Invisible Issue: Will Invisalign Impact My Speech?

Although you might think of your crooked teeth as a mostly aesthetic concern, the truth is that they can also hurt your dental health. If some of their surfaces overlap, it’s harder for you to thoroughly brush and floss them, which increases the likelihood of developing issues like cavities, injuries, or gum disease.

Your dentist can straighten your smile with Invisalign, but many patients have questions about what to expect from their transparent orthodontics. For instance, you might question whether wearing the trays affects how you speak. Continue reading to learn more about it!

How Does Invisalign Work?

Many patients choose Invisalign because the smooth plastic trays that fit over their teeth are much more comfortable and discreet than standard braces. Plus, they are removable, so there are no dietary restrictions to follow.

However, you must wear your aligners for 20 to 22 hours daily to keep your pearly whites from reverting to their previous placements. Then, after about a week or two, you’ll switch to a new pair to account for the ongoing movement. Treatment can often be completed in 12 to 18 months, though it could be longer for more severely misaligned grins.

Will Wearing Invisalign Impact My Speech?

Your trays are designed to fit snugly over your teeth, and though the plastic material is pretty thin, it can take a couple of weeks for your tongue and other supporting muscles in your mouth to adjust. While this has the potential to impact your speech, one study showed that 93% of patients did not experience any changes in their enunciation when wearing their clear aligners.

However, some people did develop a temporary lisp when wearing their orthodontics, especially when pronouncing “s”, “z”, or “th” sounds. If you’ve noticed that you’re struggling to pronounce them, it’s likely due to the unfamiliarity of placing your tongue against your tray instead of directly to your enamel like you’re used to.

How Can I Overcome Changes to Speech from Invisalign?

Fortunately, the lisp you’ve noticed from wearing Invisalign is likely short-term and will dissipate as you become accustomed to speaking with the plastic covers on your teeth. You can speed up this process with intentional practice. For instance, you might try reading aloud to yourself at home, where you’re not worried others might judge you for any errors. You can even record yourself, then watch the results to pinpoint any words or sounds you’d like to rehearse.

If you continue to experience a lisp with Invisalign, it could be due to poorly fitting trays. Contact your dentist for an appointment, and they’ll help ensure that your clear orthodontics are working as intended!

About the Practice

At On Point Dentistry, people of all ages benefit from the expertise of both a general dentist and an in-office periodontist eager to help them build and maintain happy, healthy smiles. Dr. Caballeros and Dr. Parra collaborate to provide a complete menu of services to meet all your family’s needs at one convenient location. They take the time to get to know you so they can tailor treatment plans just for you, then they utilize state-of-the-art equipment to improve patient comfort while delivering accurate results. If you want to straighten your smile with Invisalign, you can request a consultation on the website or call (469) 476-4092.