Speaking with Invisalign

Invisalign, like any other orthodontic treatment, has an adjustment period during which patients may experience some difficulties as they adjust to wearing their aligners. Our Halifax dentists offer some tips on how to get used to speaking with Invisalign Clear Aligners in this article.

Almost any dental or orthodontic device has the potential to have an impact on your ability to communicate verbally. Orthodontic appliances that add extra thickness to the roof of your mouth or the backs of your front teeth are likely to create mild speech difficulties, and Invisalign aligners are a good example of such appliances.

Is Invisalign going to cause difficulty speaking?

Invisalign aligners are composed of thin, transparent plastic, which means that any influence they may have on your speech should be fairly minimal. However, some people may experience some difficulty speaking.

When your Invisalign aligners are first put on for treatment, you may notice a minor lisp in your speech, particularly when you produce "s" or "sh" sounds. This is normal during the treatment process.

Fortunately, this minor lisp will most likely only be noticeable to you and not to anyone else with whom you are conversing, and it should gradually fade as you become more comfortable with your aligners.

Are there ways to help reduce difficulty speaking?

If your Invisalign Clear Aligners are causing you trouble speaking, try following some of these tips:

Practice

Practice speaking with proper pronunciation in a private setting. Make an effort to over-enunciate and concentrate on the letters that are the most challenging for you, such as S's, T's, D's, and C's.

Read Aloud

Try reading aloud to yourself or to a loved one to see if it helps. Passages that you find particularly difficult should be repeated.

Record Yourself

It's a good idea to record your practice sessions with a portable recorder or your phone. This will assist you in identifying the sounds, words, and phrases with which you are having the most difficulty communicating.

Speak Slowly

Spend time thinking about what you're going to say and speak at a calm, relaxed pace.

Stand Up Straight

Proper airflow through the larynx (voice box) is made possible by good posture, which makes speaking easier.

Takeaways

The above suggestions can help you go back to your typical speaking ability in no time.

If your Invisalign aligners cause you to speak with a little lisp or speech impairment, try to remember that practice makes perfect. Or at least, practise makes better.

Continuously practicing the pronunciation and enunciation of the words with which you are having difficulty is the quickest and most straightforward method of overcoming any difficulties. Practicing difficult words will help you get used to your new clear aligners. You can also read aloud to yourself (or to others) while wearing your aligners, or have conversations with family and friends who you can trust to help you get used to them.