Say Goodbye to Speech Struggles During Treatment: How to Speak Clearly and Confidently with Invisalign Aligners
Starting Invisalign treatment is an exciting step toward achieving the smile you’ve always wanted. But as with any new dental appliance, you might encounter some challenges along the way and one of the most common is a temporary change in your speech. Whether it’s a slight lisp or difficulty pronouncing certain sounds, these challenges are normal, but the good news is, they’re also temporary.
In this blog, we’ll explore why Invisalign can affect your speech and share simple tips to help you speak clearly while wearing your aligners. With these tips, you’ll be back to speaking confidently in no time!
When you first begin wearing Invisalign aligners, they can feel foreign in your mouth, which may temporarily alter how you speak. The aligners cover your teeth and may slightly impact your tongue’s natural movement, causing minor speech changes. Here’s why these changes happen:
1. New to Your Mouth: The clear aligners sit snugly over your teeth, and your tongue has to adapt to the new surface when speaking. This can lead to mild speech adjustments in the beginning.
2. Slight Discomfort: Invisalign works by gently shifting your teeth, which can cause some pressure or discomfort, affecting how you enunciate words.
3. Attachments on Teeth: Some Invisalign patients may require small attachments to help the aligners stay in place. These attachments can make speech feel a bit different during the adjustment phase.
While a temporary change in speech is normal, there are several ways to speed up the adjustment and regain your natural speaking voice. Follow these simple strategies to minimize speech challenges and speak clearly with your aligners in place.
The most effective way to improve your speech with Invisalign is simply to practice. Like anything new, the more you practice, the quicker you’ll adjust. Try reading aloud, singing, or having conversations with family and friends to get used to the feel of the aligners.
How to Practice:
• Read out loud: Find a book, magazine, or article and read it aloud for 10-15 minutes each day. This will help you get used to the way your mouth feels with the aligners in place.
• Recite tongue twisters: These are great for challenging your pronunciation skills. Try saying things like, "How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?"
• Engage in regular conversation: Real-life conversations will help you adjust more quickly. Don’t be afraid to chat with others while wearing your aligners.
When you first begin wearing Invisalign, your instinct might be to rush through sentences. This can lead to slurring or mispronouncing words. It’s important to slow down, especially in the beginning, and give yourself time to adjust.
Tip: Focus on speaking clearly and slowly, paying attention to each word. It might feel a bit awkward at first, but with time, your mouth will adapt, and your speech will return to normal.
While it might be tempting to take your aligners out for important meetings or social events, removing them frequently can delay your adjustment and disrupt your speech practice. Keep your aligners in for the required 20-22 hours a day to ensure proper treatment and get used to speaking with them in place.
Tip: Try speaking with your aligners in ahead of time so you’ll feel more confident when it’s time for social events or presentations.
Dry mouth can make it even harder to speak clearly, especially when wearing aligners. Invisalign aligners can affect saliva flow, which might make your mouth feel drier than usual. To combat this, stay hydrated throughout the day.
Tip: Drink water regularly and carry a water bottle with you. Staying hydrated will help keep your mouth moist and reduce any dryness that may affect your speech.
If you’re having trouble with certain sounds or words, try focusing specifically on them. Certain letters or combinations, such as “s” and “th,” might be trickier with aligners, but with conscious practice, they’ll become easier to say clearly.
Tip: Slow down and pronounce each syllable carefully. You can also practice in front of a mirror to make sure your tongue is moving correctly for each sound.
It’s natural to want to take your aligners out when speaking with others or eating, but doing so too often can cause your mouth to struggle with readjustment each time you put them back in. Try to keep your aligners in whenever possible to reduce the overall disruption to your speech.
Tip: Only remove your aligners when necessary, such as for eating or drinking anything other than water. This will help you become more accustomed to speaking with them in place.
If you’re still struggling with speech changes after several weeks, consider reaching out to your orthodontist. There could be an issue with the fit of your aligners or attachments that’s affecting your speech. Your orthodontist may be able to adjust the fit or offer additional solutions.
