Mouthguard Magic | Dental Worksheet

When playing sports, it can be easy to get hurt. For this reason, it is important to wear a mouthguard when you’re active outdoors. Wearing a mouthguard can protect you from injuring your jaw, cutting your lips, biting your tongue, or even losing or chipping a tooth. Teeth aren’t easily fixed, so it’s important to take good care of them and protect them. Using this dental worksheet, discover the different types of mouthguards and compare how effective they are to see which type you should use.

There are three different types of mouthguards. They are stock, boil-and-bite, and custom made. You can find stock guards at a sporting goods store for the cheapest price of the group. However, this also means that they aren’t as effective. They often don’t fit very well due to the general and limited sizing that stores offer. More effective and also found in sporting good stores would be the boil-and-bite mouthguard. By exposing this type to heat and biting into it, you’re able to make a mouthguard that molds to your mouth without having to pay for a custom-made one. Custom-made guards are more pricy, as they are made within the dental office or a lab and require appointments for fittings. Due to their custom nature, they are the most effective, but properly fitted boil-and-bite guards can be just as effective.

View the provided dental worksheet to discover the differences and benefits of each type. Use your new mouthguard knowledge to keep your mouth safe when out playing sports and being active. You can ask a parent or guardian to get you a mouthguard that would be right for you. Don’t forget to share this handout with a friend so they can protect their dental health as well! Keep your teeth happy, healthy, and safe!