If you’re suffering from severe or complete tooth loss, dentures in Jacksonville are a quick, reliable, and cost-effective way to regain a complete smile! As you adjust to your new set of teeth, you may find that some everyday tasks feel a little different than before, such as speaking. It will take some time for your mouth to get used to your dentures and your speech to feel completely natural again. Here are a few tips and tricks to help speed up the process!
How Do Dentures Affect Speech?
While dentures look just like natural teeth, your mouth knows that they’re not home-grown pearly whites. Since your dentures aren’t rooted into your jawbone like natural teeth, different muscles in the mouth work to help keep your new smile in place. Additionally, your mouth is very sensitive, so the presence of any new oral appliance will need some time to get used to. Making certain sounds, such as “s” or “f”, may feel more challenging, or your dentures may occasionally slip out of place while you talk. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to overcome these challenges!
Tips for Learning to Speak Clearly with Dentures
In a pinch, denture adhesive can be a great tool to use when practicing speaking with dentures. However, you should use it sparingly! Your mouth can learn to speak clearly with dentures unassisted with dedicated practice. Here are a few things you can do to help along the adjustment period and make yourself heard:
- Repeat the words you have trouble with: While you may want to avoid using the words you don’t feel comfortable saying with your dentures, the only way to get better is to practice them. Even though this may be frustrating, take heart knowing that this is a normal part of the adjustment process! Consider practicing somewhere by yourself so you feel less anxious.
- Read things aloud: Once you feel a bit more confident in your pronunciations, it’s time to get some sentence practice in. An easy way to do this is to read aloud things like newspapers, signs, emails, books, and magazines aloud. You’ll gradually feel your tongue and mouth muscles get used to the presence of your dentures while you speak.
- Have conversations with your loved ones: Ultimately, the best way to get used to speaking with your dentures is to practice having conversations with them. Practice speaking with someone you feel comfortable with so you aren’t pressured or embarrassed. This could be a family member, a close friend, or even a pet!
With enough practice, speaking with dentures will feel like second nature in no time. While everyone is different, most people need about a month or so to get used to their dentures. If you’re still having trouble, don’t hesitate to reach out to your dentist, who may be able to adjust your dentures or offer a different solution.
About the Practice
At Jacksonville Complete Dentistry, we’re proud to offer a team of specialists all under one roof in one convenient location. This allows us to accommodate flexible appointment times, offer a variety of treatments, and give our patients the personalized, gentle care they deserve. We can help you regain a complete, confident smile with any one of our numerous tooth replacement options, including partial and full dentures. If you have more questions about adjusting to life with dentures, we invite you to schedule an appointment with us online or at (904) 645-6457.