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

I tried recording myself reading out loud, and it’s wild how inconsistent it is.

Yeah, I did the same thing and honestly, it was a trip hearing how my “s” and “sh” sounds came out. Some days it’s like my tongue just forgets what to do. I found that reading tongue twisters helped a bit, even though it felt ridiculous at first. It’s definitely not just you - takes a while for your oral muscles to get used to the new hardware.

It's honestly pretty common to notice those kinds of inconsistencies at first. I've seen a lot of folks get frustrated when their “s” or “sh” sounds just don’t come out the way they used to - especially when you’ve spent years talking a certain way. It’s not unusual for your tongue and cheeks to need some time to “re-learn” where everything sits now that you’ve got new dentures in place.

Tongue twisters are actually a really solid idea, even if they feel awkward. Some people like reading aloud from a favorite book or even singing along to music, which can help too. If you catch yourself getting discouraged, try to remember it really does get better with practice. Muscles in your mouth adapt over time, but it’s not always a quick fix. I know it can feel like you’ll never sound like yourself again… but most folks do settle into their new normal after a bit.

If things still feel off after a few weeks, sometimes having your dentist check the fit can make a difference - minor adjustments can go a long way. But yeah, all those little slips and weird sounds are just part of the process. Give yourself some grace; it’s harder than people think.

I’m really glad to hear I’m not the only one getting tongue-tied with these new dentures. I swear, I never realized how much work my tongue actually did until now. “S” words and “ch” sounds just keep tripping me up, and sometimes it feels like my mouth is hosting its own little comedy routine. I’ve tried reading out loud, but I keep getting distracted by how weird I sound. Singing along to music is a good tip though - I might give that a shot, even if my neighbors aren’t thrilled.

It’s comforting to know the muscles need time to adapt. I keep worrying I messed something up, but maybe I just need to be patient. I haven’t gone back to the dentist yet, but if things still feel super off in a couple weeks, I guess it’s worth checking if the fit’s a bit off. Honestly, it’s wild how something so small can throw your whole speech off balance… but I’m hoping it’ll start to feel normal soon.

It’s such a relief seeing someone else mention the “S” and “ch” struggle - I thought it was just me. I totally get what you mean about your mouth feeling like it’s doing its own thing. I keep second-guessing if I’m doing something wrong, but everyone keeps saying it’s normal for things to feel off at first. The reading out loud thing is so awkward, especially when you catch yourself lisping. I haven’t tried singing yet, but maybe I’ll give it a shot too. If it still feels weird after a while, checking in with the dentist sounds smart. It’s wild how much this changes stuff, but I guess patience is key.

Those “S” and “ch” sounds honestly trip up a lot of folks with new dentures - definitely not just you. I’ve seen it plenty of times, and I still remember my uncle’s first weeks with his. He’d get halfway through a sentence and just give up, laughing at himself because “sandwich” came out sounding like “thandwich.” It’s awkward at first, but that’s just your mouth learning a new normal. The muscles and your tongue are basically relearning their choreography.

Reading out loud is actually a great idea, even if it feels silly or you catch yourself lisping. When people ask me what helps, I usually say start with slow, clear speech - don’t rush it. Sometimes it helps to exaggerate those tricky sounds, even if you sound a little cartoonish at first. My uncle used to read the newspaper headlines out loud every morning, just to get his mouth moving before the day started. He said it felt weird, but after a few weeks, he noticed the lisp fading.

Singing is another trick that works for some people, especially with music you know well. Something about the rhythm and melody seems to help your tongue and lips settle into their new roles. Even humming along can be useful if singing out loud isn’t your thing.

If it still feels off after a few weeks, or if you notice sore spots or anything painful, that’s when I’d say it’s worth checking in with the dentist. Sometimes it’s a minor adjustment to the fit or bite that makes all the difference. But yeah, patience is a big part of it - your mouth is adapting to a totally new landscape.

One thing I’d add: don’t be too hard on yourself. Most people don’t even notice as much as you think they do. My uncle was convinced everyone could hear his lisp, but honestly, no one else in the family picked up on it unless he pointed it out.

Hang in there - it really does get easier.