SureSmile clear aligners are a great way to straighten your smile. They don’t impose any dietary restrictions, unlike traditional braces, while also being discreet. However, one challenge you may not be aware of is how the aligners can affect your speech. There aren’t any drastic changes, but you may notice that you can’t pronounce certain letters as easily as you used to. Before you change your mind about getting this service, here’s how clear aligners slightly affect your speech and what you can do to overcome it.
How Do Clear Aligners Affect Your Speech?
Your mouth feels different when wearing a dental appliance, so your speech style may change initially. The available space inside your mouth and the way your tongue can move are affected because something new is taking up a small amount of room. Aligners can oftentimes cause a slight lisp to develop, but this is completely normal! The speech alteration can seem awkward, but it’s only temporary.
But what causes the lisp as you’re getting used to wearing your aligners? Your tongue will likely bump into them, causing you to change your pronunciation of words accidentally. For instance, your “s” and “z” sounds may come out sounding like “th” sounds.
The good news is that clear aligners are made from thin yet durable plastic, allowing them to fit comfortably without taking up too much room in your mouth. Like with anything new, your body will naturally adjust to them over time. However, if you want to speed things up, there are tips you can follow to help you adjust to your new aligners.
Tips to Help You Speak Clearly with Clear Aligners
When getting accustomed to your SureSmile aligners, one of the best things to do is to wear them for 22 hours a day. You’ll have to do this regardless if you want to keep your orthodontic treatment on track, but the more you wear them, the faster you’ll get used to them. When you find yourself with a bit of free time, you can read something aloud and record yourself while doing so. Hearing yourself talk can help you identify tricky words and reread them to correct your pronunciation.
Also, be sure to give yourself some grace! While the change in speech is temporary, it can be frustrating since you’re not used to talking like that. Take a deep breath to help calm down so you pronounce words clearly and slowly. In no time, you’ll be speaking and smiling confidently again!
About the Practice
Dr. Matthew Scarpitti earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery from Creighton University. He believes that his patients deserve the best care possible. Dr. Scarpitti uses state-of-the-art technology to ensure their care is streamlined and comfortable. We offer SureSmile clear aligners that not only straighten your teeth but also tend to do so in a shorter treatment timeline compared to traditional braces and Invisalign. If you have misaligned teeth that you want fixed, schedule an appointment or call us at (407) 658-1111.