Speaking Confidently With Dentures
Learning how to speak with dentures may take some time but will become second nature with practice. Some words and sounds may take longer to master than others — particularly those including the letters “s” and “f”.
Dentures may also change the way your voice sounds in your head. The sound of your voice travels through vibrations in your skull and dentures may amplify these vibrations. Don’t worry though — these changes should only be noticeable to yourself.
It’s important to remember that you’re not alone in your struggles — speech difficulties are common in new denture wearers.
In this article, we’re going to examine some of the challenges associated with speaking with dentures and how you can overcome them. With practice and repetition, you’ll be talking with confidence in no time.
1. Practice At Home
Speaking to others can be intimidating during the initial adjustment period. Talking out loud in front of a mirror can significantly help when first getting used to the feeling of dentures in your mouth.
Read a few passages from one of your favourite books and listen for words that sound off. Again, these words will likely contain the letters “s” and “f”. Take your time with these words and enunciate slowly — which leads us into our next tip.
2. Speak Slowly
We’re so used to speaking in our daily lives that we often end up talking much faster than we realize. This is a habit built up over the entire course of your life — and one that can be hard to break.
Slowing down your speech is one of the best things you can do to avoid difficulties when talking with dentures. It can reduce clicking sounds or other unwanted noises, and help you keep your dentures firmly in place.
3. Record Yourself
Recording your voice can help you hear what your friends and family hear when you speak. We love this trick because new denture wearers often underestimate themselves — you may be surprised at how well you can speak after just a few weeks!
Recording yourself gives you a new perspective so you can more easily hear what you’re doing right and what words may need some work.
4. Speak With a Trusted Family Member or Friend First
Once you’ve built up a bit of confidence, we recommend asking a close family member or friend to speak with you in private. Many times, our patients’ anxiety with dentures comes from a fear of talking to coworkers, clients, and casual acquaintances.
Practicing with a person you trust can build your conversational skills and confidence in a short matter of time. Your friend or family member can also offer valuable feedback that you may not hear yourself.
5. Bite & Swallow Before You Speak
Biting and swallowing before speaking pulls your dentures back into place can reduce the risk of them slipping or falling out. This is a great habit to get into, especially during the first few months of wearing dentures.
6. Use a Denture Adhesive
If you’re not using dentures over implants, denture adhesive can make a huge difference by keeping them more secure in your mouth.
Practice Makes Perfect
By practicing and building good habits in the early days of wearing dentures, you’ll be speaking with confidence in no time. Be patient with yourself and care for your dentures — and don’t be afraid to visit The Denture & Implant Centre if you have any questions!
