When considering Invisalign for your orthodontic treatment, you may wonder what impact the aligners might have on your ability to speak. Here, our Surrey dentists offer their top tips for getting used to talking while wearing your Invisalign aligners.
Almost all orthodontic appliances have the potential to affect your speech, particularly those that add any extra thickness to the roof of your mouth, or to back of your front teeth, which is where Invisalign's clear aligners sit.
Is Invisalign likely to cause speech impediments?
Not very likely at all. Invisalign's clear aligners are made from thin plastic, making the impact they may have on your speech relatively minor.
It's important to note that when you first have your Invisalign brace system placed for treatment, you may notice a slight lisp when you speak. That slight lisp will probably be most obvious when you make sounds such as “s” or “sh”.
There is a strong change that the lisp will only be noticeable to you, and not to anyone listening to you speak.
Studies have shown that 93% of Invisalign patients reported no difficulties with speech while wearing their aligners. So, chances are good that you don’t need to worry.
What are some tips to reduce a speech impediment, if I have one, while wearing Invisalign?
Remember that practice makes perfect!
By practicing the pronunciation and enunciation of the words you are struggling with you can gradually overcome the problem, and get used to wearing your aligners. A great idea is to try reading out loud to yourself (or to others), or just by having conversations with friends or family members that you're comfortable with.