How to Speak Clearly with Dentures: Essential Tips to Know
Speaking with new dentures is often a significant concern for those planning to get them. Dentures can cause speech changes like lisping, slurring, and other speech alterations. This is why we have compiled useful information for you on how to speak clearly with dentures and be able to overcome these changes.
Speech Problems with Dentures
Do Dentures Affect Speech?
In the beginning, wearing dentures may make you feel uncomfortable and awkward, especially when speaking in front of others. Some words may become difficult to pronounce or you may have problems with “s” or “f” sounds. Dentures can also cause clicking sounds or start shifting when you speak. However, these challenges are extremely common and can be overcome with time and practice. On the other hand, dentures can also improve your speech as they can eliminate lisps or speech and pronunciation issues you may have due to missing teeth.
Can Dentures Cause Slurred Speech?
When you initially wear dentures, you may have slurred speech, lisping, or excess salivation. These issues generally disappear as you get used to them. However, if your dentures are made incorrectly, the teeth may be too short or too long for your mouth or fit you too big overall. This can create problems for your tongue as it positions itself to make the sounds needed to talk.
Why Do Dentures Impact Speech?
To know how to speak clearly with dentures, you need to know the reasons why they can cause problems in the first place.
Why Do I Have a Lisp with Dentures?
Lisps can develop with dentures because when we talk through our mouths, we use our lips and tongues. With dentures, however, we lose access to these parts of speech. This leads us to use other areas of our bodies to form certain sounds.
Will People Notice My Dentures as I Speak?
Yes! People will definitely notice your new smile. However, the key here is to practice. You’ll find that with time, people don’t even realize that you’re wearing dentures. Depending on your situation, you may adapt quickly or struggle longer than usual with dentures. It also varies on whether you opt for traditional dentures or implant-supported ones.
Hard Sounds to Pronounce with Dentures
You might find it difficult to pronounce the letter “s” and may find your them sounding like “th” or “sh” sounds, or experience whistling while attempting to pronounce “s” sounds after getting new dentures. Additionally, it can be problematic to pronounce words containing “f,” “th,” and “v” sounds. You could also be making an odd pronunciation instead of the correct one or experience some teeth clicking.
Correcting Denture Lisp FAQ
How Long Does It Take to Talk Normally After Dentures?
Denture wearers can talk and eat normally after 15–30 days of getting their new dentures. By this time, salivation and sore spots also tend to decrease, and you can use denture adhesives to feel more comfortable.
How Do You Get Rid of Lisp with Dentures?
Since your dentures typically sit differently in your mouth than your natural teeth, it alters the sounds made while you speak. With practice, you can know how to correct these speech changes, and the lisping should subside.
How Do I Stop My Dentures from Clicking when I Speak?
Your natural teeth contain nerves that help you detect movement. However, since dentures lack these nerves, you can easily lose awareness of how far away your teeth really are and accidentally bring your teeth together much harder than you intended. This creates a clicking sound from your dentures as you speak.
To work on solving this problem, practice speaking slower to know how much space and force you have between your dentures to gradually prevent them from clicking.
Overcoming Speech Problems With Dentures
Speaking with dentures is a new experience, and with time and practice, you can overcome any denture-related speech issues. Try activities like reading aloud, practicing speaking at different volumes, applying sufficient dental adhesives, and biting and swallowing before speaking to minimize speech problems. However, your dentures may need readjustment if the problems persist or worsen.
To know more about how to speak clearly with dentures or to get new dentures, contact our expert denturists at European Denture Center. We provide efficient and affordable customized dentures that fit your needs.