Your orthodontic treatment shouldn’t stop you from living your best life. If you play a wind instrument before your orthodontic treatment, you can play during and after your smile transformation!
It’s true that you may have to make some minor adjustments when you first start playing with braces and it may take a few practice sessions to get used to your new normal. But no matter which instrument you play, you’ll be able to continue jammin’ with braces or Invisalign®. We promise!
Can you play trumpet with braces?
You sure can! Playing the trumpet with braces will take some extra practice, since this instrument requires you to press your lips directly into the mouthpiece.
Here’s how to play trumpet with braces:
- You may experience some soreness inside your lips and cheeks at first, because your mouthpiece is pressing your lips into your braces. Try using a thin mouthguard or a lip protector/lip bumpers to build a barrier between your mouth and braces. After a few weeks, your mouth will get used to working around an appliance on your teeth as you play. Orthodontic wax can also help. You can then play without a lip protector!
- Try altering the way you play and use more breath than pressure. Instead of pushing your mouthpiece into your lips, try lightening up on the pushing pressure and use more breath force to play notes. You can also try using the corners of your mouth more than the center of your mouth as you play.
Can you play trombone with braces?
Playing trombone is similar to playing a trumpet when it comes to the mouthpiece pushing against your lips. Fortunately, with a trombone, its mouthpiece is larger than a trumpet’s. There won’t be as much pressure on the lips and cheeks.
Here’s how to play trombone with braces:
- Consider using a lip protector or thin mouthguard to cover your braces while you play for the first few weeks. When hitting high notes on the trombone, there’ll be more pressure on your lips.
- Wearing a lip protector can keep your lips from pressing on your braces.
- Don’t apply as much pressure on your mouthpiece and increase your breath flow to compensate.
- Apply orthodontic wax to any brackets that are especially bothersome.
Can you play clarinet with braces?
Yes, you can. (Notice a trend here? There’s a way to play every instrument with braces!)
Playing woodwind instruments (clarinet, flute, piccolo, oboe) with braces is relatively easier than playing brass instruments, because woodwind instruments require less contact between the lips and mouthpiece.
Although, when playing the clarinet, the lower lip has to cover the lower bottom teeth, so it’ll still take some minor adjustments as you’re getting used to your braces.
- Start out with lower notes. Lower notes on the clarinet don’t require as much pressure from the mouth as higher notes do. Get used to your braces by practicing low notes when you’re starting out.
- Consider moving to a softer reed. If you’ve been practicing with braces for a while and you still can’t get to the same sound you were creating before your treatment, switch your reed out for a softer one. Softer ones are more sensitive to your breath and require less force to create sounds.
Tips for Playing Any Instrument with Braces
- Practice! Spend some extra time practicing your instrument to speed up the adjustment period. As your mouth gets used to your braces, you’ll be able to produce the same sounds you were producing before treatment.
- Use orthodontic wax or a lip bumper whenever you need. If your lips or cheeks are being irritated by your braces when you play, put some orthodontic wax on individual brackets, or add a lip bumper to cover all brackets at once.
- Use more breath. No matter which instrument you play, if it has a mouthpiece, try using more breath. Apply less pressure to the mouthpiece and compensate for this difference by using more breath while you play.
If you’re still concerned about playing an instrument with braces, we encourage you to consider Invisalign® treatment instead!
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us with any questions. We’d love to speak with you. If you’re ready to begin your smile transformation, request your complimentary consultation with us in Melbourne, Merritt Island or Viera today.
