As patients consider orthodontic treatment, many wonder if braces will affect their everyday speech. The Varallo Orthodontics team is passionate about educating our community on their oral health so they understand everything that goes into it before starting. Read on to learn more about braces at our practice, their impact on speech, what you can do to adjust to your appliance and more!
How Do Braces Work?
Our fixed braces appliances use wires, brackets, elastics, and other components, all working together to place slight pressure on your teeth and shift them into an ideal position. They have different appearances and are made of various materials. Braces traditionally display brackets on the front of your teeth, which can alter the natural placement of your cheeks, lips, and tongue to varying degrees. This changed position may change how you pronounce specific words or sounds.
Which Option Provides the Shortest Learning Curve?
At Varallo Orthodontics, we offer Damon self-ligating braces and Damon Clear braces. Both use the same technology to achieve your brand-new smile, with slightly different materials.
The former is an alternative to traditional metal braces, providing a comfortable experience and shape-memory wires, which can speed up your treatment time. They use a self-ligating bracket system, meaning a built-in mechanism holds the archwire in place, which will cause you to experience less friction and irritation inside your mouth. Damon metal braces also focus on improving facial aesthetics to help patients feel more confident in their smiles.
Each component of Damon clear braces are made of a tooth-colored ceramic material that blends in with your smile, making it an attractive choice for those interested in an aesthetic alternative. Damon clear braces use the same shape-memory technology that helps decrease your treatment time and appointments to attend. When choosing which braces you prefer for your orthodontic treatment, Dr. Varallo will gladly discuss your case during your free consultation.
Impact On Speech
Adjusting To Your Braces
As you grow up, you adjust to speak with the present positioning of your teeth. Upon starting orthodontic treatment, your teeth and mouth will need to adjust to the presence of your appliance. You may experience minor changes to your everyday speech patterns during this time, but don’t fret! This is an entirely normal transition nearly every patient goes through and shouldn’t last longer than a month. Your pronunciation will become better as your teeth align themselves.
The main reason speech becomes temporarily impaired is because the muscles in their mouth change, notably the tongue. Some patients are nervous about touching their braces with their tongues at first because they might think they will get scraped. You may not even realize you are doing it, but thinking about tongue use while you speak will help you recognize its role. The more you practice, the more comfortable you will get.
Practice At Home
To help you adapt to your new routine during the beginning of treatment, you can practice speaking out loud in various situations, such as reading a book, reciting a tongue twister, singing along to your favorite song, and having more conversations with friends and family. Each exercise encourages working on your pronunciation and can build your confidence.
Dr. Varallo recommends starting exercises slowly and purposefully, then gradually increasing your speed of speech. This helps you actively think about the sounds you are making and the placement of your tongue, cheeks, and lips, taking the time to understand where they need to be for perfect pronunciation. If you continue to encounter speech issues past the one-month mark, Dr. Varallo will happily assist you in speeding up your progress.
A Smile To Last You A Lifetime!
Revamp Your Confidence
Your dental health and self-esteem are more closely connected than you may think. The condition of your smile can affect your willingness to display it and, in turn, your overall happiness. Investing in your orthodontic health and allowing yourself to feel more confident in your everyday life is worth each day of treatment. We understand altered speech, even if temporary, can be uncomfortable, but our team promises this road bump in your orthodontic journey is worth it to achieve your new smile!
Plenty of Health Benefits
Orthodontic treatment has a significant impact on your long-term health and well-being. In addition to the aesthetic benefits of braces, many health benefits come with straightened teeth, including smoother digestion, reduced jaw pain and headaches, smoother digestion, and easier everyday oral care, just to name a few.
You Can Also Consider Braces Alternatives
If you decide braces are not for you and are interested in a different appliance option besides braces, Varallo Orthodontics also provides Invisalign clear aligners. Unlike braces, they are removable appliances that may lend more flexibility to your lifestyle in terms of ease of oral care maintenance and eliminating the potential for the discomfort caused by metal irritation. Dr. Varallo, a Diamond Invisalign provider, can discuss which appliance will work best for your case during your free consultation.
Enjoy a Brand-New Smile for a Lifetime!
Now that you understand more about how braces can impact your speech, we hope you feel more confident about the steps to adjust after beginning treatment. Varallo Orthodontics provides free consultations at our Arlington and Burlington practices to new patients in the community who are interested in starting their smile journey. Take the first step of scheduling yours today, and one of our front desk staff will contact you soon!