Brief Answer
Braces can temporarily cause a lisp while your mouth adjusts to the feel of the braces. This lisp usually goes away within a few weeks as you get used to speaking with braces. Proper placement and tightening of the braces can help minimize any speech issues. Talk to your orthodontist if the lisp persists beyond the initial adjustment period.
What is a lisp?
A lisp is a speech impediment characterized by the inability to pronounce the sibilant sounds “s” and “z” correctly. Instead of a hissing “s” sound, people with a lisp will substitute a “th” sound. For example, the word “see” would be pronounced “thee.”
A lisp can involve:
- Substituting sounds – replacing “s” with “th”
- Distorting sounds – improper shaping of the tongue or movement of air
- Omitting sounds – leaving out “s” sounds completely
Some common causes of a lisp include:
- Oral anatomical factors – tooth gap, short frenulum (tissue under tongue)
- Developmental delay in speech
- Hearing problems
- Neurological disorders
A lisp is one of the most common speech disorders. Most lisps resolve on their own by age 5, but some children need speech therapy to correct persistent sound substitutions.
Do braces cause a lisp?
Braces can temporarily cause a lisp or exaggerate an existing lisp. Here are some reasons braces may interfere with “s” sounds:
- The brackets and wires change the environment in the mouth
- Tongue presses against braces when trying to make “s” sounds
- Lips don’t close properly on the teeth
- Takes time to adapt speech to the new appliance
- Soreness from new braces alters speech
Many patients report a lisp or slurring of speech immediately after getting braces. Thankfully, this cause of lisping is temporary for most people.
How long does the lisp last?
The lisp caused by new braces tends to improve within 1-4 weeks of getting the braces on. During this initial adjustment period, the tongue gets used to the feel of the brackets and speech adapts.
As the braces feel more natural in your mouth, pronouncing words gets easier. The lisp goes away for most people once their tongue learns how to navigate the appliance.
Here is a general timeline for how long the lisp or speech impairment lasts with braces:
- Day 1 of getting braces – Severe speech disruption
- First week – Noticeable lisp and slurring
- 2-4 weeks – Speech improves significantly
- 6-8 weeks – Speech normalizes for most patients
While this timeline is typical, some patients report the lisp lasting 3-6 months until their speech adapts. Ask your orthodontist what to expect.
Factors affecting how long the lisp lasts
Certain factors impact how severely braces interfere with speech and how long it takes for normal speech patterns to return:
- Type of braces – Fixed braces cause more of an adjustment than removable aligners.
- Number of brackets – More brackets make it harder to speak clearly.
- Position of brackets – Behind the teeth causes less speech disruption.
- Age – Younger patients adapt faster than adults.
- Individual variance – Some people naturally adapt to speech changes faster.
Proper placement and tightening of the braces can reduce the severity and duration of speech difficulties.
Tips for minimizing a braces lisp
You can take proactive steps to reduce the likelihood of a lingering lisp with braces:
- Ask your orthodontist about lingual or invisible aligners if concerned about speech. These appliances are less disruptive.
- Request braces on the backs of your teeth if possible.
- Have a professional look at teeth alignment and the bite before braces to prevent excessive work afterwards.
- Get adjustments and replacements as recommended. Don’t delay appointments.
- Ask your orthodontist to check wires and brackets to ensure proper placement.
- Gently bite down on a towel to help the mouth adjust to the braces.
- Practice tongue twisters using “s” words to train your speech.
- Stay hydrated by drinking lots of water.
Let your orthodontist know if speech problems persist beyond 6-8 weeks so adjustments can be made.
Exercises to help overcome a lisp from braces
You can do exercises and practice words with “s” sounds to re-train the tongue’s positioning and get rid of a lingering lisp caused by braces.
Here are some tips:
- Hold a finger over your lips and make “s” and “z” sounds to feel the breath.
- Practice words with “s” slowly then speed up.
- Say “s” words while holding a piece of paper between your lips to keep space open.
- Read out loud for a few minutes each day, enunciating “s” sounds.
- Look in a mirror to watch your mouth shape as you practice “s” words.
- Don’t substitute “th” for “s” sounds while practicing.
Repeat these exercises 5-10 minutes per day until your speech sounds normal.
When to be concerned about a lingering lisp
See your orthodontist or speech pathologist if the lisp persists beyond 2 months in braces. Ongoing speech difficulties may signal:
- Braces need adjustment due to placement or irritation
- Unrelated speech disorder like tongue thrusting
- Problem with the roof of the mouth or tongue
- Hearing loss affecting speech
A professional can evaluate what’s causing the speech impairment and take corrective action.
Can a permanent retainer cause a lisp?
A fixed or permanent retainer on the back of the teeth shouldn’t interfere with speech. But an upper retainer behind the front teeth has the potential to cause a temporary lisp.
As the tongue adjusts to the wire, speech should return to normal within a few weeks. Unlike full braces, a permanent retainer is a single slim wire that takes less adapting.
See your orthodontist if a retainer lisp lasts more than a month. The retainer may need to be adjusted or replaced.
Braces lisp success stories
While everyone’s experience is different, many people report only minor and temporary speech disruptions with braces. Here are some first-hand accounts of overcoming an initial lisp or slurring:
Sarah, age 14
“I had a terrible lisp for the first week. I sounded so silly! My friends made fun of me. But after 2 weeks, I pretty much talked normal again. I still mess up sometimes if I talk too fast.”
Michael, age 17
“Getting my braces off next month! I had a bad lisp for maybe a month after I first got them put on. It was so annoying. But I just practiced a lot of “s” words and it went away.”
Emily, age 12
“I was worried I would have to go to speech therapy because my lisp lasted for 3 months after getting braces. But eventually it just went away on its own. Just be patient, it gets better!”
Can Invisalign cause a lisp?
Invisalign and other clear plastic aligners are less likely to cause a lisp than traditional metal braces. Here’s why:
- Smooth plastic doesn’t affect tongue position as much
- Aligners can be removed for periods of time
- Less metal and brackets in the mouth
- Aligners fit over the teeth rather than glued to surfaces
Patients report fewer issues with speech when wearing Invisalign vs. fixed braces. Some people do notice minor slurring or lisping at first when starting clear aligners. But this resolves within a couple weeks as the mouth adjusts.
Does wearing a mouthguard cause a lisp?
Wearing a mouthguard for sports can temporarily obstruct speech and cause you to lisp. Here’s why:
- The bulky guard changes the shape of the mouth
- More difficult to move the lips and tongue
- Less space inside the mouth
- Can’t form words as precisely
- Takes practice to speak clearly
You can reduce the impact of a mouthguard on speech by:
- Getting a properly fitted guard
- Trimming the bulkiness if possible
- Practicing speech with the guard in
- Working with your dentist to adjust the fit
With practice, you can adapt to speaking clearly while wearing a sports mouthguard. The same principle applies to orthodontic appliances in the mouth.
Conclusion
New braces can temporarily impair speech and cause a lisp for some patients. But with practice, the mouth and tongue adapt within several weeks or months at most. Proper placement and adjustments of braces helps minimize speech disruption. Consider clear aligners if very concerned about effects on talking. Be patient during the initial adjustment period. Work with your orthodontist if speech problems persist beyond 2 months. Consistent practice and training helps relearn proper tongue placement and pronouncing sounds.