Ages 6 to 8 (losing front teeth) and 11 to 14 (braces) are both common times for Quran pronunciation to wobble. This is physical, not a learning problem.
Which letters are affected
| Letters | Why |
|---|---|
| ث ذ ظ | Tongue tip should touch the front teeth; with gaps there’s nothing to touch |
| س ص ز | Need a narrow airflow over the teeth; gaps or brackets make a whistle or “sh” sound |
| ت د ط ض | Sometimes affected by brackets behind or on the teeth |
Missing front teeth (ages 6–8)
- Check the tongue is in the right place, even if the sound isn’t perfect.
- Don’t correct the same letter more than twice in a session.
- Tell your child: “Your new teeth will fix this sound. Just keep your tongue in the right place.”
New braces (ages 11–14)
- Days 1–3: mouth may be sore. Lighter reading, more listening.
- Days 4–14: 5 minutes a day of slow practice: read words full of س and ص, for example الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ, very slowly, then a little faster.
- After 2–3 weeks: most children sound normal again.
Orthodontic wax on sharp brackets makes reading more comfortable. If a sound has not improved after about a month, ask the orthodontist.
Tell the teacher
A short message (“My son had braces fitted on Tuesday”) helps the teacher understand and adjust, rather than drilling the same letter.
Teacher’s tip: for teenagers with braces, practising in front of a mirror helps a lot: they can see whether the tongue tip is in the right place even when the sound is still a bit off.
Related: Lisp and س/ص and ث ذ ظ.
