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Speak Easy With Braces and Dental Appliances
The subject of speaking with fixed or removable dental appliances, including orthodontic braces, has presented on the Dentistry.com message boards many times. It’s a common concern. Speaking with a dental appliance can be done!
Case in point: I made an immediate denture for a patient 25 years ago. He was an actor and scheduled to shoot a commercial in three days. He wasn't worried a bit. He said, "I'll practice my lines in front of a mirror this weekend and will have my speech mastered by Monday."
He did -- quite well, in fact.
Many people become unnecessarily self-conscious about their speech under these conditions. Rest assured, your speech sounds worse to you than it does to others.
One trick public speakers use, quite effectively, is to let their listeners onto their "secret” by saying things such as:
"I just left the dentist, so if my speech seems strange, it's because half my face is numb. Please listen carefully."
"If I sound like a teenager, it’s because I just got braces! Please excuse my enunciation."
"I just had dental treatment, and occasionally, I get my tongue caught behind my eye tooth and I can't see what I'm saying." (It’s an old joke, but many people have never heard it.)
You'd be amazed at the instant sympathy you'll receive. People will listen carefully to your every word. Your message will come across better than you could possibly imagine. Use a little humor and speak with confidence. Trust me, it works!
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