Actually going back to our mouths - having healthy teeth, gums and mouths are so beneficial to brass playing and enjoying life in general. I admit to having spent years ignoring this because I hated going to the dentist - I put up with nagging pain on occasions and just accepted this as a fact of life. Well - flossing changed this aspect of my life as well as having access to a fine dental practitioner. Studies show that our general health is directly affected by how well we look after our oral hygiene. I had to try some different types of floss in order to find one that I can work with on my own teeth, which are closely packed together.
As to studying without the instrument, well master teacher, Greg Spence, has uploaded some informative new videos on breathing and aperture control, so I am viewing those and can at least work on the breathing exercises.