Clear aligner treatment brings about some major changes. For one, you’ll soon have the smile you’ve always wanted. For another, you suddenly have plastic in your mouth for 22+ hours per day, which can take some getting used to.
It’s common to get a small lisp while your mouth adjusts to this change, and it’s nothing to be ashamed of. However, if you’re bothered by it, there are a few things you can do. In this guide, we’ll offer up seven tips for avoiding lisping with clear aligners.
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What Causes Lisping During Treatment?
When you speak, many parts of your body and brain work together. Your tongue is a major part of this operation — it does precise acrobatics each time you speak. Changing the tongue’s environment makes it harder for the tongue to do its job.
Clear aligners can cause lisping in two main ways. For one, clear aligners take up space in our mouths, leaving the tongue with less room to move in the precise ways it needs to make exact sounds. If your living quarters were suddenly much smaller, you’d probably take a little while to adjust to this change too. The tongue will learn to move in this smaller space, it just takes time.
In addition to simply taking up space, clear aligners also cover all of your teeth, which prevents the tongue from making direct contact with the backs of your teeth. Your tongue often comes into contact with your teeth in order to produce distinct sounds (or “phonemes”). The barrier between the tongue and teeth can cause lisping during clear aligner treatment.
7 Ways to Avoid Lisping During Treatment
During clear aligner treatment, your tongue will need to grow accustomed to its new surroundings. Here are some tips and tricks to make this process go as smoothly as possible.
1. Talk More, Not Less
Many people seek out clear aligners because they want a discreet treatment. If a patient develops a lisp, this can feel like a betrayal of the treatment’s low profile, and lead to feelings of self consciousness. It’s understandable to feel a little shy when you first begin clear aligner treatment, but it’s crucial that you keep talking, even through feelings of nervousness.
Though it’s often said that a lisp will fade “over time,” this is only true if you are actively talking during that time. The only way your lisp will fade is if your tongue has the opportunity to get used to your aligners through speech. So speak! If you’re feeling shy talking around others, then be sure to get in the habit of getting most of your talking done at home.
2. Be Patient
It can feel frustrating when our words sound different than we intend them to. Even though it can be challenging, try to be kind and patient with yourself as you learn to speak within the new parameters of clear aligner treatment. Even though it may not feel like it now, this will be temporary. Even if you have an extraordinarily stubborn tongue, your lisp will eventually fade. So just try and be a little patient with yourself as you get used to this new facet of treatment.
3. Enunciate
Lisping makes it challenging to form certain sounds, like ‘s’, ‘st’, and ‘z’. If clear aligner treatment gives you a lisp, it’s understandable that you would want to speed through or steer clear of words with those sounds entirely. Try to avoid that impulse, and instead work through these difficult sounds as best as you can. Even if it takes longer than you would like, stick with it. The more opportunities you give yourself to work through these sounds, the better.
4. Sing
Nerves can have a huge effect on lisping. It can be a vicious cycle — we get nervous about our diction, which makes it harder to clearly dictate. Singing is a great way to get out of your head while practicing your diction. Getting swept up in the fun of singing a song you already know and love can help you avoid overthinking the process of speaking.
You don’t have to put on a show, your singing can be a shower performance, or the score to your daily commute. It’s all about finding ways to practice challenging sounds without feeling the pressure and letting your nerves get the better of you.
5. Read Aloud
Getting absorbed into a story can help you avoid overthinking your dictation and help you speak more naturally. If you’re feeling shy, this can be a solo practice. Just make sure you’re reading something that actually interests you. It’s easier to get swept up in a thrilling tale than a manual for a remote control. Approach challenging words head on, and take as long as you need to work through them.
6. Check Your Posture
So many different parts of your body work together each time you speak. We’ve been focused mostly on the mouth and tongue, but your respiratory system also plays a role in your speech. Maintaining good posture can help you speak from your diaphragm, allowing you to speak with more volume and force. Speaking with authority can help you tackle challenging sounds head on, instead of shying away from them. Sit up straight, and say your ‘s’ sounds with control.
