The purpose of this activity is to help emphasize the importance of mouth protection during contact sports. Have students brainstorm about the benefits of mouth protectors. Assign a committee of students to interview physical education or sports coaches about the school's mouth protector program. Determine what sports are included in the mouth protector program. If a program does not exist, encourage students to learn why.
Students can then present their findings to the class.
Materials needed include samples of mouth protectors and pictures of mouths that have lost teeth due to sports injuries. Have students test the acidity of their mouths with litmus paper before and after eating different foods. Check the pH every five minutes for one hour. Chart and compare the results. Discuss with the students the way plaque uses sugar to produce the acid that can decay teeth.