ADVICE ON TALKING WITH DENTURES
Wearing dentures should never hold you back from your daily conversations although it is true that they can initially affect your speech. However, there are some simple things you can do to get used to speaking with your new denture and making yourself heard.
REPETITION, PRONUNCIATION AND ELONGATION
When you have new dentures fitted, there may be some words you find difficult to pronounce, but this is completely normal. Simply practise repeating and elongating commonly used words and phrases will help you to effectively communicate with your denture in. You are effectively re-training your mouth to properly enunciate with your dentures in. The letters 'S' and 'F' tend to be the most troublesome, so try it out with words containing these.
READ ALOUD TO YOURSELF
Once you have started to get to grips with pronunciation, you need to regain the confidence of speaking whilst wearing your dentures. 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 – like you are practising a speech – as you do so, so you will be able to see your speech pattern looks no different from how it did before having your dentures fitted.
TALK THE TALK
Talking with family and friends is the best way to aid and improve your overall speech. Having somebody you are close to hear your speech pattern can be a massive help, as they can identify which words you are struggling with and may need to practise on. Holding a conversation with your dentures in will also make you feel more like yourself and can be a real boost to your confidence.
If you have tried these exercises and are still struggling to adapt to life with your dentures, speaking with your dentist should be the next step. They can offer further advice and information on additional aids, such as denture adhesives, to help put a smile back on your face.
