Subject: [Harp-L] Sore Mouth From Playing Chromatic

[EGS1217@xxxxxxx]

Gavin: I'd like to know exactly what model you play?
 
Is there any possibility of posting a couple of photos of it from different 
 viewpoints, focusing in on the mouthpiece and cover plates?
 
Tend to think Steve's on the right track, but we'd have to know quite  a 
bit more to nail down the reason, if it's instrument-related.
 
I play several different models and do end up with chapped lips (mostly in  
cold weather) for which I use a couple of different Blistex products, 
although I  agree that the CX-12 is the easiest model causing the least amount of 
mouth  problems (for me).
 
Despite playing lip-block and not TB style I suspect I  unconsciously play 
in a manner which causes my bottom teeth to quite  badly abrade my tongue 
since I suffer from a rather severe case of TMJ and  have ground my teeth 
enough to cause an occasional sharp edge over the  years. None of this stops me 
from playing however, since I'm rarely aware  of it until much later, and 
can still continue to play despite these occasional  problems. (Orajel is my 
friend)<G> It heals quite quickly once I've  visited my dentist.
 
Separately, I once bought a chromatic which had a vile taste and odour  I 
believed was likely due to insecticide used in the shipping containers. 
 
Since there were subsequent recalls of medicines from major pharma  
companies relating to insecticide contamination of their products because  of the 
pallets used in shipping, this confirmed my original gut feeling.  For my own 
chromatic, airing it out for a couple of  months eventually dissipated the 
odour and taste (after a thorough  cleaning and trying out many suggestions 
from other chromatic players to no  avail). 
 
If none of what we're talking about fits your situation, then I'd follow  
Steve's advice and check with your family physician (or dentist). 
 
Elizabeth
 
"Message: 3
Date: Sun, 25 Sep 2011 20:26:34 +1000
From: Gavin West  <vicandgav1@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] Sore Mouth From Playing  Chromatic
To: _harp-l@xxxxxxxxxxx (mailto:harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx) 

Hi All,

I find I get a sore mouth from playing the  Chromatic.

Anyone had this experience, and have a solution to the  problem,
other than not playing so often?

Regards,

Gavin West  


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Message: 4
Date: Sun, 25  Sep 2011 12:02:06 +0100
From: Steve Shaw _moorcot@xxxxxxxx (mailto:moorcot@xxxxxxx) 

Subject: RE: [Harp-L] Sore Mouth From Playing Chromatic
To: harp-l  harp-l _harp-l@xxxxxxxxxxx (mailto:harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx) 

Sore lips can be a bit of an occupational hazard. Some harps have got  
sharper edges than others when it comes to tongue-blocking. Sometimes I play for 
 three or four hours a night, two nights in a row. I use a thin, 
non-greasy,  aroma-free lip balm (called Cymex in the UK), very sparingly, one or 
twice in a  long evening, and I always clean the harps after each session. If 
you feel  discomfort you should sort it out before carrying on. If the problem 
is deeper  inside your mouth you perhaps need to consider whether you're 
reacting to the  metal of the mouthpiece, in which case you may need to see 
the doc. For a good  few years I've suffered from a condition called lichen 
planus in my mouth, which  I've been told is not related to my harmonica 
playing. Fortunately, I have it  only mildly.
Have a close look at your mouthpiece and make sure it's sound  and doesn't 
have sharp bits on it. I got extremely sore lips once playing a  certain 
cheaper brand of diatonic which I won't name. When I looked closely at  the 
covers I found that sharp bits of very thin metal plating were flaking off!  
Also, if it's a 270-type slide setup, check that the parts of the slide  
mechanism are centrally mounted and not sticking out slightly top or  bottom."
 
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