One of the best benefits of Invisalign treatment is that you’ll be able to forgo cumbersome, uncomfortable metal brackets and wires for smooth, sleek trays. While you’ll get to enjoy the convenience of discretion throughout your treatment, there may be some adjustments that you’ll need to make, like practicing talking with your trays in your mouth so you don’t have a lisp or slur. Read on to learn how Invisalign can affect your speech and some helpful tips to overcome this adjustment process.

Will Invisalign Affect the Way You Talk?

Just like with any orthodontic appliance, your trays will feel strange at first because they’re foreign objects in your mouth. However, with time, they should feel more natural and easier to speak with. One of the most significant challenges that you’ll encounter over the first couple weeks are minor speech issues, like difficulty enunciating words, developing a lisp, or even slurring your speech.

With practice, you can easily overcome any speech problems you may encounter with Invisalign and enjoy all of the advantages of choosing a sleek, modern orthodontic appliance over traditional braces.

Tips for Talking with Your Invisalign Aligners

When you first start wearing your Invisalign trays, you’ll likely experience some difficulty pronouncing S’s, D’s, and C’s. However, with the following tips and diligent practice, you’ll be able to talk with ease again without experiencing frustration at undergoing orthodontic treatment.

Read Aloud to Yourself

Reading aloud to yourself, your dog or cat, your plants, or your partner is a great way to practice pronouncing certain words! Whether it’s from your favorite novel or a dictionary, repetition is the key to getting used to talking with your trays in your mouth.

Speak Slowly

Be sure not to rush through your words, even while you’re practicing reading aloud to yourself. When you speak quickly, you won’t give yourself a chance to go back and correct your pronunciation of certain words. Instead, use a slow pace to allow yourself the ability to adjust your tongue and lip placement to speak correctly.

Record Yourself

Getting feedback on your pronunciation of certain words is crucial to making corrections to how you speak, which is why recording yourself and listening back to it can be very beneficial! It will allow you to identify the words and sounds you have the most difficulty pronouncing and make a gameplan to address the issue.

Maintain Good Posture

Talking can be easier when you sit up or stand straight because it enables good airflow through your larynx. While this can seem like a minimal and ineffective adjustment to make, it can go a long ways when practicing in combination the tips listed above.

Invisalign aligners offer a wide range of freedoms that can transform your life and allow you to actually enjoy your time undergoing orthodontic treatment. With a little effort at the start of your journey, you can make the rest of your time with your aligners more pleasant.

About the Author

Dr. James Olsen is a skilled dentist with several decades of experience under his belt. He is passionate about providing his patients with the top-tier, personalized care they deserve, whether they’re visiting him for a basic checkup and cleaning or orthodontic treatment. He stays up-to-date with the latest advancements in his field and regularly pursues continuing education, allowing him to offer cutting-edge services like Invisalign. For questions or to schedule a consultation, visit his website or call 734-996-0200.