Tips, Tricks, and What to Expect When Talking with Dentures

If you recently got dentures to replace missing teeth, you likely feel more comfortable and confident in your smile than you have for a while. Though these restorations are a great way to enjoy a complete set of pearly whites once again, it can take some patients a while to get used to speaking with them. To help you ease your way into things, read on to learn four tips for talking with dentures and how these restorations can affect your speech.

How Dentures Affect Your Speech

When you first start talking with dentures, things may feel a bit awkward and uncomfortable. Your speech may be slurred or you may have a lisp or excess salivation. The letters “f” and “s” may also come out more like “th” or “sh” sounds. Words that contain “th,” “f,” and “v” may also be hard to pronounce. Additionally, you may experience a whistling sound when pronouncing the letter “s” or notice you’re your dentures or start to shift when you speak.

Dentures may improve your speech by eradicating issues caused by missing teeth, such as lisps or pronunciation problems. However, restorations that are made incorrectly may not allow your tongue to position itself correctly to make some sounds. In this case, you will need to speak with your dentist about having your restorations fixed or having a new pair made.

4 Tips to Overcome Speech Problems with Dentures

Though the above challenges may be frustrating to deal with, they’re a common part of adjusting to talking with dentures and can be overcome with time and practice. It takes 15–30 days on average to adjust to talking with dentures. A few ways to ease the transition include:

• Speak slower – As you adjust to talking with dentures, speaking slower will prevent you from accidentally clicking your teeth by bringing them together harder than intended.
• Read aloud at different volumes – This will help you learn the right way to speak with others.
• Use denture adhesive – Once you’re no longer producing excess saliva, you can use denture adhesive to make your restorations fit better. This will also prevent them from slipping in your mouth while you speak.
• Bite and swallow – To minimize speech issues, bite and swallow before you start speaking. If this issue persists or worsens, speak with your dentist about having your restorations adjusted.

Now that you have a better idea of what to expect, talking with dentures should be easier to get used to. You’ll be speaking confidently with your new restorations in no time!

About the Practice

At Arbor Dental Care, Dr. Frank Marchese, Dr. Jeanelle Marchese, and their Lisle team of oral health professionals know how discouraging tooth loss can be. That’s why they offer a range of tooth replacement options, including dentures. Talking with dentures can take some time to get used to, so they can offer you tips and tricks to adjust to your new restorations. Soon, you’ll be enjoying your new smile to the fullest! To set up a consultation with Arbor Dental Care or for more information on dentures, call their office at (630) 969-2310 or visit their website.