ADVICE ON TALKING WITH DENTURES

Wearing dentures should never hold you back from your daily conversations although dentures may initially affect your speech. There are some simple things you can do to get used to speaking with your new dentures and making yourself heard.

REPETITION, PRONUNCIATION, ELONGATION

At first, you may find new dentures get in the way of pronouncing some words properly, but this is completely normal and can be improved with practice. Try repeating and elongating commonly used words and phrases with your dentures in. What you’re doing is retraining your mouth to find the right shape. The letters 'S' and 'F' tend to be the hardest, so try to focus on words containing these.
 

READ ALOUD TO YOURSELF

Once you have started to get to grips with pronunciation, try reading the daily newspaper or a book out loud to yourself - this will help you get used to the sound of your voice with your dentures, which will help build your confidence when speaking. 

Also, try looking in the mirror as if you are practising a speech - you will be able to see your speech pattern looks no different to before having your dentures fitted.
 

Make your voice heard

Talking with family and friends is the best way to aid and improve your overall speech. Having somebody you trust hear you speak can be a massive help. With a little encouragement, they’ll identify which words you’re struggling with and may need to practice.

If you’ve tried these exercises and feel you are still struggling to speak with your new dentures, share your concerns with your dentist or dental professional. They can offer further advice, support and information on additional aids.