If you are considering braces, it is important that you ensure you have all the information you need. Some questions people ask include:
Are the braces painful?
Will they require maintenance?
Will they make you speak differently?
Braces allow you to straighten your teeth and help you get a positive image and a better smile. They also ensure that your teeth and gums remain healthy. You are required to stay with them for a couple of months and sometimes, years. It is, therefore, normal to consider how your life will be affected when you get braces.
So, do braces causes difficulty in speech? Yes, they do. Even so, the amount of misinformation on the internet is alarming. The reality is overblown. Here are some facts you need to know:
The Speech Changes Will Only Be Temporary
Initially, you will notice slight changes in the way you sound when you speak. This difficulty in speech will be noted by those you communicate with. One reason is that there is a permanent object in your mouth. The difficulty in speech will also be because there will be inflammation and swell in the areas around your setup.
Because people are their own worst critics, you are likely to notice the differences in speech more than others around you will. Your brain may become hyper-sensitive to the sound of your voice and the syllables you pronounce.
The main reason why your speech is impaired when you get braces is that the tongue and other muscles in the mouth may change slightly when the braces are put in place. Most people are afraid of using their tongues at first to keep them from being injured. Many people assume that when their tongues rub against the metallic parts, they will get injured. This is a psychological change, and many people may not even realize that they are doing it. Because they are not using their tongues, their speech becomes weird. Note that the tongue plays a critical role in communication. However, once they are comfortable with the braces, they are more relaxed and tend to “get their speech back” and speak normally.
You Will Adapt Eventually
The human body is remarkable. It adapts to many challenges. Therefore, the inclusion of hardware into your mouth is not different. The longer you have your braces on, the better your speech will sound and the easier it will be to carry out certain functions like drinking and eating. For some, the adaptation will take a few days while others will take a few weeks. Either way, your body will learn. The body will pull away and create variations in sound. Your brain will also relax and stop being too critical.
It Will Depend On the Type of Braces You Get
Do braces cause difficulty in speech? Yes, they do. The level of speech difficulty will vary depending on the type of braces you get. Invisalign aligners still accomplish the same purposes but are more discreet. They provide a minimal, yet effective look.
Retainers
After teeth have been set right, retainers are used to maintain this position. They are removable and can also be transparent if one wishes so. They can also be used to correct dental problems in people who require minimal tooth movement. They are affordable appliances that can substitute braces in case the minimal correction is required.
Headgear
Unlike braces that correct the set of your teeth, headgear corrects overbites. An overbite is when your upper teeth are longer than they should be or when they come all the way down to the lower lip. A headgear usually works by applying pressure to the upper teeth and the upper jaw. As a result, it helps move the teeth to where they should be. Many patients who are in the headgear do not have to wear it all day and are only required to use it several hours a day. This means that, unlike braces that are permanently set, one can choose to wear their headgear at night when they are sleeping. Headgears should be removed when a person is eating, playing a sport, or brushing their teeth.
Invisalign
This is the best and most preferred form of clear aligners. It is the most popular alternative in adults who don’t want to wear braces. Also, it is very good and can be used to treat simple cases of teeth protrusion or extreme underbite or overbite, malocclusion, and crookedness. An individual is presented with a tray of aligners, which they are required to wear for at least 20-22 hours in a day. After two weeks, one can move to the next tray until their teeth are set completely. Each tray of aligners sets your teeth a little more when you wear it. If you have gaps between your teeth, you are a great candidate for these devices because you require minimal correction.
What Can I Eat While Wearing Braces? – Team Demas Orthodontics
Conclusion
What most people do not consider is that speech can be made better using braces. Conditions such as gaps between teeth and lisps tend to make speech different. However, most people may not notice that fact because they have had the conditions all their lives. Braces tend to get these problems fixed and are cosmetic procedures for people with such cases. In such instances, their use will affect your speech for the better. Regardless of how your speech is influenced at first, the pros will always exceed the probable cons. In short, their installation will always be worth it.
Contact Team Demas Orthodontics now and have your crooked teeth checked for possible treatments.
Team Demas Orthodontics
27 Meriden Ave #2a, Southington, CT 06489, USA
Phone: 860-276-0333
