High school girl with braces smiles while holding her wind instrument in the orchestra

Do Braces Affect Playing Wind Instruments?

October 29, 2020 7:35 pm

If the time comes that your child needs braces, there may be a few adjustments to their daily routine coming their way. Not to fear, all of these adjustments are completely manageable and definitely worth the outcome of a straighter, healthier smile. For example, your kid may need to change how they brush and floss their teeth now that there are brackets and wires to work around. Another example is changes involved with playing their instrument if they happen to be in the school band or orchestra.

At Tots to Teens Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics in Laredo, TX, our team has guided many young musicians through the process of playing an instrument with their new braces. In this blog post, we’ve rounded up some basic information and tips to know about this transition with different instruments.

For Brass Players

When it comes to brass instruments like the trumpet or the trombone, a crucial part of making sound is being able to buzz your lips. This buzzing is going to feel different when braces are involved.

Your child may experience some discomfort and frustration when they first try to play their brass instrument after getting their orthodontic treatment. Tell them that it will get better with practice and patience, just like any other skill.

One thing a brass instrument player can do to ease this transition is to focus more on breath support rather than on mouth pressure. Their music teacher will be able to help with this. You can also look into getting a thin mouthguard or some orthodontic wax to alleviate discomfort while playing.

For Woodwind Players

With woodwind instruments like the saxophone, clarinet, and flute, one common difference that comes up when trying to play with braces is increased saliva production and excess condensation. It’s important that your child take extra care to clean this moisture out so that it doesn’t affect the sound they’re trying to produce.

Just like with brass instruments, there’s going to be a period in the beginning where it takes some time to achieve the same musical tones they’re used to. But with practice and patience, they’ll get the hang of things and any possible discomfort will lessen.

Do Braces Affect Playing Wind Instruments?

For Brass Players

For Woodwind Players

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