My Dentures Cause Me to Whistle or Lisp

Dentures provide us with several benefits. The two we readily recognize are appearance and function. We often forget that our dentures also provide us with the ability to speak clearly.

When you wear dentures you seldom have problems speaking with them. Your dentures are constructed so that your speech remains normal, allowing unfettered pronunciation: your words and sounds are clear.

Exceptions may occur…

• when you first receive new dentures. Even a slight difference between your old and new dentures can cause your tongue to touch your denture differently than before, and your voice may sound constrained. This is all normal, and something that can be expected with new dentures. With two or three days of practice speaking and reading aloud, you will return to your former self. Words beginning with, or containing, the consonants “S” or “T” may initially require more practice.
  
  
• as a result of the dentures themselves. A distinct lisp may be attributed to your denture being too thick in the front portion of your palate. If your dentures cause you to whistle or make the “S” sound, the denture lacks the proper thickness in the rugae area (roof of the mouth), or the front teeth may be set too far forward. Difficulty in pronouncing the “TH” sound results from upper front teeth that are too far forward. An “FV” sound is produced when the upper teeth are set too far back causing the sound to be muffled (with the lower lip moving up and over the outer surface of the front teeth). “PMBW” sounds require correct contact of the lips during speech; too long a denture base, an increased overall height of the dentures (vertical dimension), or outside edges that are too thick can all affect the “PMBW” sounds.

Be reassured – all of these problems can be corrected!