Struggling to pronounce certain words with new dentures - anyone else?

That adjustment period is no joke. I remember thinking I’d never sound “normal” again after mine, but it really did get better with time. Reading out loud helped me too, even if I felt a bit ridiculous at first. Patience is honestly key.

It’s wild how much your tongue just… forgets what to do, right? I’m still tripping over “s” and “sh” sounds, especially if I’m tired. Did you ever get used to talking on the phone? I feel like I sound way more awkward than in person. And reading out loud - did it really help? I keep cracking up halfway through.

Yeah, the “s” and “sh” thing tripped me up for weeks. I’d get halfway through a sentence and just… lose the thread. Reading out loud did help, but honestly, I kept laughing at myself too. It’s like your mouth has to relearn everything. Phone calls were the worst at first - I swear I sounded like I had a mouthful of marbles. Over time, though, it got easier. I started with short calls and worked up from there. It’s awkward, but it really does get better.

The “s” and “sh” sounds are just brutal with new dentures, I totally get it. I remember trying to say “sushi” and it came out like “foofy” - my partner still teases me about it. Practicing tongue twisters actually helped a bit, but honestly, patience was the real game changer. It’s wild how your jaw muscles have to recalibrate. Phone calls are still kind of a gamble for me, not gonna lie.

Those “s” and “sh” sounds are notorious for tripping people up with new dentures. You’re not alone - honestly, I’ve seen folks get tongue-tied by words they’ve said their whole lives. Sushi? That’s a tough one, no shame there. I once had a patient who couldn’t get through “Mississippi” without it sounding like a leaky faucet.

Here’s the thing: your mouth is basically learning a new dance routine. The muscles and tongue have to figure out where everything is now, and that just takes time. Practicing out loud (even if it’s just reading the back of a cereal box) really does help, but don’t beat yourself up if you sound a bit like Daffy Duck at first.

One trick some people find helpful - hold your tongue just a little further back when you try those sibilant sounds. It can feel weird, but sometimes it clicks after a bit of trial and error. And yeah, phone calls are brutal... but they get easier, promise. Keep at it, and don’t be afraid to laugh about the slip-ups. That’s half the battle right there.

Yeah, those “s” sounds are the worst. I kept tripping over “sandwich” for weeks - super awkward at work lunches. Did anyone else notice it’s worse when you’re tired? I swear my speech gets sloppier by the end of the day.

- Actually, I find it’s not always the tiredness that messes with my speech - it’s more about how much I’ve been talking (or eating) throughout the day. End of the day, my mouth just feels “off,” like my tongue forgot how to do its job.
- The “s” thing is definitely a classic, but for me, it’s words with a mix of “r” and “l” sounds that trip me up. “Really” turns into “ree-uh-lee” way too often.
- Not sure if this is common, but I noticed coffee makes it worse for me. Something about hot drinks just makes my dentures shift a bit more? Maybe I’m weird, but my dentist said it’s not unheard of.
- Sandwiches... yeah, those are a minefield. But for some reason, “scissors” is my nemesis. Had to explain to a coworker why I kept calling them “shizzers” - awkward laughs all around.
- I’d actually argue that the sloppiness isn’t always about being tired, but about getting comfortable (maybe too comfortable) with the dentures as the day goes on. Like, you start off focusing on every word, then by 4pm you’re back to your old lazy habits and the teeth just can’t keep up.
- Random tip: humming helps me reset everything. Not sure if there’s science behind it, but if I hum for a few seconds before I have to talk a lot, things seem to line up better.

Guess what I’m saying is - fatigue might play a part, but sometimes it’s just the weird quirks of getting used to new gear in your mouth. And hey, at least we get some funny stories out of it...

Totally feel you on the “r” and “l” combo - those trip me up too, especially if I’m in a rush or trying to say something with a lot of “gr” or “rl.” It’s like my tongue just gives up halfway and my dentures are along for the ride. I get what you mean about getting too comfortable, though. I’ll start the day being super careful, enunciating everything like I’m reading the news, but by afternoon it’s like my mouth goes on autopilot and all bets are off. The words just come out however they want.

