i found this at
http://members.verizon.net/~rsonntag/TptTips.htm
but im going to post the whole thing in case the page disappears at some point in the future. i never had to play with braces but it sounds like the worst thing in the world...
Surviving with Braces
Playing the trumpet (or most any wind instrument) with braces can be a painful experience. Unfortunately, many children become so frustrated that they quit playing entirely as a result of getting braces. However, with some creativity, the problems created by braces can be easily overcome. I`m very thankful that I "stuck with it" and figured out how to cope with braces when I was young - it has led to a lifetime of enjoyment playing the trumpet.
The key to playing with braces is to create a smooth, flat surface on top of the braces which simulates the smoothness of the bare teeth. This can be accomplished in several ways, and I will summarize a few here. I`ve listed these from worst to best, so if you are in a hurry, you may want to start at the bottom:
The wax that orthodontists give out does not work for brass instruments. It gets too soft at body temperature, and pushes down into the braces with even the slightest mouthpiece pressure. While just about everyone advocates minimizing the use of mouthpiece pressure, the laws of physics require that enough pressure be used to prevent air from leaking out around the rim. In my experience, the wax will mash down even with this minimal amount of pressure.
There are clip-on protectors sold under various names, such as the "Jet-Tone Lip Protector." These are plastic "rails" with little clips that grab the metal bar on the braces. They accomplish the basic task of covering the sharp edges of the braces. However, when my son tried this device he complained that the rail was too narrow, so it did not create a smooth surface on top of the teeth. The resulting "hump" running along his teeth caused the mouthpiece to rest awkwardly, and it tended to drift downward on his lips. However, the device may work better for others. One additional tip if you decide to try this: The lip protector is much longer than needed - it is made to cover the entire length of the jaw. Use scissors to cut it down to cover only the front four teeth, and save the remainder for later use.
There are some other products on the market which consist of a two-part putty that is mixed together, then molded to cover the braces. Although I have not researched this technology, I assume that it is a rubberized epoxy chemistry which reacts when the two parts are mixed together to form a permanent, reusable device that can be placed over the braces when needed. I have not tried this method, or even read the instructions or warnings on one of the packages, so I cannot vouch for the safety of placing chemically active putty into the mouth when molding it to the braces. (Once the reaction is completed, the reusable device should be completely safe. However, I do worry about the initial molding process, while the putty is reacting.) If the manufacturer has adequately addressed these chemical issues, this method sounds like a great idea, and a friend is trying one of these products with her student. I will update this page when I hear how well it works.
Finally, here is the method that I invented when I was 11 years old. Although somewhat tedious to make at first, the device can be re-used for months before needing to redo it. Purchase a football mouthpiece (the kind that you dip in boiling water and then bite into to make an impression of your teeth). First, use sharp scissors to cut a small strip of plastic from the front surface of the mouthpiece. Cut the strip long enough to cover the front four teeth, and wide enough to cover from the gum to the tips of the teeth. Following the instructions that come with the mouthpiece, drop the plastic strip in boiling water to soften it. If you purchased an unpigmented mouthpiece (hazy clear appearance), you will notice that it turns completely clear when heated up. Retrieve the plastic strip using a spoon or tongs, and blow some cool air on it for a few seconds to cool the surface. Then quickly place the strip on top of the braces on the front teeth, and press down to mold the back side of the strip to the shape of the braces.
WARNING: BE CAREFUL NOT TO BURN YOURSELF!!! Be sure to blow some cool air on the plastic strip before pressing on the braces, to cool the outer surface. Also, if you use metal tongs to dip the plastic strip into the boiling water, do not leave the tongs sitting in the boiling water - let the plastic float in the water, and use the tongs to retrieve it when is has heated up. Otherwise, the metal tongs will be come very hot and burn you if you accidentally touch it.
You can re-heat and re-mold the strip multiple times until it is just the way you want. Do the same for the bottom braces if needed. Remember that you want the impression to be deep enough for the braces to "anchor" the strip in place. If the plastic strip is too "thick" and creates an overbite (especially if the child has braces only on the top), you can heat up the strip and stretch it to make it thinner. Remember that it only needs to be thick enough to prevent the braces from "breaking through" when pressed down onto the braces.
Note that as the child`s teeth move around, you may need to remelt/remold the device (every couple of months or so).
Update: I have found another web page that gives additional alternatives to playing with braces. Perhaps the most interesting one is the use of denture pads, which sounds similar to item #4 above, but much easier to fabricate. You can find these additional tips on the Jim Donaldson`s Trumpet Page.
http://www.dallasmusic.org/schilke/Braces%20FAQ.html