Growing up can be challenging, and growing up with misaligned teeth can be even more challenging. Kids have enough to worry about without worrying whether others will tease them about their smiles. More importantly, misaligned teeth can lead to serious oral health concerns as they age. The good news is their fears about their braces being noticeable aren’t as true to life as they used to be. Newer braces are less intrusive and may even be completely invisible. However, those active in bands and playing brass instruments may still be concerned about their impact on their ability to play.
Keep The Music Going While Wearing Braces
Daily practice can be challenging to keep up with, but every musician knows it’s essential to improving. When anything gets in the way of this critical part of excellence, it can be incredibly frustrating. Thankfully, there’s no reason that having braces has to keep young musicians from perfecting their art. Plenty of brass players have gotten braces and are managing to continue performing and improving over time. In fact, by the end of this article, we will share a secret with you about wearing braces while playing. In the meantime, just know that a little patience and time to adjust will have you playing in no time. All you need to do is follow these tips:
- Relearn Your Embouchure – The first part of getting back to playing normally will be learning to adjust how you manage your embouchure. Braces will have an impact on how you hold your lips and control your breathing, but it’s just an adjustment of technique. With time, you’ll be able to work around your braces and perform great!
- Take Your Time – Speaking of time, you may want to space out your practices over a day, especially at first. Your lips and gums will take some time to get used to the presence of braces. Practicing for 15-20 minutes and then taking a break will be your way forward.
- Waxing Poetic – There is a special kind of wax your dentist can provide you with to protect your gums and lips while performing. It’s called orthodontic wax, which goes over your braces’ less comfortable parts. This can be used while you adjust to having braces, but it can also help while playing.
- Be On Guard – Finally, special guards are available to wear while performing to help ease any discomfort you may experience while playing. These cover your orthodontics and protect them as well.
So there you have it! Four things will help you return to playing while undergoing orthodontic care. Now, we promised you a secret. That secret is that studies have revealed that those who wear braces while learning to play brass instruments advance faster and develop better technique than those who don’t. Something about adjusting to playing with braces produces superior results while practicing and a better relationship with their embouchure.
Contact Kids 360 Pediatric For More Information On Braces
If you have a child that needs braces, it’s time to call on the team at Kids 360 Pediatric. We can meet with you and your child and discuss the options for orthodontic treatment and what concerns may lay ahead for them. Call us at (832) 271-6114 to schedule an appointment at our Richmond, TX, office today!
