Getting braces is exciting—a step toward your dream smile! But that first week? Many of my patients are surprised when they hear themselves talk.  “I sound different!” is something I hear often at Pavilion Dentistry in St. Catharines. Don’t worry—this is completely normal, and I’ve got some practical tips to help you sound like yourself again in no time.

How Braces Change Your Speech

Think about it—you’ve just introduced something new into your mouth. Your tongue, which has been forming sounds the same way your whole life, suddenly encounters these little metal obstacles. It’s like rearranging the furniture in a room you used to navigate in the dark!

“When I first got my braces, I couldn’t say my own name without lisping,” laughs Sarah, one of our teenage patients. “But within two weeks, my friends couldn’t even tell I had a speech difference.”

Your brain is remarkably adaptable. It just needs a little time to recalibrate how it coordinates your speech muscles around these new additions to your mouth.

Which Sounds Are Trickiest with Braces?

In my years of practice, I’ve noticed patterns in which sounds give people trouble:

• “S” and “Z” sounds often develop a slight whistle or lisp
• “T,” “D,” and “N” sounds might feel awkward at first
• “F” and “V” sounds can be challenging when your lips meet your new braces

The type of braces matters too. Traditional metal braces affect different sounds than lingual braces (those hidden behind your teeth) or even clear aligners.

Practice Makes Perfect: Speech Exercises

Daily Reading Aloud

One of the best tips I give my patients is surprisingly simple: read aloud for 10-15 minutes every day. It works wonders!

“I felt silly reading ‘The Cat in the Hat’ to my empty apartment,” admits Michael, a 32-year-old patient. “But after a week of doing it daily, my speech improved dramatically.”

Try these fun tongue twisters that target problematic sounds:

• “Six slick slim sycamore saplings”
• “Freshly fried flying fish”
• “Truly rural”

Start slowly, then gradually increase your speed as you get more comfortable.

Slow Down and Enunciate

When you’re adjusting to braces, speaking more slowly helps tremendously. I often demonstrate this in the office after placing braces—speaking deliberately gives your tongue time to find its way around the brackets.

Many news anchors and radio personalities actually over-enunciate when they speak. Try this technique during your adjustment period. It not only improves clarity but also builds the muscle memory that makes natural speech easier.

Comfort Makes a Difference

Your New Best Friend: Orthodontic Wax

“Dental wax saved my presentation!” That’s what Jenny, a marketing executive, told me at her follow-up appointment. She had an important client meeting just three days after getting braces.

This soft, pliable wax creates a smooth surface over any brackets that might be irritating your cheeks or lips while speaking. I always send patients home with plenty, but if you run out, just give our office a call.

Pro tip: Apply fresh wax before important conversations or meetings. It makes a world of difference in both comfort and confidence.

Stay Hydrated for Smoother Speech

Braces sometimes cause a slightly dry mouth, which can make speaking more difficult. Keep a water bottle handy and sip regularly throughout the day.

“I noticed my speech was clearer after I started drinking more water,” reports Tom, a high school teacher who got braces last year. “It seems so simple, but it really helps.”

Navigating Professional and Social Situations

Workplace Strategies

If you’re worried about speaking clearly at work with your new braces, try these approaches:

“I sent a quick, light-hearted email to my team letting them know I’d gotten braces and might sound a bit different for a week or two,” shares Melissa, an accountant. “Everyone was supportive, and it removed the stress of trying to hide my adjustment period.”

Consider scheduling important presentations for a few weeks after getting your braces, when you’ll be more comfortable speaking. If that’s not possible, practice your presentation extensively beforehand.

Social Settings

Social situations might feel intimidating at first, but remember—any speech changes are temporary and usually less noticeable to others than to you.

“I was so self-conscious about my speech at my cousin’s wedding the weekend after I got braces,” recalls David. “But when I mentioned it to friends afterward, they hadn’t even noticed!”

Different Braces, Different Challenges

Traditional Metal Braces

With metal braces, your lips may initially stand slightly away from your teeth. Practice bringing your lips together normally while speaking—it helps overcome this challenge quickly.

Lingual Braces

Since these are placed behind your teeth, they often cause more significant speech changes initially. The good news? Your tongue typically adapts quickly with consistent practice.

Clear Aligners

While aligners like Invisalign generally cause fewer speech issues, some patients experience a slight lisp at first. The advantage here is that you can remove them for important speaking engagements during the adjustment period if needed.

When to Reach Out for Help

Most speech adjustments resolve within 2-3 weeks. However, if you’re still struggling after this period, please call us. Sometimes a simple adjustment to your braces can significantly improve both comfort and speech clarity.

At Pavilion Dentistry, we’re here to support you throughout your orthodontic journey. The temporary speech adjustments are a small price to pay for the lifetime of confident smiles that braces provide.

Have questions about braces and speech? We’re just a phone call away at 905-641-2242.