Our teeth can affect our speech. Teeth play an important role in helping the tongue and lips move properly. Here are some key points that explain how teeth affect speech:

Sound Formation: Teeth play an important role in creating certain speech sounds. For example, labiodental sounds (lip-dental sounds) such as “f” or “v” cannot be produced correctly without contact between the upper teeth and the lower lip.
Dental Gaps: Gaps between teeth or irregular tooth alignment can cause some sounds to be pronounced incorrectly. For example, a person with gaps between their teeth may not be able to pronounce the “s” sound or the “z” sound correctly.
Tongue Placement: Teeth help in the correct positioning of the tongue. For example, we make alveolar sounds such as “t” or “d” by touching the back of the alveolar teeth.
Voice Trill: Teeth allow the tongue or lips to rub against the teeth to create certain sounds. This friction makes some sounds vibrate more and makes pronunciation more accurate.

Tooth Configuration: The shape and position of the teeth can affect which sounds a person can naturally produce better. For example, teeth size and configuration vary between people, so each person’s speech is personalized.

The effect of teeth on speech can vary from person to person. Dental problems or missing teeth can affect the ability to speak. Dental problems can be corrected with speech therapy or can be fixed by a dentist.