When considering Invisalign for your orthodontic treatment, you may wonder if the aligners will impact your ability to speak clearly. Here, we offer our top tips for getting used to speaking while wearing your Invisalign clear aligners.
Any dental or orthodontic appliance that adds extra thickness to the roof of your mouth or the back of your front teeth has the potential to affect your speech. This is where your Invisalign clear aligners will sit, so it's fair to be concerned.
How likely is it that Invisalign will cause speech impediments?
Not very likely at all! Invisalign aligners are made from thin clear plastic, making any impact they may have on your speech relatively minor.
But it's important to understand that when you first have your Invisalign brace system placed you may notice a slight lisp to your speech. The lisp will most likely be most obvious when you make “s” or “sh” sounds.
Chances are that this lisp will only be noticeable to you, and not to anyone you may be speaking to.
The good news is that studies have shown that 93% of Invisalign patients reported no difficulties with speech while wearing their aligners.
Here are some tips to reduce a speech impediment, if you have one:
If your Invisalign aligners cause you to speak with a slight lisp or speech impediment, just remember: practice makes perfect.
Practicing the pronunciation and enunciation of the words you are struggling with is one of the best ways to get used to your new dental appliance and overcome the problem. Reading out loud to yourself (or to others), chatting to pets, or having conversations with friends or family members that you trust are all great ways to practice.
