Speaking Clearly with New Dentures: Exercises That Help

Getting new dentures can dramatically improve your smile, bite, and confidence—but many denture wearers face a common hurdle at first: speaking clearly with new dentures. It’s perfectly normal to experience slight speech changes or difficulty pronouncing certain words when you first begin wearing dentures. The good news? With the right speech exercises and techniques, you can quickly adapt and restore your natural speaking rhythm.

In this blog, we’ll explore why speech changes happen with new dentures, which exercises help improve clarity, and top tips to regain confidence speaking with dentures—all while helping boost your knowledge and comfort during the adjustment period.

Why Do Dentures Affect Speech?

Old dentures are often very own and tired, New dentures restore the areas that lost (such as legnth of teeth and cusps) andf can feel slightly bulky or unfamiliar in your mouth, initially. This adjustment may slightly alter how your tongue and lips move when forming sounds, particularly for letters like “S,” “F,” “V,” and “Th.” Some patients may notice a lisp, muffled speech, or even a slight clicking sound as they talk. These effects are temporary and improve with regular practice.

How Long Does It Take to Speak Normally with Dentures?

Everyone adjusts at a different pace, but most patients start speaking clearly within a few days to a couple of weeks. The key is consistent practice and patience. Your facial muscles, tongue, and lips will learn to work with your dentures just like they did with your natural teeth.

Top Speech Exercises to Improve Speaking with Dentures

Practicing specific denture speech exercises can significantly improve articulation and speed up the adjustment process.

1. Read Aloud Daily

Choose a newspaper article, book, or even a blog post and read it out loud for 10–15 minutes a day. Focus on clear enunciation, and try speaking slowly and deliberately.

2. Repeat Tongue Twisters

Tongue twisters are an excellent way to challenge your mouth muscles and improve control. Try these:

• “She sells seashells by the seashore.”

• “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.”

• “Fuzzy Wuzzy was a bear…”

This helps improve your ability to pronounce tricky consonants like “S,” “F,” and “Th.”

3. Practice with Problem Sounds

If you’re struggling with specific sounds, isolate them and practice words or sentences that include those letters. For example:

• For “S”: “Sister Sally sat on the sofa.”

• For “Th”: “The thick thorn throbbed.”

• For “F” and “V”: “Funny foxes venture far.”

  
  

4. Talk to Yourself in the Mirror

Practice speaking in front of a mirror. This helps you observe your lip and mouth movements, improving awareness and control while helping build confidence.

5. Count Out Loud

Count from 50 to 60 slowly and clearly. This repetitive movement strengthens oral muscles and improves coordination with your dentures.

Additional Tips for Speaking Clearly with Dentures

• Bite and swallow before speaking to position your dentures properly.

• Use denture adhesive: Primarily, denture adhesive's purpose is to aid retention and stability of a good secure denture. It helps force the air out and create a vacuum. May people believe that fixative is a 'glue' to help a poorly fitting denture from 'moving and dropping' and that a new denture shouldn't require fixative. In many instances this is true, though when used as a tool, in the right way, it can instantly provide confidence for the denture wearer.

• Stay hydrated: A dry mouth can make speaking with dentures more difficult. Sip water regularly to keep your mouth moist.

• Practice conversations with friends or family in a relaxed setting. This helps re-establish confidence in real-life scenarios.

When to Seek Help

If you continue having difficulty speaking clearly after several weeks, or your dentures feel consistently loose or uncomfortable, it may be time for a denture adjustment. Poorly fitting dentures can interfere with speech and affect overall comfort. A Clinical Dental Technician (CDT) or your dentist can re-line or remake your dentures for a better fit.

Final Thought

Adjusting to speaking with new dentures may take a bit of time, but with regular speech exercises, patience, and practical techniques, you’ll be chatting with confidence in no time. Your voice, your personality, and your smile are all worth the effort.

If you’re looking for professional denture services, including adjustments, repairs, or full denture fittings—contact The Denture Spa today for a free consultation. We’re here to help you speak clearly, smile confidently, and live comfortably with your dentures.