{"id":49,"date":"2023-07-20T14:35:41","date_gmt":"2023-07-20T14:35:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jupiterfamdental.com\/blog\/?p=49"},"modified":"2023-09-14T14:37:01","modified_gmt":"2023-09-14T14:37:01","slug":"playing-musical-instruments-and-oral-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jupiterfamdental.com\/blog\/?p=49","title":{"rendered":"Can Playing Instruments Affect Your Oral Health? Or is it Just Hot Air?<\/strong>"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Children<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Kids are back in school after a successful summer break and for many of them that means getting back to activities. While the danger to oral health presented by sports like football and soccer is obvious, what about less physical activities like playing musical instruments in band or orchestra?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At first glance, there may not seem to be anything that could drastically affect your child\u2019s mouth and the teeth within, but there are some pitfalls that could easily earn your child a trip to the dentist<\/a>\u2014or the doctor! How can this be? Continue on to learn of all the hidden hazards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Instruments Press Against Teeth<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Woodwind and brass instruments require air to pass through them to create their sound. That air is provided by the person playing the instrument, pressing the mouthpiece against their lips and teeth. This can slowly cause damage to the affected area, even chipping or deforming teeth if there\u2019s enough pressure and vibration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some instruments are worse than others in this regard. The bigger the mouthpiece, the more surface area in the mouth it will affect. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The larger your instrument is, the more force that must be exerted to keep it on your mouth so air can flow through it. All of these forces are acting on a child’s teeth at once, so it\u2019s no wonder that they can be so affected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Neck Alignment and Cross-Bite<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are other forces at work when maintaining a playing position with an instrument. While many can be played in a normal standing position, there are others that will force your head and neck into awkward angles to play them properly such as the viola or violin. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This position cranes the neck and presses the cheek and chin against the frame of the instrument, creating several points of pressure along the structure of your face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over time, this position can lead to neck pain and deformations in the jaw such as malocclusions\u2014cross-bites and overbites which can cause tooth damage, pain, and difficulty swallowing. Children are especially vulnerable to these conditions as their teeth are still forming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bacteria From Unsanitary Instruments<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Painful positions and objects pressed against the mouth are easy to see and correct. The real danger lies in the unseen microscopic bacteria that likes to grow inside warm, moist environments\u2014like tubes regularly filled with hot breath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These bacteria can get into your child\u2019s mouth as they play, and if left untreated can cause gum disease and tooth decay\u2014not to mention the myriad of other conditions that could be hiding in an unsterilized instrument and make them sick. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Studies conducted by the Academy of General Dentistry found over 442 different types of bacteria in different instruments after just one week!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oral Health Risk Management<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

So, how do you prevent all this? It seems overwhelming like you should just strap your child up with some bubble wrap, a helmet, and a backpack full of Clorox. Don\u2019t panic. The solutions to these problems are simple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n