Hot drinks shifting things around is real, by the way. My dentist mentioned that heat can soften the denture material a bit, so if your fit is even slightly loose, coffee or tea can make them wiggle more than usual. It’s not just you. I actually started letting my coffee cool down a little before sipping, which helps a bit - not perfect, but better than suddenly having to re-seat my teeth mid-conversation.

Sandwiches are their own level of chaos. I swear there’s something about bread that glues itself to every surface and makes everything slip around. Had a moment last week where I tried to bite into a panini and ended up with half of it stuck to my palate plate - felt like a toddler learning to eat again.

The humming thing is interesting - I haven’t tried that specifically, but sometimes I’ll do tongue twisters under my breath before phone calls or meetings. Even just saying “red leather yellow leather” a few times seems to get things moving in the right direction.

Honestly, as much as some days are frustrating, there’s something kinda funny about how unpredictable it all is. Like you said, at least we get some stories out of it... and maybe a few new nicknames for office supplies along the way.

I actually have to push back a bit on the hot drinks thing - my dentist said most modern denture materials shouldn’t really soften at coffee temps unless they’re already way overdue for a relining. I still let my tea cool, but maybe it’s more habit than necessity now. Sandwiches though, yeah, those are just chaos no matter what!

That’s interesting about the hot drinks - my first set of dentures years ago definitely got a bit “squishy” with soup, but my current ones hold up fine. Technology must’ve improved a lot. Sandwiches though… still a total mess for me too. I end up deconstructing them half the time.

I totally get the sandwich struggle - anything with crusty bread still gives me trouble, even with my newer set. I’ve noticed some foods just never seem to cooperate, no matter how good the fit is. With the hot drinks, though, same here - my old ones used to get weirdly soft, especially with coffee. The new ones are way sturdier.

Have you found any tricks for eating stuff like burgers or wraps? I’m always worried about everything sliding around or getting stuck. Sometimes I wonder if it’s just a matter of practice or if there are certain foods that’ll always be a hassle.

- Yep, crusty bread is a nightmare. I usually end up tearing it into smaller pieces first.
- For burgers/wraps, I find using both hands helps control the mess - less sliding around.
- Lettuce wrap style is easier than big buns, at least for me.
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I’m always worried about everything sliding around or getting stuck.

Honestly, some foods just don’t work well with dentures, no matter how much you practice. But I guess we adapt over time...

That’s been my experience with speech too - certain words just trip me up, especially ones with lots of “s” or “ch” sounds. Practicing in front of a mirror helped a bit, but I still catch myself lisping if I’m not careful. Anyone else find that reading aloud makes a difference, or is it just me?

Man, those “s” sounds are my nemesis. I swear, it’s like my tongue forgets what to do every time I say “socks” or “cheese.” Reading out loud helped a bit, but sometimes I just end up feeling ridiculous when I catch myself slurring through a sentence. Honestly, I think it’s just a matter of getting used to the new gear in your mouth… some days are better than others.

I’ve noticed if I’m tired or not paying attention, the lisp gets worse. Talking on the phone is especially tricky - like, why does it feel ten times harder when you can’t see the other person? Practicing in front of a mirror sounds helpful, but I usually just end up making faces at myself and laughing. Guess we’ve all got our tricks. Anyway, you’re definitely not alone with this stuff. It’s a process for sure.

Those “s” sounds really are a pain with new dentures. I’ve noticed it’s not just about getting used to the fit, but also retraining your tongue to hit the right spot on the palate. For me, reading out loud helped, but honestly, I got the most improvement by slowing down my speech and exaggerating those tricky sounds - felt silly at first, but it worked over time. Fatigue definitely makes it worse; I guess muscle memory just isn’t there yet. Phone calls are rough too... no visual cues, so I end up hyper-focusing on every word. It’s weird how much you notice these things only after dentures.

