Speech is a fundamental method of communication. It helps people effectively convey their thoughts, emotions, and ideas to people they care about. Speech is also a valuable way to develop personal and professional relationships with others.
Oral health, related to speech in many ways, is also important for everyday well-being. It protects against threats like gum disease, tooth decay, bacteria, and illness. Oral health also plays a key role in preventing heart disease and other chronic conditions.
Speech and oral health share an important bond. Clear speech is heavily reliant on oral health — specifically, the health of your mouth, teeth, and palate. A healthy mouth is an important contributor to clear speech. Just as easily, poor oral health can make verbal communication difficult.
How oral health can affect speech
Both physical and mental aspects of oral health can affect speech patterns. Oral health issues like tooth loss, gum disease, or dry mouth can make it more difficult to speak. Mental elements of oral health insecurity, low self-esteem, and fear of judgment can also degrade your quality of speech.
Physically
Physical oral health impairments can sometimes compromise your ability to speak clearly. In some cases, physical oral health problems make it more difficult to form particular sounds or syllables.
Here’s how physical oral health can affect speech:
- Crooked teeth: Misaligned or twisted teeth can change the placement of your tongue, complicating normal speech. They can also cause a whistling sound from the excess air passing between gaps in teeth.
- Tooth loss: Missing teeth can have a big impact on speech volume and clarity. Without the right teeth, speech may sound fuzzy or unclear — particularly when making “s” or “z” sounds.
- Jaw structure: The way your jaw is positioned can affect speech patterns. For example, people with an overbite may have trouble pronouncing words with “t” or “d” sounds.
- Braces or dental alternatives: Braces and alternative oral health treatments can move your tongue, teeth, and lips, which are all necessary to form sounds. Braces and alternative dental solutions can affect speech clarity before your mouth adjusts to the new devices.
- Oral diseases: Gum disease, thrush, and other issues can hurt speech in several different ways. Some oral disorders cause pain that prevents the mouth from fully forming words. Conditions like oral cancer sometimes prevent full tongue movement, which makes it challenging to speak clearly.
Physician oral health can seriously impair your ability to speak. From jaw structure to oral disorders, there are many physical challenges that can make speech more of a challenge than normal.
Mentally
Physical oral health isn’t the only factor affecting speech. There are several mental elements of oral health that also contribute to speech patterns and clarity.
More than 50% of Americans feel self-conscious about their teeth. Some people are embarrassed because of a speech impediment, such as a lisp or a stutter. Others may be afraid of ridicule due to a deformity. These feelings of insecurity can lead people to avoid speaking and sometimes avoid conversations entirely.
Mental health issues like anxiety and depression can also affect your capacity for speech. For example, anxiety can cause jaw tension that sometimes makes it more difficult to speak clearly. Stress and other mental health factors can also cause canker sores — ulcers that develop on oral soft tissue.
Signs oral health may be affecting speech ability
Certain signs and symptoms in your speech patterns can indicate oral health concerns.
Here are a few examples:
- Lisp: Imperfect pronunciation where “s” and “z” sounds are instead pronounced like “th” sounds. Lisps can indicate the presence of misaligned teeth or a tongue-tie.
- Slurred speech: Garbled speech patterns that are slow, mumbled, and sometimes run together. Incorrect lip or tongue placement can sometimes cause slurred speech. In more serious cases, slurred speech can also indicate stroke.
- Difficulty pronouncing specific sounds: Oral health problems can sometimes make “th” or “r” sounds more difficult to pronounce. These problems often include missing teeth or a misaligned bite.
- Nasal speech: Nasal speech often sounds like someone experiencing a runny or dry nose. It happens when the roof of your mouth stays partially open while talking. This exposes the nasal cavity and can be a sign of a cleft palate.
- Chronic sore throat: If your sore throat lingers for weeks, or returns frequently, it might be chronic. Sometimes, a chronic sore throat is a sign of acid reflux or irritated vocal cords.
Changes in speech patterns can also be a sign of oral health issues. If you or a family member experience a change in speech clarity, volume, or tone, it’s important to speak with a provider you trust.
Oral health and memory disorders
Research suggests a strong relationship between oral health and mental disorders. This correlation between oral and mental health is particularly important if you or a loved one is diagnosed with a memory disorder.
Tooth loss also has a strong correlation with a decrease in brain functionality. This is particularly true with older adults, where tooth loss can also cause various emotional complications like a drop in self-esteem.
Ways to improve your oral and speech health
Protecting oral health is a priority at any age. Sometimes, this means simply practicing good oral hygiene. In other cases, it means improving the regularity of preventative habits like brushing and flossing. You can also improve your oral health by improving your speech health. Consider speech therapy, independent speech exercises, or consulting with a dental professional.
Practice oral hygiene
Practicing regular oral hygiene is one of the best ways to protect speech health. It can also help you maintain healthy teeth, avoid bad breath, and reduce your chance of serious illness.
Positive oral hygiene starts with good brushing and flossing habits. Brush your teeth twice each day for at least two minutes. Use a soft brush with gentle bristles. Replace your toothbrush every 3-4 months, or as soon as the bristles begin to fray. Find a toothpaste that contains fluoride and other ingredients that help prevent plaque and tooth decay.
Mouthwash is another important component of practical oral hygiene. Use mouthwash twice each day, immediately after brushing your teeth. Many people prefer an alcohol-free mouthwash to avoid drying out the skin inside the oral cavity.
Speech therapy
Speech therapy is specific training that helps people speak and enunciate sounds more clearly. Over time, it can have a seriously positive effect on speech patterns and clarity.
Assessment is usually the first step in speech therapy. Speech therapists will check your speaking ability, diagnose speech disorders, and learn more about your goals. They’ll help you develop an actionable treatment plan to alleviate speech issues.
Speech therapists implement techniques that help you improve weaknesses in your speech. For example, your speech therapist may have you repeat “s” or “r” sounds, which can be difficult to pronounce with an articulation disorder. These exercises may be challenging, but they can improve both your speech and your self-confidence.
Speech therapists can help individuals of all ages. Children can visit a pediatric speech therapist for help addressing stutters, language delays, and other issues. Other speech therapists specialize in helping adults overcome speech and language disorders.
Consult a dental professional
Dental professionals are great advocates in helping you protect your oral health. They have the knowledge, skills, and resources to help you protect against oral health issues — or prevent existing issues from getting worse. Dental professionals like dentists and dental hygienists also provide solutions like fillings, root canals, and gum disease treatment.
Consulting a dental professional is also important for detecting oral health problems early. Early detection of oral or speech health issues helps prevent serious complications. Visit a dentist regularly to potentially avoid more expensive, invasive procedures later on.