Will Dentures Make It Harder for Me to Speak Clearly?

You’re ready to restore your oral health and function with dentures – well, almost. There’s just one more thing you want cleared up: will new dentures make it harder for you to speak clearly and hold a conversation?

The short answer is yes, new dentures can make enunciating difficult. However, as you’ll see in this post, lisps and pronunciation problems are typically temporary, whereas trying to talk with missing teeth doesn’t tend to get better! Keep reading to learn more about dentures and speech.

Why New Dentures Can Affect Speech

The reason new dentures can affect your speech has to do with the way sounds are formed. Your lips, tongue, and teeth all interact to make the specific movements necessary for vowels and consonants. If you’re not used to the way dentures fit in your mouth, you might have trouble pressing your tongue to your teeth the right way, making it especially tricky to produce “s,” “th,” “sh,” and “f” sounds.

Speech Difficulties are Temporary

The good news is that any speech troubles you have with dentures are likely temporary! Once you get used to the size and shape of your new teeth, it should become easier for you to talk as you normally would. With patience and practice, you’ll be able to use your dentures like a pro.

Are Dentures Worth It?

Yes! Many patients find that dentures make life easier and oral function much better.

The problem with missing teeth is that (unless they’re baby teeth!) they don’t grow back. This means any challenges you have with speaking, chewing, or feeling comfortable with your smile will likely continue to be bothersome. Replacing your dental gaps with dentures, on the other hand, gives you all of the benefits that come with a complete dental arch.

Tips for Timely Adjustment

You won’t have to wait passively for your dentures to feel more natural, either! There are a few things you can do to help yourself adjust to your new oral appliance. Try these tips on for size:

• Practice by doing. You won’t get a feel for how your dentures work if you don’t talk! Practice your enunciation the same way you might for a presentation – by reading out loud, either to yourself or a supportive audience.
• Talk more slowly. Talking too fast can make even those without dentures stumble over their words. Slow down your words-per-minute to give yourself time to enunciate.
• Invest in denture adhesive. This sticky substance can help keep your dentures in place, reducing slippage. Denture adhesive shouldn’t be used habitually, but can be a helpful aid for beginners.

Remember, your dentist is on your side, too. If you need some extra help learning how to talk with new dentures, give them a call and ask for advice. They’ll be happy to offer some professional tips and tricks!

About the Practice

At Bear Creek Family Dentistry, you’ll have a whole team of dentists available to help you speak more clearly with dentures, and a variety of convenient office locations to choose from! We make it a point to treat every patient with compassion, courtesy, and respect, so you can expect plenty of warmth and support when you visit our practice for new dentures. To contact our Love Field office on Lombardy Lane, call 972-885-3736.