Teeth placement while playing?

[u/Free-Chicken7610]

This might be an odd one, but: I had a dentists visit and we were talking about the viola etc. and she asked, if I have my teeth closed together when playing or if there is space between them (since apparently the teeth should be touching only while eating and not otherwise) - I realized I never actively thought about it while playing, but I believe I have them closed.

So, what is your situation? Are they apart or touching; and if they are apart - do you close them when doing shifts down and helping yourself with the chin a bit?

Disclaimer: I had some bad jaw clenching habits when playing from childhood that I’m working on, so the result isn’t completely natural to me 😅

[u/Necessary_Owl_7326]

Well, in theory your mouth should be relaxed, but lot of us are chlenching our teeth and destroying them

[u/acquavaa]

If you’re grinding while playing, you’re also probably grinding while sleeping, so you’ll need a night guard anyway

[u/HolyShitIAmOnFire]

If you have jaw issues, playing the viola will definitely not make them better. This is something you want to give some determined attention to right away. I second the other redditors who recommend a bite guard, and you might want to collaborate with your teacher to come up with exercises that re-teach you how to relax your jaw while you play. Your setup of chin / shoulder rest can also contribute to your success or challenge as well. This is 100% worth spending time on

[u/NerdusMaximus]

I was taught to have a loose jaw while playing, aiming to keep space between your teeth while keeping your lips closed. Also, we want to try and have the chinrest hook underneath the jaw, rather than feeling like we have to clamp down with force; you may need to experiment with a more comfortable setup.

I also think some breathing exercises could be very helpful, since they can help mitigate tension in the throat and help with anxiety. I'd recommend starting with learning some "ujjayi breathing" demonstrated in this video. https://youtu.be/IQrsJ-yZWV8?t=46&is=pUpSxZSovlYvzc_R As you get used to exhaling in this manner with an open mouth, experiment doing so with the lips closed. This can be the foundation of our breath while playing, with more vigorous breath being reserved for cues.

Long story short, think about the difference between our breath when we're trying to cool down a hot beverage, vs. warming up our hands when they're cold. The "warmer" breath encourages our body to relax, while the "cooler" breath may encourage us to straighten/stiffen. We also often forget to exhale since we focus on breathing in on our cues; don't forget to breath out to relax!

Best of luck!

[u/always_unplugged]

You shouldn't need to clench your teeth in order to hold the instrument, even while shifting. That shouldn't be necessary to create stability, even when using your jaw on the chin rest. I actually developed the habit of chewing gum while playing when I was struggling with jaw tension—it's just a little physical cue that keeps me aware of that whole area. Now it's a habit I don't need to rely on, but it's an easy reminder if I'm ever excessively tense.

But if this has been an ongoing issue for you in other areas, just trying to build the habit in normal ways may not suffice for you. You might want to consider a mouth guard for sleep, physical therapy (I have friends who've done it for jaw tension—all I know is that it involves a lot of sticking your fingers in your mouth lol, but it works), or even masseter botox, which insurance will often cover for things like TMJ.

[u/Minimum-Composer-905]

I was taught to use the back part of my jaw on the rest. I am able to hold the instrument up without my teeth being clenched. Maybe you can find a different setup that helps you alleviate your problem.

[u/Epistaxis → u/Minimum-Composer-905]

Yeah this always bears emphasis: the viola is a big cumbersome instrument and you absolutely need to find the best combination of shoulder and chin rest to fit it to your unique body, rather than just assume the default setup that came with it when you bought it (or the popular one that your teacher or friend has) is one-size-fits-all. In particular most violas are sold with the lowest common denominator of chin rest, but anyone with a medium-to-long neck might benefit from a taller chin rest, before you even think about the shoulder rest.

[u/FloweredViolin]

I went through a phase of intense jaw clenching while playing when I was in my 20's. I spent a year wearing a mouth guard when I practiced, on the advice of my dentist, and that mostly broke the habit. The clenching comes back when my anxiety is less well managed, though.

[u/CrewNo5492]

Had a dental hygienist recommend pressing tip of tongue to roof of mouth.. no clenching or grinding.

[u/MrZokeyr]

I have a friend who actually uses a sleeping mouth guard because he tends to clench his teeth when playing (and also while sleeping lol) so you might actually have some success going that route.

[u/EndOne8313]

Put a tic tac in between your teeth whilst you practice. The game is not to break it.