Language braces are a common choice for people who want discreet braces that won't disrupt their lives. Many people considering braces are understandably concerned about how they will affect their speech.
Language braces, like most other brace systems, may initially cause a slight licking or strange feeling in the mouth, making your speech more difficult, but this should go away within a month. The severity of lisping varies from person to person, and actual lisping may have a lot to do with the size of the patient's mouth, among other things. The more you practice with your brace, the more your speech will improve as your tongue becomes accustomed to the brace.
What causes a lisp?
A lisp is caused by the brace taking up space in your mouth, causing you to speak differently, especially 'S' sounds. This is because your brace is in the position your tongue uses to make the 'S' and until the tongue finds a new space, the sound can come out as a 'TH'. Whistling sounds can also occur accidentally because the two front teeth have changed slightly and cause a whistling sound when you speak. Fortunately, your mouth will adapt quickly, so it shouldn't be a problem for long.
Other difficulties
There can also be other problems with braces that can bother patientsa sore tongue for a short time, which occurs when the tongue 'plays' with the brace in the mouth. This is more common with language braces because they are bonded to the inside of the patient's teeth, causing the tongue to inadvertently come into contact with the brace. Because the brace is made of metal, it can irritate the tongue and feel painful. This does not happen in all patients and it may not happen at all during your treatment. If you experience a sore tongue, we will provide dental wax and gooshy goo to relieve the discomfort. You can also help reduce it with saline rinses and anesthetics.
Food can also get stuck in your lingual braces because they are located behind your teeth and are often difficult to reach. We will recommend tools to make the cleaning process easier, and it is also recommended that you spend a few extra minutes brushing your teeth every day to keep them clean.
What can I do to reduce my lisp faster?
Regularly reciting the rainbow passage can really help your mouth adjust to your new braces. It contains many sounds and commonly used words in the English language so that your mouth can quickly get used to the braces. Also try to talk to your friends and family as much as possible and get your mouth used to the braces
“When sunlight strikes raindrops in the sky, they act like a prism and form a rainbow. The rainbow is a division of white light into many beautiful colors. These are shaped like a long circular arc, with the path high above it and the two ends seemingly beyond the horizon. Legend has it that at one end stands a boiling pot of gold.”
Your next step
If you want to get straighter teeth with clear braces, you should do soswamp onefree consultationwith Stacey, our treatment coordinator. She will look at the different treatment options and give you an idea of the costs and your financial options, which can make treatments affordable by allowing you to pay off with lower monthly costs.
You will also have the opportunity to meet our friendly team and ask any questions you may have about our clinic. If you have any questions, please call our friendly team on 01332 408025 and we will be happy to help.
