Whether you’ve been living with missing teeth for some time or just had teeth extracted, having gaps in your smile can not only cause your confidence to take a nosedive, but also make daily tasks like eating and speaking difficult. That’s why getting dentures is a celebration! However, it’s important to have realistic standards for your new prosthetic, as they’re something you’ve never had to use before. It’s not uncommon for people in their 30-day adjustment window to have difficulty speaking with their new set of pearly whites. Fortunately, there are ways you can speed this process up and combat any speech impairments you may encounter when you first get your dentures.
How Can Dentures Impact Your Speech?
Within the first 30 days or so of wearing dentures, you’ll likely experience speech problems as you get used to the way your prosthetic feels within your mouth. Many people note that making “s” or “f” sounds are harder, and in some cases, dentures may shift within the mouth, causing you to slur words. As your facial muscles strengthen and you get used to where your tongue falls in your mouth to make certain sounds, you’ll notice that talking with your dentures will become easier and feel more natural with time.
4 Tips to Improve Your Ability to Speak with Dentures
- Practice Aloud to Yourself: Whether you’re singing to yourself in the shower or narrating your actions as you’re cooking your favorite meal, speaking aloud can help you work through the newness of speaking with your dentures.
- Bite & Swallow Before Speaking: Before speaking, biting down on your prosthetic and swallowing can help stabilize your dentures and reduce occurrences of slipping and shifting.
- Focus on Perfecting Certain Sounds: If you find that you’re having extra difficulty pronouncing certain sounds, like “s” sounds, open a dictionary and practice reading through words that start with those letters.
- Count from 60 to 90: Counting from 60 to 90 while you’re showering, cleaning, or doing other daily tasks is an excellent way to work through pronouncing difficult sounds.
If you notice that it doesn’t get easier to speak with your dentures after having them for 30 days, contact your dentist. They may be able to provide additional tips and tricks to make talking with them easier or adjust their fit to feel more secure and comfortable. Although it takes some time getting used to your new replacement teeth, once you give them a chance, you’ll realize how life-changing they can truly be!
About the Practice
At Indy Dental Group, our team consists of 10 highly skilled dentists who have helped rebuild countless smiles using leading-edge treatments, like dental implants and tried-and-true traditional dentures. We use the highest quality of materials and latest technology to create prosthetics that are functional and look natural. For questions or to learn how we can renew your grin, visit our website or call 317-846-6125.