Invisalign's great fit means there is little chance that your aligners will affect your speech. Today our Surrey dentists look at how aligners might impact your speech and what you can do about it.
Wearing Your New Aligners
Any dental appliance that comes in contact with your tongue could lead to a slight lisp or speech impediment. That said, thanks to Invisalign's thin, sleek design and snug fit, your aligners aren't likely to cause any changes to the way you speak.
Patients who do experience a slight lisp caused by their Invisalign treatment typically find that it clears up quickly, as they get used to wearing their aligners.
If you notice a slight lisp or speech impediment when you first begin Invisalign treatment rest assured that it's likely only obvious to you, is typically temporary, and can easily be corrected if it persists.
The Adjustment Period
At the start of your Invisalign treatment your mouth and tongue will need to adjust to making sounds and forming words with your aligners in place. This period of adjustment should be temporary, and not last very long.
It will likely take just a few days for your mouth to adjust to wearing your aligners. Once your mouth has had some time to adjust, any speech impediments you've experienced due to your aligners, should clear up quickly.
Aligners Fitted Incorrectly
One important thing to note is that lisps or other speech impediments can happen as a result of aligners that are not fitted correctly to your teeth. If your speech isn't back to normal within a couple of days, contact your dentist to ensure your aligners are fitted properly.
Correcting a Persistent Lisp
If your Invisalign aligners are causing a slight lisp that isn't going away naturally, simply practicing the pronunciation of words while wearing your aligners should help to clear up the issue.
It can also be helpful to try reading aloud to yourself and talking with family and friends, in order to overcome your lisp and feel more comfortable about speaking with your aligners in place.