I played the trumpet from the age of 10 and started the tenor saxophone a few years later, playing in the Newcastle University Jazz Orchestra during my degree. Whilst I no longer have the saxophone I do still occasionally play the trumpet, although I think it fair to say I have lost my edge!

One thing I remember much discussion about at the time (before I knew what my career would hold) was the impact of having braces on my playing.  My teachers were anxious that the effects might be prolonged and jeopardise progress at a key stage in my musical development.

 What happened?

I had braces and it was …. not too bad…..not great, but definitely not a disaster.

There were a number of things I did during treatment and now, as an orthodontist I recommend these things to my patients. So I wanted to share my advice and experience, having treated a sizeable number of wind and brass players over the years.

My tips for wind and brass musicians are:

  1.  Talk to your orthodontist – we are here to help. Orthodontic treatment is not about making your life difficult or ruining what you enjoy. When done well it should fit in with your lifestyle and hobbies with minimum fuss – there is more to life than straight teeth (although they are a bonus!)
  2. In my professional and musical experience small mouthpiece brass (French horn, trumpet/cornet) players along with flautists have the most challenges to overcome. I found using a bigger mouthpiece a significant help and moving from a 7c trumpet mouthpiece to a 1c made the world of difference. Speak to your teacher and try some different options.
  3. Timing – be prepared! DON’T start treatment before exams, recitals or big performances. With the best will in the world it is going to take a number of weeks for your embrasure to recover – but it will.
  4. Expect to have to modify your technique – I was always guilty of putting too much pressure on the mouthpiece, braces actually made me stop this and improved my playing in the long term. That said brass players can find their range reduces.
  5. Have a ‘trial’ brace – for players who really need orthodontics it is possible to place a small ‘sectional’ brace on the front teeth for a few weeks to see how they cope – speak to your orthodontist. I do this and in nearly all cases have been able to carry on to complete treatment successfully.
  6. Remember treatment stops as well as starts – you will have to adapt at the end of treatment too!
  7. Use wax and protectors – there are now a multitude of waxes and silicone products (for example Morgan Guards Gishy-goo and Braceguard) to put over the brace to protect the lips and teeth from being sore – these can work really well but you may need to try a few types.
  8. Drink plenty of water as you mouth will get dry – steer clear of sugar based drinks as they will do permanent damage to the tooth enamel if you drink too much of them.
  9. Do your research and find out about other people’s experiences. There has been a number of studies looking at braces and musicians. You can also visit the British Orthodontic Society website to see what they say.

For children and teenagers having braces is just another change to go alongside the growth and development they have done, and will keep doing – young people are used to changing and adapting. But what about the adults or older teenagers who are playing at a very high level or cannot consider a fixed appliance?

There is a really neat solution in the form of Invisalign treatment. Suitable for adults and teenagers, Invisalign works via a series of very thin removable plastic trays, which progressively move the teeth into line. There are some significant advantages to the system (which hadn’t been invented when I had my treatment) making it a serious option for musicians, especially those who just can’t consider a fixed appliance. Not only is it a tried and tested technique which looks great but because it is very thin with no brackets or wires you can continue to play with virtually no discomfort, even in a worst case scenario the appliance could be removed to perform or rehearse.

 Invisalign 1 Image

I hope this post is of interest – please share it with any musician friends you may have. I would hate for people to miss out on the benefits of orthodontic treatment because they didn’t know about this advice or the possibility of having Invisalign as an alternative to fixed appliances. You can always find out more information about appliances on our website.

Good luck!