Invisalign is a highly sought-after hidden brace system that is popular due to its convenience and low impact on daily activities. Here at Chorley Orthodontics, we often hear from our patients about how they can work on their smiles without worrying about whether others can see their braces, having to modify their diet, or worrying about continuous brace adjustments.
Still, it’s important to understand that no brace comes without its challenges and one of those challenges for Invisalign is how it impacts speech.
How Invisalign Works
Invisalign is a hidden brace system made up of clear aligners that are semi-invisible, making them ideal for those in the public eye or who simply want to smile without worrying about their braces showing. Invisalign aligners are custom-made for your teeth, made of wafer-thin, transparent, medical-grade plastic, designed so that you can wear each set of aligners for approximately 2 weeks and work by gently and gradually moving your teeth from their present position to the desired position. Invisalign makes an excellent and discreet option for straightening crooked, gappy, or overlapping teeth.
Will Invisalign Impact my Speech?
For some individuals, you may notice a slight change in your speech once Invisalign is inserted, this usually sounds like a lisp. This is a common occurrence for most patients but is usually very subtle and occurs because the clear, flexible aligners create a small change in the space within your mouth. As a result, your tongue moves differently when pronouncing sounds, especially sounds like “S” and “Z.”
Not everyone is affected by speech alterations, and even if you do experience them, the changes are usually minor. You might be more aware of the lisp than those around you.
What Can I Do to Manage Speech Changes?
While experiencing a speech alteration with Invisalign is common, there are ways to help lessen the clarity of the lisp and sometimes even get rid of it altogether. Some tips to help you adjust and adapt to your aligners more quickly include:
- Practicing the Tough Sounds – figuring out the words or sounds you find challenging and practicing the pronunciation and diction until your tongue gets used to the space change and the sounds start to sound more normal.
- Reading to Yourself – practising reading aloud to yourself and to others to help you become more comfortable with speaking while wearing the aligners and help others get used to your new way of talking.
- Be More Social – Continuously engaging in conversations with friends and family members to increase your speaking practice, helping your tongue find its way around the aligners in your mouth.
How Long Will it Take me to Get Used to Speech Changes?
How long it takes you to get used to aligners and any speech changes that may occur is completely dependent on the patient. For some, you may notice a more prominent lisp than others, or it may be that the change in speech is barely noticeable, whatever your situation, after a few days of continuous wear, your tongue will adapt to its new surroundings and speech will start to feel more normal. Practising pronunciation is the key to speeding up and adapting.
An added benefit of Invisalign is that it can be easily removed if you have an event you need to speak at or it’s a big event, such as your wedding day. However, it is important to remember that in order for Invisalign to be fully effective, you must wear them for a minimum of 20 to 22 hours per day.
If you find that your lisp persists and is bothersome to you, it’s advisable to contact your orthodontist for guidance, as it may indicate an issue with the fit or placement of your aligners.
Invisalign Help and Guidance from your Specialist Orthodontist in Chorley
The benefits of Invisalign, such as its discreetness, removability, and powerful teeth straightening properties far outweigh the minimal speech adjustment that comes with it and with the guidance of an expert orthodontist in Chorley, like Chorley Orthodontics, alongside a little patience and perseverance, you can achieve the smile of your dreams.
If you have concerns about how Invisalign may affect your speech or are considering Invisalign in Chorley, Chorley Orthodontics can provide professional advice and personalised care, contact us today and book your free consultation.
