Today’s post comes to you from voice actor, Ben Bledsoe, who discusses what steps he took when mouth clicks and pops started during recording.
“I am a voice actor based in Hollywood, California. Now, we don’t get strong winters down here, but I started noticing that my mouth was getting drier and drier towards the end of the year. I also noticed that around the same time every year I have been getting colds, which can bring a voiceover career to a screeching halt at what always seems to be “the worst time imaginable”.
I decided to bring it up with my doctor when I went in for my flu shot. His response was very simple, “Mouthwash”.
Now, I Listerine every day, so I was a little unconvinced by his response, but then he explained further. He said that I should pick up Biotene mouthwash and use it when I begin noticing those annoying pops and clicks, that are a sign of your mouth drying up. He also said that Biotene makes a gum that you can take with you to sessions to help get saliva going and help lubricate your mouth, both of which I purchased immediately. It’s amazing how quickly it turns you from dry to perfect. I had a session today where I told the client that I needed to go get some water, but I actually went and did a quick swish of Biotene and came back ready to take on the world.
The other thing he told me to do was pick up a bottle of Hydrogen Peroxide and add a bit of that to my normal mouth washing routine. You heard me right… Hydrogen Peroxide; the stuff that your mom pours over a cut, which bubbles until your cut is clean. It sounds like a terrible thing to put in your mouth! I did a double take until he showed me on the bottle that it was meant for such a thing. He said that peroxide cleans better than any standard mouthwash can, and tends to reach further down your throat to stop any bacteria from getting too comfortable in there; slowing or stopping any general colds. So there you have it. Mouthwash has saved me from the two main issues I tend to face in the recording booth, and now it can hopefully do the same for you.”
Ben Bledsoe is a voice actor with 44th Floor Productions
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Ben Bledsoe is a Voice123 voice actor |
jill goldman
January 23, 2013
thank you, ben, for your helpful information!
Cat Smith
January 23, 2013
Great advice and I can think of someone at the radio station I know want to buy a gallon jug for.
T
January 23, 2013
Awesome tips Ben! I’m a big listerine guy… Biotene, hmmm. Gotta check out the gum.
randy thomas
January 23, 2013
Ben-So glad you are feeling better. The only note here is that you can overdo hydrogen peroxide and change your Ph. Not good. There are other ways to stay more alkaline in the mouth, which keeps you healthier and sounding great. I would recommend Alkalol. it was invented over 100 years ago. A bottle is about $6.00 at the pharmacy. It is saline mouthwash/gargle. And you can use it in a netti-pot if you find you are getting a sinus thing or head cold. Also-A green apple always helps cut mouth noise and clicks. Just a suggestion.
Mel Allen
January 24, 2013
Thanks for the Biotene tip Ben. Just a note I was informed by one doctor that 3% Hydrogen Peroxide is not recommended for contact with mucous membranes, though another said its fine. As a mouthwash I found diluting it slightly works best for me – and some bottles start out strong and weaken after opening. I cut it 50% for a new bottle and as weak as 25% when it’s about half full. I also occasionally use it with a salt water mixture (epsom or sea salt & water – whichever is on hand) if I find I have the beinnings of a sore throat. Works great!
benbledsoe
January 24, 2013
Ladies and Gentlemen, make sure you take notice of anything Randy Thomas is willing to offer up as VO advice. I fully agree with everything she says. In fact, I would like to make clear that you should ideally only put a small capful of Hydrogen Peroxide periodically into your mouthwash for best overall effect. I will absolutely look into Alkalol as well, and green apples are always a winner in my book. Thanks, Randy!
Marc Scott
January 24, 2013
I’ve heard of mouthwash, but I must say, you freaked me out a little at the whole Hydrogen Peroxide bit! Great tip though.
Scott Gentle
February 5, 2013
Many freak out at the notion of putting hydrogen peroxide in their mouth, but it and its’ derivatives have been used in tooth whitening products, kits, and toothpastes for years.
It can do more unintended harm than good if undiluted, so don’t forget to do so – as with cuts, sores, or other irritations on the skin, it can debride healthy new cells and reparative tissues and slow down the healing process; the upside if you over-do it is the cells in the mouth are among the fastest in the body to regenerate.
As for Biotene, I’m glad to hear it worked for you, Ben. I’ve not has as much luck with it for mouthclicks myself, and instead eat a few pieces of Dutch or Aussie black licorice before sessions, as the genuine licorice root extract in them – NOT Twizzlers – naturally encourages salivation (kudos to Paul Strikwerda for turning me on to this). However, I did a Biotene rinse just the other day to treat a tongue irritation from an hyper-acidic fruit juice, and it worked great after just a single shot….definitely kinder to the mouth than Listerine, which I also use.