Are you considering Invisalign for your orthodontic treatment? If so, you may wonder what impact the aligners could have on your ability to speak. Here are our top tips for getting used to speaking while wearing your Invisalign aligners.
Any dental or orthodontic appliance has the potential to affect your speech. This is particularly true of those that add extra thickness to the roof of your mouth, or to backs of your front teeth, which is where Invisalign aligners sit.
Is Invisalign likely to cause speech impediments?
No, Invisalign aligners are not likely to cause you any speech impediments. Invisalign aligners are made from thin plastic, making any impact they may have on your speech relatively minor.
At the start of your treatment, when you first have your Invisalign aligners placed, you may notice a slight lisp when you speak. This lisp will probably be most obvious when you make “s” or “sh” sounds, and will likely only be noticeable to you, and not to anyone listening to you.
Studies have shown that 93% of Invisalign patients reported no difficulties with speech while wearing their aligners. So, overall, you probably don’t need to worry.
Tips to reduce a speech impediment, if you have one.
Remember, if you find that your Invisalign aligners cause you to speak with a slight lisp or speech impediment, practice makes perfect!
Reading out loud to yourself (or to others), or just speaking with friends or family members is a great way to get used to wearing your aligners. Repeatedly practicing the pronunciation and enunciation of the words you are struggling with is one of the best ways to overcome any problems you may have.