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• Method 1 of 2: Adjust the way you speak and sing
• Method 2 of 2: Maintain your braces

If you have just received braces to fix a dental problem, you may notice one particularly troublesome side effect: it can be quite difficult to talk with such a retention brace in your mouth. This is a common problem for many people who are just starting to wear braces. It may take some time for your mouth to get used to the braces and you no longer trip over your words or talk with a lisp, but with a little practice you should still be able to speak relatively well despite the braces.

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Method 1 of 2: Adjust the way you speak and sing

1. Practice speaking slowly with friends and family. To make it easier to talk while wearing your braces, learn to talk slowly with everyone you spend most of the day with. The more you practice speaking, the more comfortable you will be talking with braces. You should be able to talk with relative ease within a month to two months of getting the braces.
   • Your tongue will eventually adjust to the brace. If you practice a lot on all types of words, you will eventually be able to speak normally again.
   • If you start practicing saying words while wearing your braces, you may find yourself spitting or drooling when you speak. This is normal, as your mouth will contain more saliva than normal through the braces. You can use a cloth to collect saliva around your mouth or chin as you get used to wearing and talking with your braces.
   • The reason you may produce more spit with braces is because your mouth perceives it as a foreign object. Your mouth reacts to this foreign object in the same way as it does to a piece of food in your mouth - it increases saliva flow.
2. Read aloud for five minutes or more a day. Another way to get your mouth used to the braces is to practice reading aloud for at least five minutes a day. You can choose to read a passage from your favorite book or any section from the newspaper. Reading aloud to yourself or someone else allows you to practice speaking and pronouncing different words.
   • It might be a good idea to read the same passage out loud every day until you feel like you can read it clearly and confidently once. Once you have successfully read the passage, you can try a longer passage or a passage with more complex terms and longer words.
3. Try to sing part of a song at least once a day. Singing is another great way to help your mouth adjust to the brace. You can sing the chorus of your favorite song in the shower or in front of an audience of family and friends. Maybe you choose a simple nursery rhyme or a familiar tune that contains simple words. You can then practice by singing this out loud once a day until you can sing the song clearly and without any problems.
4. Repeat words you find difficult to pronounce with your braces on. As you sing or read, listen to yourself and write down the words or phrases that are difficult to pronounce. These can be longer words or words with "sh" and harsh "c" sounds, or also the "s," "z" or "t", which require a certain position of the tongue over the bracket. You should repeat these words several times as you read or sing them so that you can practice pronouncing them. In time, you should be able to pronounce these challenging words correctly while wearing your braces.
5. Speak more on weekends. If you shy away from talking during the week at school in class or with your peers in the hallways, then you should make it a habit to talk with your braces in your mouth on the weekends. On weekends you can walk around the house and talk to yourself or talk to your parents. It can be less intimidating talking in an empty room or with encouraging parents.

Method 2 of 2: Maintain your braces

1. Brush your braces at least once a day. Taking care of your braces can make it easier to talk while you are wearing them, as a clean brace will not contain odors or plaque. Odors and plaque build-up can make it difficult to get comfortable wearing the braces and having in-depth conversations with others. Keep your braces clean and attractive by brushing your teeth and braces with toothpaste at least once a day.
   • Ask your orthodontist about cleaning your braces, as some braces need to be cleaned with water and a toothbrush instead of toothpaste. Some toothpastes, especially abrasive toothpastes, can damage certain braces.
   • Allowing plaque and bacteria to build up on your braces is also harmful to your gums and teeth.
   • If your braces seem to have a very strong odor despite regular brushing, you can try soaking them in a carbon tablet dissolved in water. Or you can dissolve a spoonful of baking soda in a glass of water and soak your braces in there.
2. Only remove your braces when you go swimming or eating. To do its job properly, your braces need to stay in your mouth most of the time. You should only take it out when you eat or go for a swim so that the underwire does not come into contact with pool water.
   • You should talk to your orthodontist about this rule, as some doctors have additional guidelines on when to wear your braces. You may be advised not to wear it when playing contact sports or playing other sports that could injure your teeth or break the braces.
3. Keep your braces in case it's not in use. To avoid losing or damaging the retention bracket, put it in the box when it is not in your mouth.Put the bar in your backpack so that you have it with you when you go to school and you need to remove the bar to eat or at least have it with you when you go for a swim. Safely packing the bracket in a box ensures that it is protected and ready to use.
   • The box should have a few holes for the air to flow in and keep your container dry. A completely closed box promotes bacterial growth because your braces cannot dry properly.
4. Have your orthodontist adjust your braces if they are uncomfortable or tight. If you've been practicing with the brace for over a month and find that it is still uncomfortable and tight in your mouth, you can schedule a follow-up appointment with your orthodontist.
   • Your orthodontist may suggest a different brace or adjust the brace to fit your mouth better. Some braces can rub against your mouth due to a misplaced wire, and your braces may feel more comfortable with just a minor adjustment by your orthodontist.