Gabby Grins: Will Dentures Affect My Speech?

Dentures are the tried-and-true way to rebuild your smile after tooth loss because of their many advantages. With a single prosthetic, your dentist can restore your ability to thoroughly chew your food and enjoy conversing with others more like you used to.

However, it can take about a month for your gums, tongue, and other supporting muscles in your mouth to acclimate to your new teeth. Many patients experience changes to their speaking patterns that they didn’t anticipate. If you’re considering upgrading your grin with dentures, continue reading to learn more about why this sometimes happens and what you can do to overcome it!

Will Dentures Impact My Speech?

Patients commonly experience slurred speech, lisping, and excess saliva with prosthetics in place. This is because you press your tongue against your teeth in specific ways to form various sounds and words. When you’re not yet used to the size and shape of your dentures, “s”, “th”, “sh”, and “f” sounds can be particularly challenging. It can take time for you to relearn the foundational skills needed to enunciate more clearly.

You might also notice your restoration clicking slightly when you open your mouth to eat or speak. This is because your mouth struggles to push them out of place until it adjusts. Thankfully, these changes tend to dissipate gradually as your gums and tongue grow accustomed to working around your new teeth.

How Can I Address Altered Speech with Dentures?

It’s normal for your restoration to feel bulky and awkward in your mouth when it’s new, especially when you’re among other people. You’re not yet used to how they feel in your mouth and might feel embarrassed if you don’t look or sound like yourself.

You may not be able to escape this awkward growth period altogether, but you can ease the transition with time and practice. A few tips to overcome the changes include:

• Rehearsal. Try deliberately repeating troublesome sounds and words slowly from the comfort of your home. This can help your tongue learn the patterns more effectively in a safe environment, so you don’t feel as self-conscious.
• Read out loud. This allows you to experiment with various muscle movements and volumes.
• Use adhesive. Applying a denture cream or other adhesive can strengthen the bond that holds them in place, increasing their stability in your mouth.  

If you’re still struggling to speak with dentures after a month has passed, contact your dentist. They may need to check the fit to ensure your restoration functions as intended.

About the Practice

At Tzagournis Dental Group of Upper Arlington, you and your family benefit from three dentists who work together to offer a full array of services, including dentures. With decades of combined experience, they’re experienced with patients of all ages. They take the time to get to know your unique needs and then utilize state-of-the-art equipment to devise and implement fully individualized treatments. If you’re missing teeth, they can provide lifelike replacements to boost your oral health and confidence. You can request a consultation on the website or call (614) 457-1481.