here’s what you need to know.
Tip #1. Extra Practice Goes a Long Way
Your child might already feel like they practice their instrument frequently, but when they start wearing braces, they may have to relearn how to play their instrument. These first few days of practice are crucial, and your child might need to put in some extra hours here and there to remain caught up to their peers. They’ll likely have to learn how to reposition their tongue inside their mouth while playing, as well as find their new embouchure – which is the musical term that refers to how the mouth is positioned when playing. However, once they’ve adjusted to this new learning curve, playing should come as easily as it did prior to braces.
Tip #2. Orthodontic Wax Is Their Ally
Orthodontic wax is useful for all patients with braces, whether they play an instrument or not. However, every wind instrument requires you to press the instrument’s mouthpiece against your lips – and needless to say, if your child has braces, this could feel pretty uncomfortable at first. If they put orthodontic wax over any of the spots on the braces that may cause irritation to their soft oral tissues, they’re far less likely to deal with discomfort while playing. It might take a full application of wax for them to be able to comfortably play their instrument; be sure they’ve received plenty from their orthodontist or the store!
Tip #3. Be Prepared to Use More Breath
Not only will your child have to worry about pressing against their instrument’s mouthpiece, but they also need to be sure they’re blowing enough air into it to produce music. They might find themselves needing to use more breath while paying when they have braces; fortunately, this is a fairly easy and painless adjustment to make compared to others. Ensure they aren’t clamping down on the mouthpiece too hard, as this could also make it tough to regulate airflow.
If your child doesn’t play an instrument that involves the use of their mouth, they’re in luck – their braces shouldn’t impact their musical prowess at all! That said, even if they do play a wind or brass instrument, by making certain adjustments and remaining committed and positive, they can continue to play beautifully without even thinking about their braces.
About the Practice
Our team here at Simply Orthodontics Webster has proudly served the needs of patients in Webster and the surrounding community for several years. We proudly offer a wide range of orthodontic services for patients of all ages, including traditional metal braces as well as several others. If you have any questions about the article or you’d like to contact us to schedule an appointment, please call today or visit online for more information. Telephone: (508) 943-2100.