Will Lingual braces cause speech difficulties?
Lingual braces are a common choice for people who want discreet braces that will not disrupt their life. Many people considering braces have understandable concerns on how they will affect their speech.
Lingual braces, like most other brace systems, can initially give a slight lisp or oddity in the mouth, making your speech more challenging, but this should disappear in a month. The severity of the lisp varies from person to person, and the actual lisp can have a lot to do with the size of the patient’s mouth, among other things. The more you practice with your braces the more your speech will improve, as your tongue gets used to the brace.
What causes a lisp?
A lisp is caused by the braces taking up space in your mouth which can cause you to speak differently, especially ‘S’ sounds. This is because your braces are in the position your tongue uses to make the ‘S’, and until the tongue finds a new space the sound can come out like a ‘TH’. Whistling sounds can also be made accidentally because the two front teeth have been altered slightly, and cause a whistle when you speak. Thankfully, your mouth will adjust quickly so shouldn’t be a problem for long.
Other difficulties
Other issues can arise with braces, and patients may experience a sore tongue for a short time which arises from the tongue ‘playing’ with the brace inside their mouth. This is more common with Lingual braces as they are stuck to the inside of the patient’s teeth, so the tongue inadvertently comes into contact with the brace. As the brace is metal it can irritate the tongue and cause it to feel sore. This does not happen with every patient and may not occur at all throughout your treatment. If you experience a sore tongue, we will provide dental wax and gooshy goo to help alleviate discomfort. You can also help reduce it with salt water rinses and numbing agents.
Food may also get stuck in your Lingual braces as they are behind your teeth and often hard to reach. We will recommend tools to make the cleaning process easier and it is also advised you spend a few minutes more each day brushing your teeth to help keep them clean.
What can I do to reduce my lisp quicker?
Reciting the rainbow passage regularly can really help your mouth adjust to your new braces. It includes many sounds and commonly spoken words in the English language so can help your mouth get used to the brace quickly. You should also try speaking to your friends and family as much as possible, helping your mouth get used to the brace
‘When the sunlight strikes raindrops in the air, they act as a prism and form a rainbow. The rainbow is a division of white light into many beautiful colors. These take the shape of a long round arch, with its path high above, and its two ends apparently beyond the horizon. There is, according to legend, a boiling pot of gold at one end.’
Your next step
If you are looking to get straighter teeth using clear braces then you should book a free consultation with Stacey, our Treatment Coordinator. She’ll run through the various treatment options and give you an idea of the costs as well as your finance options which can make treatments affordable by allowing you to pay off in smaller monthly payments.
You will also have the chance to meet our friendly team and ask any questions you may have about our clinic. If you have any questions, please give our friendly team a call on 01332 299700 – we’d be more than happy to help.