If you’ve ever struggled with a lisp, slurred sounds, or trouble pronouncing certain words, your teeth and bite may be partly to blame. Believe it or not, the alignment of your teeth and jaws plays a huge role in how you form sounds to speak more clearly.
Luckily, orthodontic treatment, like braces, clear aligners, and nightguards, can help correct these underlying issues. By improving the way your teeth, tongue and jaw work together, treatment may enhance not only your smile, but also your speech.
The Connection Between Your Teeth and Speech
When teeth are crooked, crowded, or the bite is off, it can interfere with sound formation, and therefore speech.
Speech is a finely tuned process involving your teeth, tongue, lips, and jaw. These parts work together to shape the sounds we use to communicate. For example, the tongue needs space and stability to create sounds like “s,” “sh,” and “th.”
Recent research shows that people with serious jaw misalignments (especially Class III issues like underbites) are up to 18 times more likely to have trouble saying certain sounds compared to people with normal jaw alignment.
These speech problems aren’t just noticed by how it sounds. They can actually be measured using sound frequency tests. The more severe the jaw misalignment, the more distorted the speech sounds became.
If your teeth are misaligned or your bite causes the tongue to sit too far forward or to the side, those sounds may come out distorted. Not to mention that gaps or overlaps between the teeth can disrupt airflow, leading to a lisp or unclear speech.
When to Talk to an Orthodontist About Speech Issues
If you or your child are struggling with unclear speech, a lisp, or difficulty pronouncing certain sounds (especially “s,” “sh,” or “th”) it may be time to consult an orthodontist.
Some signs that orthodontic treatment might help include:
- Frequent mispronunciations despite speech therapy
- A noticeable lisp or slurred speech when teeth are together
- Jaw discomfort or tension while talking
- Difficulty making certain sounds (especially sibilant sounds like “s” and “z”)
- A visible overbite, underbite, or open bite
- Teeth that are significantly spaced or crowded
A thorough evaluation from an orthodontist can help determine whether dental or jaw alignment is contributing to the issue.
In many cases, the orthodontist may work in collaboration with a speech-language pathologist or a myofunctional therapist to create a comprehensive treatment plan.
How Orthodontic Treatment Supports Clearer Speech
Issues like gaps, crowding, bite misalignment, and overlapping teeth can interfere with the natural movement of your tongue and lips, making it harder to speak clearly.
Braces and clear aligners, both fixed and removable, can help improve those dental issues, improving the alignment of your teeth and jaw and supporting more comfortable, confident speech.
Here’s how orthodontic treatment can make a difference:
- Tongue Freedom: Fixing your bite creates space for your tongue to move naturally, which is key for clear pronunciation.
- Smooth Airflow: Straighter teeth mean fewer airflow disruptions, making it easier to speak without slurring or lisping.
- Clearer Sounds: Aligning your teeth can reduce or even eliminate whistling “s” sounds and tricky “th” pronunciations.
Who Can Benefit Most from Orthodontic Treatment?
Whether you’re a parent considering early treatment for your child or an adult thinking about improving your speech, it’s never too late to get a consultation.
Though many orthodontic patients start treatment when they are children, there are many benefits for teens and adults to explore solutions for speech issues.
Catching Speech Issues in Children
Early orthodontic evaluation can help detect problems that may affect speech development down the road. At this stage, the mouth is still growing, making it easier to guide teeth and jaw alignment in a healthy direction.
An orthodontist can address a child’s teeth spacing, crowding, and bite problems before they worsen. Once identified, early treatment can help children speak with confidence as they grow.
Speech Solutions for Teenagers
Teenage years are actually a common time for patients to get orthodontic treatment, as most adult teeth have come in, yet the jaw is still developing. An orthodontist can address both cosmetic and functional concerns, such as speech.
By aligning teeth during these formative years, patients can not only experience easier speech and better oral health, but also more confidence as their teeth straighten. Teenagers can also take advantage of clear aligners to make the process more discreet.
Adult Treatment and Adjustments
Though most adults assume braces and aligners are for children and teens, many adult patients receive orthodontic treatment. Speech improvements are absolutely possible later in life, especially when misalignment or bite issues are at the root of the problem.
Any long-standing alignment or bite issues that went untreated in childhood can be improved in adulthood, leading to more confidence in appearance, as well as public speaking, teaching, or professional communication.
Speak Clearly, Smile Confidently!
Your smile can light up a room, but it also plays a key role in how you speak and express yourself!
If you’ve been struggling with unclear speech or certain sounds, orthodontic treatment might be part of the solution. Whether you’re a parent looking out for your child or teen, or an adult who is ready to invest in yourself, it’s never too late to explore your options.
Book your free consultation with Enjoy Orthodontics to learn how braces or aligners can help improve your speech!
