It is common to have many questions for your orthodontist when starting your orthodontic treatment. Typically, these concerns revolve around the orthodontic technique, how long it will take to straighten your mouth, and which treatment choice is appropriate for your situation.
‘How will braces affect my speech?’ or ‘Will braces give me a lisp’ or ‘can braces fix my lisp’ is a popular question. The answer to this issue is critical, especially for older persons who are having treatment and are required to communicate coherently in the workplace or social settings.
The Connection How Your Teeth and Jaw Shape Your Speech
Think of your mouth like a musical instrument. Just as the shape of a flute or trumpet affects the sound it makes, the alignment of your teeth and jaw affects how your speech sounds. Your tongue, teeth, and lips known as articulators work together to form crisp and clear sounds. When they’re out of balance, speech clarity can be affected.
For an authoritative resource on how speech works, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) offers clear definitions and insights.
Common Orthodontic Issues That Impact Speech
- Overbites & Open Bites – Often lead to a frontal lisp where “s” and “z” sound like “th.”
- Gaps (Diastema) – Can cause a whistling sound during speech as air escapes.
- Crowding – Restricts tongue movement, leading to slurred or mumbled speech.
- Crossbites & Underbites – Make it difficult to produce crisp “t” and “d” sounds.
These issues explain why people often search for answers like “does overbite affect speech?” or “can overbite cause lisp?” The answer is yes, and orthodontic care can help.
If you or your child has one of these issues, our early orthodontics and adult orthodontics services may be the right step.
How Braces Affect Speech
For traditional braces (the ones where the clear or metal brackets are placed on the outside of your teeth), you should find very little disruption to your speech. If you have other appliances attached to your braces, such as a bite plate or an expander, then you will almost certainly find your speech affected as your tongue gets used to making sounds around these new obstacles. This might make certain letters or words more difficult to pronounce, but with practice, speech quickly returns to normal or almost normal.
Banter Speech stated that the most commonly affected sounds are /s/ and /t/, which appears to be the case across different languages.
For instance, according to one study, the mean frequency (or pitch) of the /s/ sound decreases dramatically in the 2-3 months following the insertion of braces for many individuals and then gradually increases over the following months. Many people appear to momentarily generate /s/ with a forward tongue position or by placing the tip of their tongue on their teeth, rather than up, on, or near the alveolar ridge, immediately after having braces.
There is evidence that lingual (braces on the inside surface of the teeth, facing the tongue) braces may produce greater and longer-lasting speech issues than buccal and labial braces (braces on the outside surface of the teeth facing the cheeks and lips).
The Adjustment Phase Will Getting Braces Temporarily Change How I Talk?
It may take some time to get used to the sight and feel of your new braces. As a result, it may be difficult to enunciate words or eat hard meals because of small discomfort on the cheeks and tongue. What you’re doing is perfectly okay! Within a week or two, your mouth will have adjusted, and you will be able to speak normally again.
While you’re waiting, you can work on your speech by reading aloud, singing, or conversing with others.
Tips for Adjusting to Your Braces
Getting through the first week with braces is the most challenging part. Initially, your mouth may feel sore as your new metal is assimilated into your teeth. The first week is the toughest, but you’ll be well on your way to a perfect smile once you get through it.
The following are five tips to help you survive the first week of wearing braces:
1. Be prepared before leaving the orthodontics office
Make sure you talk about these items before you leave the office after getting braces:
- Check wire ends. Make sure the wires don’t extend into areas that could poke your cheeks or run into your tongue the wrong way with your finger and tongue.
- Understand the next steps. Before your next appointment, make sure you have all of your questions answered to know exactly what to expect, including whether or not to wear a helmet, whether or not to use elastics, and whether or not to adhere to any specific hygiene guidelines.
- Double-check your supplies. Before your next orthodontist session, ask for a supply of dental wax, cleaning aids, and elastic bands.
2. Stick with soft foods and cold drinks
Are you unsure of what to eat during your first week of braces? It’s best to eat soft foods and drink cold beverages if your teeth are sensitive. Cold food and drink also provide the additional purpose of temporarily numbing the mouth. Several foods are ideal for people with braces, such as yogurt, applesauce, soup, oatmeal, and scrambled eggs. For the first several days, choose options that require little or no chewing.
It’s fine to eat whatever you want if it’s not on the list of things you’re not allowed to consume with braces, like hard, chewy, or sticky foods. Damage can be done to your equipment by eating these things.
3. Swish with salt water
Adding 1/2 teaspoon of salt to one cup of warm water creates a saltwater rinse. Let the solution linger on any inflamed or sore spots in your mouth before spitting it out. If necessary, you can perform numerous rounds of saltwater rinsing each day. It will hasten the healing process and alleviate any pain associated with it.
4. A good oral hygiene routine
Braces must be cleaned after every meal to eliminate any food particles that may have gotten stuck in the braces. To maintain healthy teeth and gums, it is important to brush and floss at least twice a day.
Related: The Proper Way to Floss with Braces
5. You can fight mouth sores with wax.
Some people find brackets irritating while getting acclimated to them, even though they’re supposed to be gentle. Your skin will become stronger, and you won’t have sore places as often. In the meantime, you can use the wax we supply to alleviate any pain.
Read More: Wax for Braces: How They Work, Purpose and More
Do Different Treatments (like Invisalign) Have Less Impact?
Yes. Invisalign aligners are smooth, removable, and often easier for your tongue to adapt to. While some patients notice a short adjustment period, many experience little to no speech disruption compared to traditional braces.
Read more: Invisalign treatments
The Solution: How Braces Can Permanently Improve Your Speech
Here’s the good news: while braces may cause a short adjustment period, they can permanently improve your speech by fixing the underlying structural issues.
Case Study: One of our patients, a young professional in Washington, DC, came to us concerned about a noticeable lisp that affected her confidence in meetings. After completing orthodontic treatment, her lisp disappeared completely, and she shared that her professional confidence skyrocketed.
Myth Buster: Do Braces Change Your Voice?
No. Braces don’t affect your vocal cords or the pitch of your voice. They only affect articulation how your mouth shapes sounds. In other words, braces may change how you say words, but not how your voice sounds.
When to Combine Orthodontics with Speech Therapy
Sometimes, even after orthodontic treatment, patients may need help retraining their tongue placement. That’s where a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) comes in.
Pro-Tip from a Speech-Language Pathologist:
“After orthodontic treatment creates the ideal oral structure, an SLP can help accelerate progress with targeted exercises to retrain tongue placement for tricky sounds like ‘s’ and ‘r’. It’s a powerful combination for achieving perfectly clear speech.”
Your Journey to a Confident Smile and Voice Starts in DC & Stafford
Speech changes from braces are only temporary but the improvements they bring can last a lifetime. If misaligned teeth or jaw issues are affecting your clarity and confidence, orthodontics may be the solution.
At Kumra Orthodontics, we pride ourselves on an empathetic, honest approach. We’re here to guide you through every step of the journey.
If you or your child in the Washington, DC, or Stafford area are struggling with speech issues related to your smile, schedule your no-obligation consultation today. Let’s map out your journey to clear, confident communication.
