My New Dentures Are Affecting My Speech...Is This Normal?

If you have recently started wearing dentures, or you are thinking about getting them, one of the most common concerns is simple but important: “Will I still sound like myself?”

The honest answer is yes, but there may be a short adjustment period. At The Swissedent Denture Clinic in London, we speak to patients every week who notice small changes in their speech after getting new dentures. The good news is that these changes are normal, temporary in most cases, and very fixable.

Let’s break it down in a clear and practical way so you know exactly what is happening and what you can do about it.

Why Dentures Affect Speech in the First Place
Your teeth do more than just help you chew. They play a major role in how you form words and sounds. Your tongue, lips, and teeth all work together to produce clear speech.

When you introduce dentures into the mouth, a few things change:
• The shape of your mouth slightly changes
• The position of your tongue adjusts
• The airflow when you speak is different
• The contact points for certain sounds move
Even a well-made denture can feel unfamiliar at first because your mouth has to relearn how to coordinate everything.
This is not a flaw. It is simply your brain adapting to a new environment.

Common Speech Changes with Dentures
Patients often notice very specific changes in their speech. These are the most common ones we see at our denture clinic:
• A slight lisp, especially with “S” sounds
• Difficulty pronouncing “F” and “V” sounds
• Clicking noises when speaking
• Words feeling slower or less natural
• A feeling that the tongue has less space

These issues are usually more noticeable to you than to other people. In fact, most patients tell us that their friends and family barely notice, while they feel very aware of it themselves. That is completely normal.

Are Poorly Made Dentures the Problem
Sometimes, yes. Not all dentures are created equal.

If dentures are not designed properly, they can make speech much more difficult than it needs to be. Common issues include:

• Dentures that are too thick
• Teeth positioned incorrectly
• Poor bite alignment
• Lack of stability or movement when speaking

At The Swissedent Denture Clinic, we focus heavily on precision, fit, and function because speech is just as important as aesthetics. A well-designed denture should support natural speech, not work against it.

If your dentures feel bulky or unstable, it may not just be “getting used to them.” It could be a design issue that needs correcting.

How Long Does It Take to Adjust
For most patients, speech improves significantly within a few days to a couple of weeks.

Your brain is incredibly adaptable. It quickly learns how to reposition your tongue and adjust muscle movements to suit your new dentures.

Here is a realistic timeline:

• First few days: Speech feels strange and slightly awkward
• First week: Noticeable improvement with practice
• Two to three weeks: Speech feels much more natural
• One month: Most patients sound like themselves again
• Consistency is key. The more you speak, the faster you adapt.
  
  

Simple Ways to Improve Your Speech Quickly
There are practical steps you can take to speed up the adjustment process.

1. Read out loud daily- Choose a book, a newspaper, or even your phone screen. Reading aloud helps your tongue and lips relearn movements faster.
2. Practice tricky sounds- Focus on words with “S,” “F,” and “V” sounds. These are the most commonly affected.
3. Speak slowly at first - Rushing makes it harder for your mouth to adapt. Slowing down gives you better control.
4. Repeat difficult words - If a word feels awkward, repeat it several times until it feels more natural.
5. Talk more, not less- It might feel tempting to speak less, but more talking actually speeds up the adjustment. It might feel a bit odd at first, but this stage does not last long.
   
   

A Simple Exercise That Really Works
One of the most effective techniques we recommend at The Swissedent Denture Clinic is surprisingly simple and takes just a few minutes a day.

For around two weeks, practice saying the numbers from 50 to 60 out loud:
• Fifty, fifty-one, fifty-two, all the way through to sixty

This specific range of numbers is not random. It encourages your tongue to repeatedly touch and adapt to the palate of your new upper denture in different patterns.

What this does is retrain your tongue positioning and muscle memory, which is essential for clear speech.
By repeating these sounds daily:

• Your tongue learns where to sit naturally
• Contact with the denture becomes more precise
• Problem sounds like “S” become clearer
• Speech starts to feel automatic again

Most patients notice a real improvement within 2 to 3 weeks when they combine this exercise with regular talking and reading aloud.

It might feel repetitive at first, but it is one of the quickest ways to get your speech back on track.

What If the Lisp Does Not Go Away
A temporary lisp is normal. A persistent lisp is not something you should ignore.

If your speech does not improve after a few weeks, it may be due to:

• Incorrect tooth positioning
• Denture thickness in the wrong areas
• Bite alignment issues
• Poor denture stability
• This is where seeing a Clinical Dental Technician makes a real difference.
  
  

At Swissedent, we assess not just how your dentures look, but how they function during speech. Small adjustments can make a big difference.

The Importance of a Proper Denture Fit
Fit is everything when it comes to speech.

A denture that moves when you talk will affect your confidence and clarity. Even slight movement can cause clicking sounds or slurred speech.
A properly fitted denture should:

• Sit securely without rocking
• Allow natural tongue movement
• Support correct lip positioning
• Feel balanced when speaking
  
  

This is why we take a detailed, clinical approach at our London denture clinic. We do not just hand you dentures and hope for the best. We fine-tune them based on how you speak and function in real life.

Confidence and Speech Go Hand in Hand
Speech is not just physical. It is also psychological.

If you feel self-conscious about your dentures, it can affect how you speak. You might:

• Speak more quietly
• Avoid certain words
• Feel less confident in conversations

This is completely understandable, but it is important to push through that phase.

Most patients regain full confidence once they realise their speech is improving and others are not noticing the small changes they are worried about.

When to Seek Professional Help
If you are experiencing ongoing issues, it is worth getting your dentures checked.

You should consider a review if:

• Speech has not improved after three to four weeks
• Dentures feel loose when talking
• You hear clicking noises regularly
• You feel discomfort when speaking
• Certain sounds are consistently difficult

At The Swissedent Denture Clinic, we regularly help patients who have struggled with dentures made elsewhere. Often, small refinements can transform both comfort and speech.

Why Choosing the Right Clinic Matters
Not all denture providers take speech into account to the same level.

As a Clinical Dental Technician-led clinic in London, we work directly with patients to understand how dentures perform in everyday life, not just in theory.

We consider:

• Facial structure and lip support
• Tongue space and movement
• Speech patterns
• Bite balance and function
  
  

This detailed approach ensures that your dentures do not just look good, but feel natural when you speak, eat, and smile.

You Will Sound Like Yourself Again
If you are worried about how dentures will affect your speech, you are not alone. It is one of the most common concerns we hear.

The key points to remember are:

• Some speech changes are normal at the beginning
• Most issues improve quickly with practice
• Properly designed dentures make a huge difference
• Persistent problems can be corrected
  
  

With the right support and a well-made denture, your voice will feel like your own again and if it doesn’t quite feel right, that is exactly what we are here for.

At The Swissedent Denture Clinic in London, We offer trusted care and premium quality dentures, with fair and transparent pricing, to help you eat, speak, and smile with confidence.

📞: 0203 489 2055 or 0208 520 8528 

📧 : [email protected]

📍: 25a St James Street, London, Walthamstow,  E17 7PJ