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Losing Teeth Affects How You Speak

Posted on 5/20/2018 by Janice K. Pliszczak, DDS

Losing Teeth Janice K. Pliszczak, DDS NY 13215-2205

Losing a tooth or several teeth can make you very self-conscious about how you look. Unfortunately, leaving gaps in your smile is just one of the embarrassing things tooth loss causes. It can also actually affect how you speak.

When you lose a tooth, you're probably mostly focused on how it changes your looks or on the pain you feel when chewing on that side of your mouth.

But over time, you may also notice that you don't actually talk like you used to.

You May No Longer Pronounce Certain Words Clearly

Certain words and sounds are made by putting the tongue against specific parts of the mouth or against certain teeth. When you no longer have those teeth, it can be harder to tell where the tongue should go.

Since your tongue doesn't have anything to touch against, you may notice that you start to say certain words a little differently. This is especially true if you're missing several teeth in a row.

You Might Whistle
It's possible you'll also notice a whistling noise when you talk or do certain things. This comes from air being pushed or even pulled through the space where your tooth used to be.

You may be able to figure out how to move your tongue or your mouth to reduce or stop the noise completely, but that's not always possible.

You Might Spit
It's also possible that you'll actually spit a bit of saliva out when making certain sounds with your mouth. Without teeth there to stop the saliva that's pushed forward when you speak, you can accidentally expel some of that saliva.

What Can You Do?
Fortunately, you do have options when you lose a tooth. We have a number of different ways of replacing teeth, including dentures, partial dentures, and implants. If you've lost teeth, give us a call today so we can discuss your options.

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Exceptionally Friendly!!

"You are put at ease the minute you walk into their new office on Broad Rd. Beautiful and calming surroundings. The staff couldn't be more helpful and are extremely friendly. Dr. Pliszczak is exactly what you want in a Dentist. Always concerned with your comfort, I never feel rushed, and I enjoy here friendly manner. And because of all of their meticulously thorough work, My teeth are as healthy as can be!!! Thank you Dr. Pliszczak, Jade and Nancy" ~Roamy F.