Yeah, those “s” sounds are a nightmare at first. It’s wild how something as basic as talking suddenly becomes this whole new skill you have to relearn. I totally get what you mean about the tongue retraining - people always say dentures are just about “getting used to them,” but that barely scratches the surface. There’s so much muscle memory involved, and honestly, nobody warns you about that part.

I actually found that singing along to music in the car helped me more than reading out loud. I know it sounds a bit out there, but when you’re singing, you’re forced to stretch your mouth in different ways and hit all sorts of sounds you’d never use in regular conversation. Plus, you can be as dramatic as you want and no one’s judging. I still trip up on certain words, especially when I’m tired or stressed. Fatigue just makes everything harder - my jaw gets lazy and the “s” turns into a whistle or a lisp. Super frustrating.

Phone calls are the worst, I agree. No facial cues, no gestures, just your voice out there, and every little slip feels magnified. I started leaving myself voice memos on my phone and listening back. It’s kind of cringey at first, but it helped me catch which words I was messing up and practice them. Honestly, I think more dentists should talk about this stuff before you get fitted. They focus so much on the fit and the look, but not enough on the speech side of things.

One thing I do wonder is if it’s partially about the denture design itself. Like, could a slightly different palate shape make those tricky sounds easier? Seems like there’s room for improvement with how they’re made. Either way, it’s definitely a process - takes patience and a lot more practice than anyone expects.

There’s so much muscle memory involved, and honestly, nobody warns you about that part.

This is exactly what I’ve been struggling with. It’s wild how much you just take for granted until it’s suddenly different. I had no idea my tongue was doing all this behind-the-scenes work until I got my dentures. The “s” thing drives me nuts - sometimes I’ll just avoid saying words with it altogether, which is ridiculous but true.

Singing in the car is genius. I’ve mostly been reading out loud at home, but honestly, it feels stiff and awkward. Maybe belting out some songs would loosen things up a bit… and yeah, less pressure when no one’s watching.

I’m totally with you about the phone calls being brutal. It’s like your voice is under a microscope and every tiny slip sounds huge. I actually get anxious before making calls now, which never used to happen.

I keep wondering if my dentist could’ve shaped things differently too. They always talk about “you’ll adjust,” but maybe a tweak here or there would make this whole process less of a headache. Wish they’d be more upfront about how much practice it really takes.

I keep wondering if my dentist could’ve shaped things differently too. They always talk about “you’ll adjust,” but maybe a tweak here or there would make this whole process less of a headache.

Honestly, I think about this all the time. It’s like, yes, our mouths will adapt, but why does it have to be so much trial and error? I get that there’s only so much a dentist can do, but sometimes I wonder if they underestimate how much these little fit issues mess with daily life. I had a similar thing with my lower plate - felt like it was just a millimeter off, but it made “sh” and “ch” sounds impossible for weeks. Eventually, I went back and pushed for a small adjustment, and it actually helped a ton.

The “s” thing is the worst, though. I catch myself avoiding words or even just mumbling through them. Singing does help, but I agree - reading out loud feels forced and doesn’t really mimic real conversation. I wish there was more honest talk up front about how much work it takes to sound like yourself again. It’s not just about chewing, you know?

That “s” sound is such a pain, right? I’ve seen people struggle with it for weeks, sometimes longer, and honestly, even tiny adjustments can make a real difference. It’s not just in your head - millimeters really do matter. I wish we could always get it perfect on the first go, but sometimes it takes a few tweaks to land in that sweet spot where things finally feel natural. Reading out loud feels weird to me too... I usually suggest trying tongue twisters or just chatting with someone you trust. It’s a process, not gonna lie.

The “s” sound trips up so many folks with new dentures, you’re definitely not alone. I’m curious - do you notice it’s worse at certain times of day, or maybe after eating? Sometimes dryness or even how you’re sitting can make a difference.