Speech sounds horrible

[helricha]

Wow! My speech sounds horrible even after 9 days with braces. How long does it take to articulate my words properly??
I swear I sound like this:
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=Mqnc22tM ... qnc22tMaKQ

I also don't understand why I have an additional amount of saliva that seems to not be slowing down anytime soon...any ideas on this?

[yeahtam]

I have my good & bad times with speech but more than anything, it helps me to slow and concentrate on what I am saying. The first week after getting braces, my speech was all over the place but everyone that I talked to was very understanding. They had braces before or their children went through the same issue. You will be fine

[furious george]

I had a lisp for probably two months, and I still lisp occasionally if my mouth is dry or something and I can't close my lips around my brackets properly. It should get better over time as you naturally adjust.

[Tobilei]

I'm mostly okay, but as furious george said, if my mouth is dry I seem to be a lot worse. It is mostly my F's and S's. S's sound like they are whistling through my brackets or something! I feel like sylvestor the cat. Thankfully my family tell me that they can't hear it (I think they'd be honest if they could) so people who don't know me that well probably don't notice. I'm sure it will settle down soon.

[Ciara]

Make sure you are drinking enough and try speaking slowly. This time I'm not having problems (yet) but as a teenager it took me months to be able to say "s" vs "sh" sounds. Shoulders and soldiers sounded the same for ages.

Hope it improves for you soon. I remember it being very frustrating.
Ciara

[Raleigh]

I remember my first few days were extremely frustrating because I couldn't speak properly. However in the 2nd week I improved dramatically. I still struggle sometimes to speak but most of the time I'm just fine. I felt that it helped to practice a lot.. I have a job which involves talking a lot and I felt the more I was practising the faster I got used to speaking with them.

[udubdave]

Never had a lisp before, but since I was braced, I sometimes have trouble with my s and th sounds.

[Ravinkarry]

Ohhhhh yeah buddy the letter s is not my friend at all. I had the top done and that's when it started. After 4 extractions it then got worse however its been about a month since it all began and I seem to be making it. I also have the benefit of working from home so I can do audio or phone calls and look like an idiot trying to talk but sounding better.
:) good luck hope it gets easier for you.

[Viking]

Me too. Speaking my native language is okay, but I speak a lot of English at work and that sounds horrible.

[dc04321]

Great, another thing I get to look forward to, no wonder my daughter (21 and had braces when she was 12) told me to call her when I get my braces on today, she just wants to make fun of her poor mom :)

[19withbraces]

I had to have a tongue guard put in along with my braces, and I definitely had some trouble with a lisp! I got all that done about 4 months ago and I would say it probably took 2 months to finally get rid of the lisp. That sounds like forever if it is something that bothers you (like it did me) but it is all worth it to feel more comfortable with your metal and soon enough with your perfect new smile! Good luck to you!!

[Realizingadream]

I noticed today, just today, I was very "spitty" while I talked. Thank heavens I was only with my husband, the poor man. I've had the bottoms on just shy of a year and the tops for 6 months, and this NEVER happened before. I guess my teeth have lined up somewhat differently...for a few days. My teeth seem to move a lot, and then move back to where they were before. Like each tooth has a little mind of its own, I guess.

My teeth keep me entertained with their antics, seems like something new every little while; but frankly, I have never been "spitty" before. EW. I expect it will even out in a few days.

Real

[DC RA]

I too sound a little spitty due to the elastics. Without the elastics I am fine.

[helricha]

thanks for all the encouragement!!
It's good to know that there are other people who have the same problem. Looks like the elastics will also cause a problem.

[oldfart]

Am a martial arts instructor. The worst word I had to say was Fists. Which may be an issue if/when I get them again.