Keeping our mouths healthy is so important to us as flute players because we use our lips, tongues and throats when we play. I have made a list of some potential problems and solutions below from my own reading and experience. I am not a doctor and these are just suggestions. You should always consult your physician if a problem persists.
chapped lips – Maintaining a proper balance of moisture in the lips is a persistent problem for flutists due to air-conditioned performance halls, traveling and dry seasons. I have several friends who can play with Chapstick on their lips but I haven’t learned how to do that yet! Unfortunately, I have to have my lips totally dry to play and therefor my lips tend to get chapped and cracked. The best rule-of-thumb is to keep your lips moist when not playing. Part of the problem lies in keeping your body properly hydrated as well, so be sure to drink more liquids during dry months and while performing, especially plain water. Petroleum jelly, like Vaseline, works great to preserve moisture and soothe cracked lips.
cleaning our teeth – Most dentists agree that it’s not so much how often or how hard you brush, but the technique you use when brushing. According to the British Dental Health Foundation over-brushing or hard brushing can increase the likelihood of a mouth ulcer, gum recession or wear away the enamel in your teeth. Just like executing a beautiful technical flourish, a little work needs to be put into your brushing technique. Rather than brush across the teeth and gums, try just pushing the bristles into your gums lightly almost like flossing. Further, the choice of toothpaste can make a big difference in your mouth health. There have been some claims that the foaming agent Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, an ingredient in most big-name brand toothpastes, is connected with the outbreak of canker sores. Try using Peelu, Rembrandt or another natural toothpaste from a health-food store that does not contain Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. One more tip is to make a habit of brushing after you eat. This will mean carrying a toothbrush and toothpaste with you daily. Not only will your breath smell better, but you won’t risk getting sugary saliva into your flute. The pads can get sticky and actually the flute can begin to smell like your last meal!
canker sores (also known as mouth ulcers) – Canker sores are shallow sores inside the soft tissue of your mouth. Researchers generally believe that high levels of stress (like a major performance or weeks on end of concerts) or an injury, like biting the inside of your mouth, may cause the eruption of common canker sores. Certain foods, for example citrus fruits, tomatoes, nuts and chocolate may complicate the problem. According to the National Institute of Health and the Mayo Clinic , the jury is still out on the cause and cure of canker sores. There is a possible viral connection due to the behavior of canker sores and their general effect on the body. Much like a common cold, canker sores run a course of four to ten days with little change from treatment and can have side effects like lethargy and fever. The good news is that canker sores are not contagious. Therefor, doctors and alternative medicine practitioners alike suggest preventive care as the best solution when faced with this problem. Taking a daily dose of the supplement L-lysine has been connected with general mouth health. Changing brands of toothpaste and watching what you eat also helps to keep canker sores from erupting. Once they appear, palliative care includes products containing benzocaine, like Cankaid, available at most drug stores. These products deaden the pain and help the sore heal primarily because you don’t re-injure the sore through its protective coating. However, this option may not be useful to us if we can’t feel our mouth when we play! Other options are to ßuse a hydrogen peroxide rinse (gargle and spit) or a salt and water solution to help relieve the pain. Pressing ice against the sore itself can help to decrease swelling. Be very careful not to get stuck to the ice and cause additional injury! Golden Seal Tea, available at most health food stores, has been cited as a healing aid by alternative medicine advocates.
cold sores (also known as fever blisters) – These sores appear on the outside of the mouth and are caused by the herpes virus. Cold sores are highly contagious and you should not only avoid kissing or sharing a glass while infected, but also keep your lip plate clean so you don’t re-infect yourself. It is important to consult your doctor to obtain medication for treatment. Again, medication will only be a palliative method for dealing with this problem as there is no cure for the virus. Purchase some individually wrapped alcohol pads that you can keep in your case and use them to clean the lip plate and chimney of the headjoint. Wash your hands regularly so you don’t run the risk of spreading the sores to other people. Of course avoid sharing your flute! So far, there is no cure for cold sores and an outbreak can occur at any time. Using similar preventive care methods to canker sores can help control outbreaks.
Keeping our mouths healthy will allow us to create the most beautiful air-stream and embouchure we can.
