Straighter Teeth, Clearer Speech
Fetch. Vivid. Jive. Start. Zoo. Chair. Gym. All of these words rely on the teeth to form their first sound.
Our world would not function without communication. While there are many forms of communication, verbal communication and listening are perhaps the most important. As humans are the most social animals, human speech is the most complex. To produce sounds, humans use several structures, including the lungs, trachea, larynx, vocal cords, tongue, and teeth. All of these structures work together to allow us to express our wants, needs, emotions, and dreams.
Articulation happens in the mouth, and creating clear speech without teeth is all but impossible. There are several words that depend on the teeth for their pronunciation. The sounds that rely on the teeth for their production are known as “strident” sounds. What happens to the teeth to produce these sounds?
Teeth and speech
- Overcrowded teeth occur when, instead of growing into their correct positions, they lack enough room and end up in unnatural positions. This can affect tongue position and the ability to form certain sounds.
- Overbites happen when the top arch of teeth sticks out far beyond the lower teeth, making it especially difficult to form sounds like the ‘stridents’ mentioned above.
- Open bites occur when the top and bottom teeth do not meet in the correct position, leading them to appear open. This can create an interdental lisp.
- Gapped teeth are caused when there is an excessive amount of space between teeth, and a whistling sound can arise when creating speech.
The best way to fix these issues and improve speech clarity is to address them in the mouth. There are numerous ways this is possible, most notably with metal braces and Invisalign®. By correcting how the teeth are positioned in your mouth, you can pronounce your words with greater precision and eliminate a lisp altogether. Schedule a consultation today and see what treatment options will work best for you!
