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Do Braces Affect Speech?

Love Yourself, Love Your Smile

do-braces-affect-speech
  • Dr. Monica Madan
  • March 16, 2023

Orthodontists worldwide use braces to treat all sorts of alignment problems. From overbites and underbites to crossbites and other malocclusions (the medical term for “bad bites”), all can be corrected with treatments using braces, lasting from a few months to a couple of years.

Although Invisalign and other clear aligner treatments have steadily risen in popularity over the past two decades, braces are still one of the best, most adaptable orthodontic treatments available today. Almost all healthy adults and children/teenagers with malocclusions can benefit from wearing braces, and the treatment is versatile enough to treat even the most complicated alignment problems.

In addition to such wide-ranging capabilities, recent material advancements have improved the look and feel of braces as well. Smaller, more attractive, and more comfortable than braces from years past, many patients today still choose braces over Invisalign for their minimal upkeep requirements and responsibilities.

If you have been considering orthodontic treatment for yourself or your child, you probably have questions about how braces impact a patient’s daily life. For example, one of the most common questions we hear here at Beverly Hills Orthodontics is, “Do braces affect speech?”

In this blog, we explore how braces can impact speech patterns, both during treatment and after. If you have any additional questions about orthodontic treatment, contact one of our offices in Beverly Hills, Studio City, Alhambra, or Downtown LA to find the answers.

Do Braces Affect Speech? Rarely

We can begin by reassuring you that braces will not negatively impact your speech during treatment. However, some patients report minor changes to speech when their braces are first attached.

The most commonly reported speech effects are minor lisping and struggling with certain sounds. In both cases, the solution is simple: practice speaking.

At the same time, orthodontic treatment can change the sound of your “head voice” (i.e., the sound you hear when you speak) without necessarily affecting how your voice sounds to others.

If you are at the beginning of treatment and feel that your voice has been affected by your braces, we have some suggestions:

  1. Record yourself speaking.
  2. Listen to the recording playback.
  3. Try to pinpoint which sounds you are struggling with.
  4. Repeat speaking any words aloud that contain the problem sound(s) to improve your articulation.
  5. Periodically re-record yourself and listen for progress. Repeat this process until you have eliminated the speech issue.

Almost all patients quickly adapt to their braces and overcome their speech issues within a few days. If your speech problems persist, there could be an issue with the braces themselves. Your orthodontist may have fitted them incorrectly or used improper wires. To avoid fitting issues, you should always seek orthodontic treatment from a trusted, licensed orthodontist.

Properly performed orthodontic treatment will not disrupt your speaking ability. In fact, braces can actually improve your speech, as well as other oral functions.

How Braces Improve Speech and Other Oral Functions

Moderate-to-severe malocclusions can negatively impact oral functions, including speech. That’s because the physical production of human speech is a complicated process in which multiple body parts must work in harmony.

In simple terms, your lungs produce air to create noise, your larynx manipulates the air via vocal cords to form the intended sound, and body parts in the mouth and nose (the tongue, soft palate, and sinus cavities) articulate the sound to form specific words. When these body parts can’t work together to form those intended words, it results in a speech impediment.

Speech impediments are complicated issues that are caused by multiple factors, including genetics, brain function, and motor control. Braces will not improve speech impaired by mental or motor functions. However, braces can improve speech clarity and reduce lisping levels influenced by improper jaw and tooth alignment.

The chart below provides details on how correcting specific bite problems can improve speech:

Bite Issue Orthodontic Treatment Benefit
Irregular Incisors  Clearer pronunciation of “t” “d” and “s” sounds
Irregular Upper Anterior Teeth Clearer pronunciation of  “p” ”b” and “m” sounds
Open Bite Lower lisping levels and clearer pronunciation of  “s” “z” “t” ”d” ”n”  and ”l” sounds
Diastema (i.e., Tooth Gaps) Lower lisping levels
Cleft Palate Overall clearer speech and better pronunciation

By correcting jaw and tooth alignment, braces improve other oral functions as well, including biting and chewing. Proper alignment also makes oral care easier and more effective, leading to numerous health benefits.

So, to finally answer the question, “Do braces affect speech?”—Yes, but only in a positive way!

Have More Treatment Questions?
Call Beverly Hills Orthodontics Today

If you are considering orthodontic treatment but are concerned that braces may change your voice, we have good news: braces will not negatively impact your speech.

Although you may think you sound a bit funny at the beginning of treatment, patients quickly adjust to their braces and learn to speak clearly within a day or two. Moreover, braces have been shown to improve mechanical speech problems, so you may sound even better once treatment is complete!

