My surgery was three years ago and while my mouth does not hurt to talk I do have trouble with L and D. I have learned to speak slower and clearer but on the phone even when I spell L and D peope have troule understanding me (my name has both Ls and Ds in it). If I speak for a long time my mouth dries out so I've learned to be brief. I have to say I've become use to it and it doesn't bother as much as it did at first. It will get better.