Learning to speak with dentures may be one of the biggest challenges faced by those getting used to dentures. Luckily, this process only takes a few days and once you’re used to speaking with dentures, you’ll be back to speaking confidently in no time. To help make this transition to new dentures easier for you, we’ve listed our top 4 tips on how to speak with dentures.
Bite Down and Swallow
When first learning to speak with dentures, chances are that your mouth has not yet adapted to your new dentures. This may cause minor issues like excess saliva buildup or your dentures shifting while you speak, especially with new full dentures. To overcome these issues, the first thing you’ll need to get used to when learning to speak with dentures is to bite down and swallow. Getting rid of excess saliva and biting down helps set your dentures into the correct position and helps prevent slurring words or unwanted noises like clicking or smacking. Consider trying a denture adhesive if you’re still having trouble with your dentures moving around.
Practice Your Pronunciation
Most new denture wearers find that their biggest difficulty when speaking with dentures is pronunciation. This is especially true with “F” and “S” sounds The good news is that this is completely normal and an issue that can be easily resolved through a bit of practice. Start by speaking to yourself, either out loud or in front of a mirror. Don’t pay too much attention to pronunciation or how you sound in the beginning and focus on getting used to speaking with dentures first. Try counting from 1 to 100 and back again until you feel confident enough to try more complex words. Once you’ve mastered the basics of how to speak with dentures, move on to focusing on letters that contain “Fs” or “Ss”. When you feel you’re ready to take it up a notch, move on to tongue twisters like “Four furious friends fought for the phone” or “She sells seashells by the shores of Seychelles.”
Practice Reading Aloud
Once you’ve got to grips with basic phrases and pronunciation, it’s time to practice with more structured sentences. Pick up a newspaper, book, or even an online article and spend a couple of minutes reading aloud to get used to the sound of your voice. Pay attention to volume, as some denture wearers tend to speak louder in the beginning. Once you’re a bit more confident with the sound of your voice when wearing dentures, move on to more challenging reading like poetry or academic articles.
Talk to Your Spouse, Family, or Friends
If you’re still not completely confident when speaking with dentures, your spouse, friends, or family will make great practice partners. Since they’re already familiar, they’ll be more likely to understand what you say — which can be a huge confidence booster. Regardless, don’t be shy and ask them to critique the way you speak so you can zero in on the areas that need improvement. Bear in mind that they might be inclined to say that everything is fine to avoid hurting your feelings, so be sure to remind them not to hold back in their critique.
See a Professional Denturist in Calgary
If you’re still having trouble learning to speak with dentures or feel that the process is taking too long, help is at hand. Get in touch with Hillhurst Denture Clinic today to book an appointment with a professional denturist and get the advice and support you need.