Your teeth are quite important—without them, essential daily functions like biting, chewing, talking, and more are almost hopeless! Fortunately, options like dentures are able to effectively restore lost teeth and reenable a lot of this functionality. But despite this, many patients still encounter difficulties when it comes to talking while wearing their dentures. That said, this is normal and nothing to worry about, and with the right knowledge and arsenal of tips and tricks, you can quickly master speaking perfectly and elegantly while wearing your dentures. Keep reading to learn more.
How Receiving Dentures Affects Your Speech
Dentures are widely sought after for replacing missing teeth. Patients are usually outfitted with a set of prosthetic teeth that rely on a combination of adhesives, suction, and muscle control to remain in place over the gums. With proper care and maintenance, they can last and assist patients with daily tasks that rely on their teeth for several years. However, as handy as dentures are, they’re far from perfect; many patients notice that upon receiving dentures, their ability to speak is greatly diminished!
Talking while wearing dentures can cause speech changes like lisping, slurring, stuttering, and more. They can also start shifting around your mouth when you speak, making talking even more difficult–especially when pronouncing words with “s” or “f” sounds. Your voice might even sound different to you at first since the sound is reaching your ears through the vibrations in the bones of the jaw and skull.
Helpful Tips & Tricks for Talking with Dentures
Luckily, there are several things you can do to improve your ability to speak with dentures. Consider the following tips:
- Ensure your dentures are in the correct position – Biting and swallowing before speaking can help to get your dentures optimally positioned. Denture adhesive cream can also help to prevent them from slipping and sliding around your mouth.
- Practice reading and speaking aloud – Reading out loud while wearing your dentures can help you get used to saying certain words and also help you gauge how quickly and how loudly you’re speaking. Practicing in front of a mirror or conversing with a friend or family member can also help you to get those reps in.
- Focus closely on pronunciation – This might take some time, but certain words, sounds, and phrases will be tough to pronounce at first; counting out loud from 60 to 90 can help you practice some of these hard-to-pronounce sounds and syllables.
- Have patience – You will not be a master of wearing and talking with your dentures at first—it will take some time and practice! That said, have a little patience and don’t forsake practicing whenever you can; it usually takes between 15 – 30 days for most patients to become used to speaking and eating with their dentures.
If you’ve just received dentures and talking normally seems hopeless, don’t worry; with a little practice and following these tips, you’ll be chatting away in no time at all!
About the Practice
The team at Windermere Dentistry is thrilled to serve patients and families in the Windermere, FL area under the leadership of Dr. Matthew McKissock and Dr. Rupal Thakkar. Their practice is proud to offer a wide range of available services including restorative options like dentures. If you have any questions about dentures or would like to arrange a visit, you can contact the practice through their website or by phone: (407) 909-1099.
