thanks for all your help last time - especially notmusimum! All settled down with practising and Em came through with 3 distinctions and 2 merits last school year which is great, plus an 11+ music scholarship! hooray - less school fees! She is about to have 4 teeth out and fixed braces fitted to top and bottom teeth. She isn't worried as the majority of her year already have them (11 - going on 12). Anyone out there who plays the flute and or oboe got any handy hits and tips for coping with mouth issues ?!! All advice much appreciated!

Congratulations!


Oboe/flute with braces is fine. I play the oboe with braces, and my teacher usud to.

taking out teeth does hurt for a couple of days and getting braces fixed isn't nice the first few days and after tightening, but apart from that, after you got used to them, it's no big deal at all.


it'll be easier to get a good embouchure on the oboe after the braces are off


Braces do cause cuts/ulcers inside the mouth especially when playing the oboe as well, so ask the orthodontist for wax (i think it's called that. it's a waxy thing that makes the part that's causing the cut smoother so it doesn't hurt as much.)

My son has just about got his off...he kept playing the trumpet...but had problems with embouchure and pain.. it is sorting out nicely now..just beware that it can all be painful...

My daughter had braces put on after her Grade 5 earlier this year. She plays the flute . She has also had lots of teeth taken out. Her dad is an orthodontist so we had the luxury of choosing the best time for the braces for her fluteplaying (ie just after an exam). Wax is essential or braceze. I think my daughter prefers braceeze. Her teacher has been fantatsic and has worked with her on getting her embouchure right for braces. I think she was given easier pieces for a bit, to concentrate on tone production. Her teacher explained exactly how the embouchure needs to be changed etc.... so do involve your teacher.
My daughter didn't want to play in groups etc at first as she thought her tone was awful.... but she's fine now and doing well again. The braces were only put on after Easter and the teeth came ot in May (when she had her bottom brace put on after SATS).
It hasn't been the disaster I thought it was going to be. My daughter loves her straightening teeth and her teacher was been excellent.

I would say, don't even try to play when the pain is really bad (first week????)

Yes.... it's really important not to have a brace put on just before an exam. Just after is the best time!!!!! If possible negotiate a good time with the orthodontist!!! Expect a few weeks of poor tone, but things improve quickly really!!!