And yes. The apple helps when releasing the voice because it works as a «natural cleaner» of the mouth and pharynx. When swallowed, it scrapes the surface of these two organs, preventing thick saliva from reaching the larynx, the tube at the beginning of the neck where the voice is produced. “The apple removes the secretions that make it difficult for the vocal folds to vibrate, making the saliva thinner and favoring the articulation of words”, says speech therapist Gisele Gasparini, from the Center for Voice Studies, in São Paulo.
Another advantage is that the apple is a very consistent fruit. Because of this, whoever tastes it ends up exercising all the muscles responsible for articulating speech – the lips, cheeks, tongue and the inner muscles of the mouth. “That is, chewing works like a warm-up, which eliminates tension in the region of the vocal tract, preparing the way for good singing”, says Gisele.
However, the big tip for not running the risk of your voice disappearing right when you sing the chorus of the song, is not to abuse it. The ideal is to avoid conversations in noisy environments and not shout or speak loudly for a long time. If this is impossible and the voice cries out for help, the best remedy is rest: in general, a good night’s sleep is usually enough to regain normal potency.
If the problem continues, the solution is to look for an otorhinolaryngologist or a speech therapist, professionals who teach re-education activities to use the voice in a healthy way. Many people, however, resort to homemade methods.
The good old gargle with water helps, but does not solve the problem, because only a few droplets manage to hydrate the larynx, without eliminating the thicker saliva that harms the voice. Other traditional recipes, such as taking a spoonful of honey, also alleviate the pain a little, but bring an inconvenience: as these substances have an anesthetic effect, they can mask the wear and tear and even aggravate vocal fold injuries.
melodic cues
Know what helps – and what hinders – those who like to sing
dubious solution
Home remedies for hoarseness such as propolis, honey, and mints are only effective for a short time. Its anesthetic effects lessen the pain for a while, but can mask the wear and tear and make the problem even worse.
friendly fruit
The biggest advantage of the apple is the so-called astringent effect: during chewing, the fruit scrapes the surface of the mouth and pharynx. With this, thick saliva does not interfere with the work of the vocal folds, which vibrate with the passage of air and produce the voice.
healthy refreshment
Water is an ally of singers because it helps dilute the thick saliva in the mouth. But it’s no use filling yourself with liquid at once: the ideal is constant hydration, with small sips throughout the day, so that little by little the saliva becomes thinner.
Addictions out of tune
The harmful effects of cigarettes are well known: the smoke harms the respiratory system, dries out the vocal folds and increases throat clearing in the larynx. Even worse if the person exaggerates with alcohol, which disguises the pain and can aggravate the consequences of a scream, for example.
condemned air
For those who work in offices, one of the greatest enemies of the voice is air conditioning, which cools the environment but also removes moisture from the air. The result, again, is that the larynx becomes dry, and the person has to work harder to speak.
forbidden delights
Chocolate, milk, cheese and other derivatives thicken saliva, disturbing the vibration of the vocal folds. Coffee is also the enemy of the voice: because it is hot, the drink dries out the larynx and, if the person abuses it, it can even cause minor injuries.
tight gogo
One of the rules for calm singing is to leave the larynx free to move. Tight or high-collar clothing makes this principle difficult, restricting the up-and-down of the organ and harming the show.
Sources: Gisele Gasparini, speech therapist at the Center for Voice Studies, and book Voice, the Expert’s Bookby Mara Behlau.