Dentures are the tried-and-true solution for restoring smiles after tooth loss and remain popular today for several reasons. Not only can they be incredibly cost-effective, but they’re also quite versatile. Whether you’ve lost some or all your natural teeth, your dentist can provide lifelike prosthetics to rebuild your arches.
But it can sometimes take a while for your mouth to adjust to these replacements, which can potentially affect how you speak. Continue reading to learn more about why this sometimes happens, what to expect, and how you might overcome the changes!
How Long Does It Take to Adjust to Dentures?
Would you be surprised to learn that it can sometimes take a month or longer to completely acclimate to your dentures? These restorations are designed to fit like a glove, but your tongue, lips, and the tender tissues inside your mouth still need some time to acclimate to their dimensions and presence.
It’s normal to develop some temporary side-effects during this transitional period. For instance, your mouth might feel sore or your gums could develop blisters until they become more desensitized. Sources also estimate that up to 70% or more of denture patients might also experience short-term changes to their speech patterns during this time.
How Can Dentures Affect My Speech Patterns?
Although everyone’s smile is completely unique, people with these prosthetics often run into similar challenges speaking in the first few weeks of wearing them. After all, your mouth hasn’t yet learned how to hold your new teeth in place while simultaneously pressing your tongue against them in specific ways to enunciate different words. This can contribute to:
- Hearing a clicking sound. You might hear a clicking sound from bringing your teeth together too quickly or with too much force until you acclimate.
- Developing a lisp. You might notice a lisp around certain sounds, such as “th”, “s”, or “v”.
- Slurring. You might also accidentally slur over certain syllables or consonants until you feel more confident in your pronunciation.
How Can I Learn to Speak with Dentures?
Fortunately, there are things you can do to speed up the process of learning to talk with your dentures inserted, such as:
- Reading out loud at home. Reading aloud to yourself in a safe place gives you a chance to practice speaking without worrying you’ll be judged for any mistakes.
- Speaking to a mirror. You can learn a lot from watching your own movements in the mirror while speaking with your restoration inserted.
- Recording yourself. Recording a video or voice memo of yourself talking can make it easier to notice any particularly challenging words or sounds to make the necessary adjustments and improve your speech.
If you experience chronic or persistent issues talking with your new dentures, it may be time to contact your dentist to ensure they fit and function as intended!
About the Practice
Patients with Dental Designs of Maryland benefit from two dentists with decades of combined experience. Dr. Weng and Dr. Santos are passionate about providing a complete menu of services, including dentures, to help families in Hanover build and maintain happy, healthy smiles. They spend one-on-one time getting to know their patients’ unique needs, then deliver customized treatment plans using advanced technology for more accurate and comfortable outcomes. You can request an appointment on the website or by calling (443) 936-2899.