While dentures are a remarkably lifelike and comfortable way to replace lost teeth, you may need some practice before you can speak easily while wearing them. When you begin wearing your new appliance, you may find that you develop a lisp, slur your words, or develop other changes to your speech patterns. Here’s a brief overview of how dentures can affect speech as well as how you can accelerate the adjustment process so you can speak normally and comfortably.
How Does Tooth Loss Affect Speech?
The teeth play a significant role in how the mouth forms the sounds that make up words, and the loss of even a single one can negatively affect a person’s ability to communicate. Many words require the tongue to make contact with the edges of the teeth, and many people find that they develop issues like lisps after tooth loss. While a person with missing teeth will eventually get used to speaking without them and learn to communicate more clearly, they will not be able to do so as easily as if they had a complete smile.
How Do Dentures Affect Speech?
Since dentures take the place of lost teeth, they can restore a patient’s ability to easily pronounce many words. However, it can take some time to get used to speaking with teeth after going for a long time without them, so a person who has recently received dentures may develop speech difficulties like lisping, slurring, or excessive salivation. These issues will fade away as you get used to wearing and speaking with your appliance, and they should disappear completely by the end of the first month.
How Can I Get Used to Wearing Dentures Faster?
If you’re eager to get rid of a troublesome lisp or another speech issue after receiving dentures, there are a few things you can do to accelerate the acclimation process. One of the easiest methods is to read a favorite book out loud while pausing to repeat any difficult words until you can pronounce them clearly. However, there are cases where speech difficulties are caused by dentures that do not fit properly, so contact your dentist if you find that you are still having problems when talking after a few weeks.
Dentures have given millions of patients complete smiles after extensive tooth loss. With a little effort and patience, you can quickly acclimate to wearing your new appliance and enjoy speaking and smiling easily.
About the Author
Dr. Arindam Kakkar earned his dental degree from the New York University College of Dentistry, where he was inducted into the Omicron Kappa Upsilon dental honor society. He has since invested hundreds of hours in continuing education courses to keep his dental skills sharp and up to date. His office in Hackettstown offers general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry as well as denture services. If you are having trouble adjusting to your new dentures, contact his office online or dial (908) 850-0005.