Most people probably don\u2019t think a great deal about their teeth when they are speaking. Talking is something we do every day, often without giving any thought to the complicated way that the tongue, lips, teeth and palate all work together. Mostly, we go through life without this really changing a great deal. Sometimes though, a small change can occur which causes issues with our speech.<\/p>\n
A lisp, a slight whistle, difficulty pronouncing certain sounds or a feeling that your speech has changed can all be connected to teeth or to dental treatment. Sometimes the problem develops gradually. On other occasions, it may begin shortly after a tooth has been lost or a new denture, bridge or other restoration has been fitted.<\/p>\n
The good news is that many speech problems caused by issues in our mouth can be improved once the underlying cause has been identified following an examination at the SG Dental and Implant Centre<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Our teeth don\u2019t just fulfil the purpose of chewing and smiling. They also help to control the flow of air through the mouth and provide important contact points for the tongue when certain sounds are made.<\/p>\n Try saying the word \u2018thirty\u2019 slowly and notice where your tongue goes. Now try making an \u2018s\u2019 sound. The tongue, teeth and the space between them all have to work together in a very precise way. Even a small change in that arrangement can sometimes affect the way a sound is produced. This is one reason why people sometimes notice a change in their speech after losing teeth or having dental treatment.<\/p>\n When a tooth is lost, the effect is not always limited to the visible gap. It can also alter the way that air moves in the mouth and can especially affect the sound of letters such as \u2018s\u2019 and \u2018f\u2019 and sounds such as \u2018th\u2019. Some people adapt reasonably quickly but others can be left with a lisp or find that some words sound different to what they used to do. This has the potential to cause difficulty in communication in some situations and may affect speech recognition technology. Mostly though, it can cause some embarrassment and can cause a drop in confidence levels.<\/p>\n New dentures are another common reason for temporary changes in speech. A denture takes up space inside the mouth and even a well-designed denture is still something new for the tongue, lips and cheeks to get used to. At first, some people find that their speech sounds a little different. This is usually temporary, and, like the increase in salivation that often happens when new dentures are initially worn, your mouth soon adapts and speech difficulties are often overcome.<\/p>\n It takes time and practice for this to happen and some people find it useful to read a book or newspaper aloud when they are alone to help their mouth adapt to the new changes. If the problem persists after a while, the best thing to do is to contact our Burton dental practice. Sometimes a denture may just need a small adjustment to improve its fit or shape.<\/p>\n Dental implants are the closest thing to a natural tooth as they combine not only the crown that shows above the gum, but the root of the tooth as well. If a dental implant is positioned incorrectly or is shaped differently from the rest of your teeth, this can sometimes cause speech issues. This is yet another reason to have teeth implants placed<\/a> in the UK and not overseas as it is harder to verify the qualification of the dentist there in some cases.<\/p>\n It is better to get it right in the first place rather than try to save money by having it placed cheaper abroad, only to have to spend time and money having adjustments made later on.<\/p>\n If a new crown, bridge or other restoration changes the bite, even just a little the tongue may no longer be working against the same surfaces as before. The reality is that most people adapt quite quickly, but if the change is significant, it may affect speech as well as chewing. A restoration that feels too high or uncomfortable should always be checked by your dentist. A small change can make all the difference.<\/p>\n It is important to remember that not every speech change is caused by the teeth. It can be affected by a wide range of factors, including changes to the tongue, nerves or other structures involved in speaking. If a speech problem appears suddenly, particularly alongside other symptoms such as weakness, facial drooping or difficulty swallowing, urgent medical attention should be sought.<\/p>\n If you find that your speech changes after receiving dental treatment or losing a tooth, we are happy to talk to you about this. In many cases, this will just be a case of reassuring our Burton patients that their speech will return to normal soon. If this doesn\u2019t happen, you should contact the SG Dental and Implant Centre so that we can check what is happening and make recommendations to correct this.<\/p>\n If you would like more information on this topic, or if you are having speech issues following your treatment, do feel free to get in touch with us by calling us on 01283 845345<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" When problems with your teeth and tooth replacements cause lisps and other issues. Most people probably …<\/p>\nHow can teeth affect our speech?<\/h3>\n
Speech and missing teeth<\/h3>\n
Dentures and how they can affect speech<\/h3>\n
Do dental implants affect speech?<\/h3>\n
Other restoration<\/h3>\n
Can we help?<\/h3>\n