At Beverly Hills Orthodontics, we create a safe and welcoming environment for all our patients. No matter what questions or concerns are making you anxious, our team is here to give you answers and put your mind at ease. BHO’s founder, Dr. Monica Madan, graduated from the #1-ranked orthodontic program in the country and uses her expertise to craft holistic treatment programs that put patient comfort and lifestyle preferences above all else. Schedule a consultation today to learn how BHO can improve your smile!

NOTE: All blog content is intended to supplement—NOT REPLACE—the expertise of a healthcare professional and should not be construed in any way as medical advice. Consult a professional orthodontist directly, like the ones at BHO, to assess your individual needs and advise the best course of treatment.

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J I.
Best Orthodontics around! Dr. Madan and her amazing team are always on point, bringing both my kids beautiful smiles. Have been coming to the BH office for several years now and absolutely love the results and customer service! Would (and have) highly recommended them!
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words! Your vote of confidence in our practice is why we do what we do!
Rachel F.
We love Dr. Madan. She’s thorough, reassuring, kind and compassionate. Can’t recommend her enough!!
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Started my dental care journey for a little over a year . So far , the staff and service is excellent. Expectations exceeded. Keep up the good work! Highly recommended!
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear that your experience has exceeded expectations. Our team is dedicated to providing excellent service, and we appreciate your recommendation. Looking forward to continuing your dental journey!
Catherine L.
I had braces in my teen years but couldn’t complete treatment at that time. I’ve always been insecure about my teeth. Fast forward to being 36 years old and living in LA, I called several places to find the best fit. I knew from the FIRST call with BHO that I was in the right hands, they were incredible. I mean this in every sense of the word. They were compassionate, transparent about pricing, genuinely happy to be helping me and smart. I was consistently met in the clinic for my routine appointments with the same technicians (I didn’t notice any turnover) and staff who were professional, knowledgeable and held my hand every step of the way.

They have a number to text which makes scheduling super smooth, and I probably rescheduled my appointments a million times during the process due to travel but they were always really chill and nice about it - helping work around whatever my schedule was that month.

Now for Dr. Monica. She is one of the nicest and smartest doctors I have ever met. She listened carefully, never rushed me, and addressed every concern I had about my teeth. She was always 100% supportive and deeply understood how much having a new smile meant to me. She remembered me every time I saw her in the clinic and has the best energy. I had one tooth that was a little bit challenging and she immediately knew what the solution was to get me to my fantasy smile. The appointments in clinic were 100% painless. This treatment, doctor and clinic have truly changed my life. I almost still can’t believe it.

Okay so I obviously love this place, and while I can’t comment on other clinics, I can confidently say - if you choose Beverly Hills Orthodontics with Dr. Monica Madan you will be held in the best hands, have the best care and they will make it their personal mission to make your dream smile become reality. Thank you so much, Beverly Hills Orthodontics!
Response from the owner:Thank you, Catherine! We're thrilled to hear you had an amazing experience with us. Your satisfaction is our top priority, and we look forward to helping you achieve your smile goals!
Morgan O.
I am so impressed with the team at Beverly Hills Ortho. Dr. Madan is so lovely and takes the time to speak with every patient. Her team is incredibly professional. I found the cost of treatment to be comparable with other practices in the Los Angeles area. And most importantly, I love my new smile! Totally recommend!
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful review, Morgan! We're thrilled to hear that you love your new smile and appreciate Dr. Madan and our team's dedication. Your recommendation means a lot to us!
Chelsea C.
Went in for a free consultation. I saw Dr. Serena and Angela who helped answer all my questions. The staff that took my scans were also very nice and friendly!
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful review, Chelsea! We're thrilled to hear that Dr. Serena and Angela addressed all your questions and that our staff made your visit enjoyable. We look forward to seeing you again!
valeria
Overall the best experience, definitely helped me get my self confidence back with my smile!!🥰
Response from the owner:We truly appreciate your feedback, Val! It’s fantastic to know that we positively impacted your self-confidence and smile. Thank you for choosing us and sharing your experience! We’re here for you anytime you need us.
Bardia A.
Monica and her team are so nice and professional. The experience has always been welcoming and the office was always clean and I felt totally comfortable coming in during the pandemic. They took every precaution and were so great to work with.
Response from the owner:We appreciate you taking the time to leave us feedback on your experience. We work very hard every day to exceed our patients’ expectations!
Justin H.
We have loved working with the team at Beverly Hills Orthodontics. We had 2 kids go through the Invisalign plan and they were always so nice and helpful in explaining everything. What a difference the program made!
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for the positive feedback. We are honored to serve each and every one of our patients!
Jade L.
Lose this dentist, the doctors are really nice and always answer my questions regarding my teeth.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words about us and our staff!
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