When you first get your new dentures, you might find that talking isn’t as easy with a dental appliance in your mouth. Here, our Surrey dentists suggest few ways to get more comfortable speaking with your dentures in.
Talking is likely to feel pretty awkward when you first get your new dentures. This will be true whether your dentures are removable or permanent, but the awkward feeling will only be for a short while as you become accustomed to your new teeth.
Even if you wear the best dentures available, you could still experience changes in your speech in the early days. Perhaps you'll have trouble pronouncing S’s and F’s, or your dentures might make clicking noises or shift while you’re speaking.
If this happens to you, don't worry, with a little practice you’ll get used to your dentures. In just a short time you’ll be feeling perfectly comfortable when talking.
Here are a few useful tips to help make things go more smoothly along the way:
Dentures can increase or alter the sound of your voice because they alter the anatomy of your oral cavity. Before you had dentures, when you spoke, vibrations travelled through the bones of your jaw and skull, but now with your new dentures in place, that’s bound to sound a bit different. Try to remember that the difference is much more noticeable to you than to others listening to your voice.
If you hear clicking sounds when you speak, try talking more slowly. This will help to prevent additional movements that lift or shift your lower denture. Keeping the lower denture stable takes a bit of practice to master since it requires help from the muscles in your lips, tongue, and cheeks.
One great way to help keep your dentures in their proper position is to bite down gently and swallow before you begin speaking.
If your dentures frequently slip out of place you can use a denture adhesive, as recommended by your dentist.
Another great tip is to practice speaking when you’re alone. Try reading out loud, repeating words that you're have trouble pronouncing. An even better way to practice is to talk to your pets and the people you love. Daily practice will help you to speak with confidence again.