Top, front teeth pain

[duncan]

I am a 40 year old beginner on the sax (alto). I've only been playing a few weeks. I've been experiencing pain in my front upper teeth that I'm sure is the result of my applying too much pressure to the top of the mouthpiece. When I reduce the pressure, I lose the sound. What am I doing wrong? Also, I'm sure this is not the result of any existing dental problems but is the result of improper embouchure. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thankyou,
Duncan

[Mike W]

HI Duncan--gingivitus can cause this. Hope it's nothing more serious. One other possibility might be that you have a mouthpiece that is too open or a too hard reed causing you to apply too much pressure. Don't be afraid to use a soft reed to start and a beginner mouthpiece--Like a Selmer C or C* or something similar. I gave lessons for a few months to an adult beginner about 34--and a weightlifter to boot. He had to start on a C with a 1 1/2 reed but over the course of two months was playing a 2 1/2. Also try taking a bit more mouthpiece in your mouth and see what effect that has. I hope some of this helps. Mike

[TerraNova]

Duncan,

When I first started, I too had problems with my upper teeth - however it was due to excessive vibration leading to weird sensations in my mouth.

What I did for a while, was use a mouthpiece cushion/Tooth saver/Mouthpiece saver - whatever you want to call it... http://www.jodyjazz.com/patch.html

That may help for a couple of months, and then you'll find that you might be able to remove it, and like me, your problems might have disappeared.

Hope that helps...!!

[doublepunk]

Duncan,

Runyon makes those moutpiece patches, too. I am returning to the sax (soprano) after not playing for 16 years (12 years of playing tenor). The patches make a huge difference.

Peace.

[rubberducko]

Hello,
Im a beginner sax player, and I got the same "vibration" problems with my front teeth. When I was younger I broke my right frontteeth, but I got a "replacement " added so its not noticeable now. However, I feel vibration pains, similar to the pain when the dentist pinch into the nerves in the teeths. Its extremly painfull, and Im afarid I have to give up my "sax career" even before I can play properly... I got an pad on the mouthpiece as well. Is there any other good solutions to this problem? Is it a common problem?

EDIT: I have bought those patches as well... hope they will fix my problem.

[Cranky Bear]

maybe your just not meant to put your teeth on the mouthpiece...some people have certain ways they have to put their embouchure, and they cant play any other way. I can only play by curling both lips over my top and bottom teeth, so maybe you could try that. You dont get any vibration through your lip, but for the first little while your lip will hurt from the pressure from the teeth. that pain goes away with practice.

[OsloSax]

Dear fellow beginners, I had the same feeling of discomfort. But I was not firm enough in my contact with the mouthpiece, according to my teacher. I find it hard to get a proper balance, not to hard or too loose. But I feel progress and no pain anymore. I have been playing for one month now about 30-60 minutes a day, with a day of a week. But when my jaw muscles tire, the tone goes bad, and I stop practicing. I do use a patch.

[hgrail]

I've noticed the same thing if I skip flossing for a few days (I always brush though).
Get those gums in shape - floss every day (if you're not already) and you may notice a real improvement.

[Jolle]

I second the mouthpiece patches : I don't play without them any more. Small detail : I use alto patches on a tenor mouthpiece, mainly because my BergLarsen is quite small, but also because they interfere less with my embouchure, but do the job as well.

My 2 cents

[Rex]

Except for the far less-common "double-lip" embouchure, your upper teeth need to rest on top of the mouthpiece beak. That's hard-against-hard, and can allow some vibration to be transmitted through to your teeth, which may likely be extra-sensitive (is it an electric, "dentist's drill sensation/discomfort?). I too highly recommend patches -- thick or thin, clear (hard) or rubber (soft) according to preference. They protect against toothmarks, provide some security against slipping, the thick ones can open up your embouchure a bit -- and can cushion your upper teeth. Unless you're really biting hard, I don't think strain-related pain (?) in the upper teeth is very common (?).

[A Greene]

I had some teeth issues but here's what been working for me:

#1 ONLY use HARD RUBBER mouthpieces
Metal kills my teeth - I also had an RPC HR that vibrated my teeth like crazy.
#2 I use the Clear Vandoren Mouthpiece patches.

At one time I was using two mouthpiece patches the clear over black. But lately I'm back to only one patch.