WILL INVISALIGN CHANGE THE WAY I TALK?
Invisalign aligners are designed to shift your teeth discreetly and gradually into their desired positions. While they can stay hidden from the eyes in social situations, they may not be as easy to hide when you speak. Some patients may experience temporary changes in their speech patterns as they adjust to wearing the aligners.
HOW WILL MY SPEECH BE AFFECTED?
While every patient is different, there are some common ways that Invisalign has been reported to affect tongue and lip placement. This can lead to:
LISP OR PRONUNCIATION ADJUSTMENTS
In the initial days of wearing Invisalign, some patients may notice a slight lisp or changes in pronunciation. This is often a result of the aligners coming into contact with the tongue and affecting airflow through the teeth.
SLOSHING SIBILANT SOUNDS
Certain sounds like “s” or “sh” may be affected as the tongue adjusts to the presence of the aligners. This is a common occurrence and typically resolves as your tongue becomes accustomed to having the aligner against your pearly whites.
HOW CAN I REDUCE THE EFFECTS OF INVISALIGN ON MY SPEECH?
Once you begin your treatment, you may not feel your ability to talk being affected. If you do, here are some ways you can reduce the effects it may have on your ability to socialize and speak:
PRACTICE REGULARLY
Practice speaking and reading aloud in front of a mirror. This can help you identify specific sounds or words that may be challenging and help you work through them.
RECORD YOURSELF
How you sound in your head and how you sound to everyone else are always different. Record yourself reading a page from a book and then play it back. You’ll be able to notice imperfections in your speech patterns a lot easier.
BE PATIENT
Speech changes with Invisalign usually last only a short time. As your tongue and mouth adjust to the aligners, you’ll likely speak normally again. Like riding a bike or learning to whistle, speaking with aligners takes a little practice. So, be patient with yourself as you adapt.
At first, you may notice slight speech issues when starting Invisalign, but stay committed to the process. Even if it feels frustrating, remind yourself why you chose this treatment. The benefits of Invisalign—such as a straighter, more functional smile and increased confidence—make the effort worthwhile. In the end, a few temporary mispronunciations are a small price to pay for a healthier, more beautiful smile.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. Rob Madry is an experienced and compassionate dentist who has been practicing for over 20 years. His favorite part of the job is seeing his customers and catching up while providing quality dental care. Dr. Madry earned his dental doctorate from the Baylor College of Dentistry, and has since then increased his skills to include laser dentistry, Invisalign, and other advanced treatments using ultramodern dental technology. Call (361) 266-2995 to schedule an Invisalign consultation at Rob Madry, DDS, or visit the website to discover other explore other services.