I remember when I first got my dentures, I felt like I had a permanent lisp—especially when I was tired or talking fast.
This is exactly what’s happening to me right now. The “s” sounds just sound off, and I keep catching myself getting frustrated. I tried reading out loud but hadn’t thought about singing—maybe that’ll be less awkward than tongue twisters? Using a mirror is such a good idea too. I’ve noticed if my mouth feels dry, every word comes out worse, so the water tip makes sense. Honestly didn’t expect it to be this much of a learning curve, but it helps knowing others have been through it and survived.
The “s” struggle is so real. I remember a patient who started singing along to the radio in the car just to practice, and she swore it helped more than anything else. Dry mouth definitely makes it worse—sometimes even just chewing sugar-free gum (if your dentures allow) can help keep things moving. It’s wild how much your tongue has to re-learn, but you’ll get there.
Singing along is a clever idea—I actually found reading out loud from a book at home helped, too. The “s” sounds took me ages and I still feel self-conscious sometimes. For dry mouth, I use those little xylitol lozenges... cheaper than gum in the long run.
For dry mouth, I use those little xylitol lozenges... cheaper than gum in the long run.
You’re not wrong—those lozenges are a wallet-saver, and they don’t get stuck everywhere like gum. Ever tried sipping water with a slice of lemon? Some folks swear it helps kickstart saliva, though I’m not convinced it beats xylitol for convenience. “S” sounds are notorious for tripping people up with new dentures. Did your dentist check the fit lately? Sometimes a tiny adjustment makes those hissy sounds way less awkward.
“S” sounds are notorious for tripping people up with new dentures.
Man, those “S” sounds got me too when I first got mine. Felt like I was hissing at everyone for weeks, lol. I tried the lemon water thing but honestly, it just made my mouth pucker weird. Xylitol lozenges are my go-to—plus, they don’t mess with my tech gadgets like gum does (found that out the hard way... sticky keyboard). My dentist did a quick tweak and it actually helped more than I thought. Guess there’s no real hack, just gotta get used to it.