7. Remember, You’re Your Harshest Critic
When it comes to how we sound, our own self perception isn’t always the most reliable source. If you’ve ever cringed while listening to a recording of your voice, you already know how easy it is to be self critical.
When we first begin clear aligner treatment, it can seem like a small lisp is highly noticeable. Oftentimes a speech issue that feels monumental to us is scarcely noticeable to others. Try to keep a healthy perspective about your lisp and remember that in addition to being temporary, it’s probably not as extreme as it may seem to you.
Will My Lisp Go Away Naturally Over Time?
When it comes to lisping with clear aligners, practice is more important than time. Though your lisp will surely fade as time passes, it will fade because you are regularly speaking and working through those challenging sounds.
Your tongue is a muscle, and just like your other muscles, it can be trained. Working through difficult sounds during aligner treatment is like exercise for your tongue. At first, it might be challenging. But the more you exercise by practicing difficult sounds, the more your tongue will grow accustomed to its new neighbors and your speech will return to normal.
When to Speak with Your Provider
Some folks adapt very quickly during clear treatment, and speak clearly within the first week of treatment. For other folks, it’s a more gradual process, and may take more time.
If your lisping occurs for longer than a few weeks, you may want to consider speaking with your provider about your experience. Occasionally, lisping during clear aligner treatment can be due to improper aligner fit. If your aligner is slightly too big, your tongue could be tripping over it when you’re trying to speak.
If your aligners aren’t quite the right fit, you may need to have new scans taken and have more aligners manufactured. This can take some time, but may result in smoother speech and a more effective treatment.
Final Thoughts
Remember: lisping with clear aligners is temporary, and it’s nothing to be ashamed of. It’s natural for your tongue to take a little time to get used to its new surroundings. Using the tips we’ve outlined in this guide, we hope you’re able to work through your temporary lisp while being patient and kind with yourself!
Frequently Asked Questions
Does everyone experience temporary lisping with clear aligners?
Not everyone experiences temporary lisping with clear aligners, so it’s entirely possible you may be one of the lucky ones who avoids this process altogether.
Will my aftercare retainers give me a lisp?
It’s not likely that an aftercare retainer would give you a lisp after clear aligner treatment, since this is the same type of material your tongue has grown accustomed to working with all throughout treatment.
Will I get a lisp every time I change my aligners?
Once your tongue has had a chance to get used to your aligners, the lisping should subside. You’ll be switching aligner sets every two weeks, but not to worry — you won’t have a new lisp to work through every two weeks. Your tongue shouldn’t need to make any adjustments after the initial shock.
How long does it take to stop lisping during clear aligner treatment?
This can vary person to person, but generally your lisp should disappear after a few weeks. If you find your speech issues lingering on beyond that point, speak with your provider to let them know what you’re dealing with.
Can I eat while wearing my aligners?
You must always remove your aligners when consuming anything other than water. Eating while wearing your aligners can cause them to be damaged or stained. It can also cause food particles and bacteria to sneak into your aligners, and wear away at your enamel. Always brush your teeth and rinse your aligners before putting your aligners back in after a meal.
Should I clean my aligners with hot water?
Lukewarm water is the best for cleaning your aligners, since hot water can warp your aligner plastic.
Can I smoke while wearing my aligners?
Smoking while wearing aligners can discolor them. If you are not able to quit smoking during your aligner treatment, you will need to remove your aligners each time you smoke.
Can I have a cavity filled during clear aligner treatment?
If you get a cavity during clear aligner treatment, it will need to be filled. But this can be a little tricky. Aligners are formed to fit your teeth pretty precisely, so if a filling changes the shape of your tooth in any way, new aligners may need to be manufactured, which can add delays and cost to your treatment.
Will my teeth feel loose during clear aligner treatment?
It’s likely that your teeth will feel loose during your clear aligner treatment, because they are being moved out of their current positions and into new ones. This should not be cause for concern, if anything, it means your treatment is working as it is meant to.
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