Will Wearing Candid Clear Aligners Impact the Way I Speak?

June 5, 2025

Filed under: Uncategorized — crownridgedental @ 11:06 pm
a patient smiling and holding their Candid clear aligner

Candid clear aligners are a popular choice for straightening teeth discreetly and comfortably. They’re removable, nearly invisible, and designed to gently shift your teeth into healthier, more aligned positions – all without the brackets and wires of traditional braces. But if you’ve just started treatment, or you’ve been thinking about getting clear aligners for a while, you may be wondering, “Is this going to affect my speech?” While it’s possible, these effects are definitely only temporary; here’s what you need to know.

How Candid Clear Aligners Can Affect Speech

It’s common for patients to experience slight changes in their speech during the first few days of wearing Candid, most often in the form of a temporary lisp, particularly when pronouncing “s” or “sh” sounds, as well as “z” sounds. This is because these sounds require the tongue to touch the teeth, and you may not be used to the feeling of the thin layer of plastic that now covers your teeth. In most cases, this lisp is very mild and fades away within a few days or a couple of weeks as you learn to work around the aligners.  

Tips for Speaking Clearly with Candid

If you do notice changes in your speech due to the aligners, here are a few ways to speed up the adjustment process:

  • Practice reading out loud by picking up a book or singing a song, or by conversing with a trusted friend or family member; the more you speak, the faster you’re going to adapt to wearing Candid.
  • Speak slowly and clearly so that your mouth has more time to pronounce each sound while you talk.
  • Stay consistent with your wear time, wearing your aligners for the recommended 22 hours every day, to keep things right on track with no delays.
  • Maintain your oral hygiene to prevent any would-be dental issues that could cause setbacks.

It’s important to remember that everyone’s experience with clear aligners is slightly different. While speech changes may feel noticeable to you, they could also be so subtle that others won’t even notice—plus, once you adjust, you’ll be back to speaking clearly in no time!

About the Practice

Our team here at Crownridge Dental has proudly served the needs of patients and families in San Antonio and the surrounding area under the leadership of Dr. Christian A. Pham and Dr. Patricia A. Nuñez. We offer a variety of services, including Candid clear aligners for those looking to achieve their orthodontic goals without the hassle of metal braces. If you have any questions about the blog or you’d like to get in touch with us to schedule a consultation to see if Candid is a good option for you, please reach out online or call today for more information. Telephone: (210) 538-7500.