How To Attach A Mouthguard To A Football Helmet? (4 Steps)

Football is one of the highest contact sports, and when you get tackled, your mouthguard can fly for a long way. That’s why it’s essential to attach a mouthguard to a football helmet, so you never lose it, and it’s always easily accessible to you. Easier said than done, right? Here’s how to do it;

To attach a mouthguard to a football helmet, you need to attach the strap, tighten it, and then pull it from the bottom to wrap it around. Insert the strap via the hole and then secure it. Ensure that the mouthguard sits comfortably on your football helmet. 

Once you know how to do it, the process is really easy. However, I needed more instructions than when I first learned to do it, so let’s look in detail at how to attach the mouthguard properly to your football helmet. 

Related: 5 Best Mouthguards For Braces

How to Attach a Mouthguard to a Football Helmet?

Step 1: Wear the Mouthguard. 

This is the primary step in attaching it to a football helmet. 

You can’t connect them first and then wear them. It could be tight and inappropriate. First, wearing the mouthguard before attaching it to the helmet is ideal for protecting your teeth and yourself from concussions.

If you feel discomfort when wearing your mouthguard, I highly recommend you to read my mouthguard fitting guide so you can adjust it or at least understand how a mouthguard should fit.

Step 2: Wear the Helmet and Tighten the Chin Strap. 

In general, every mouthguard comes with a strap to adjust the fitting and then connect it to the helmet to avoid the falls of the mouthguard when you play the game. If your mouthguard doesn’t have any strap, you need to discuss it with the manufacturer and add a new one or change the mouthguard. 

The common issue is that if you tighten it too much, it can lower the comfort level and interfere during the game. 

So, it is better to tighten the chin strap to the right level (neither too tight nor too loose). 

Step 3: Attach the Mouthguard to the Bottom of the Helmet. 

If you want to attach a mouthguard to the helmet, the bottom area is the one that you need to use.

Before you attach, you need to slightly loosen the helmet by pulling the strap so that it is not too tight and enough space to attach a mouthguard. 

You can pull the strap from the bottom portion of the helmet, and this is the perfect method to attach it to your teeth. 

Step 4: Wrap the Strap Around the Helmet to Secure It. 

Wrap the mouthguard with the strap around and then insert it into the hole to secure it properly. Usually, the last hole is used for inserting the bar as this is tight enough, so the player does not have to worry about security. 

Check a couple of times if it is inserted properly and then secured. Pull it quickly or move the straps and see if the mouthguard gets displaced. 

If you are doing it for the first time, you should know that the strap may be strapped too tight or too loose. So, you need to do this test. 

You can attach the mouthguard easily to your football helmet in just four steps and start playing. 

How to Strap a Mouthguard to a Helmet?

Strapping a mouthguard begins with wearing the mouthguard and then wearing a helmet as if you will play a game. Pull the strap to the ideal length and then wrap around this region. 

The main reason to strap a mouthguard is to prevent potential injuries during the game. Here are the steps to follow:

• Place the mouthguard around your mouth. 
• Wear the helmet as if you are going to play the game immediately. 
• Pull the strap attached to the mouthguard. 
• Find the bar at the bottom region and then wrap it around. 
• Ensure enough slack, so the face mask bar does not tighten up your chin. 
• Fasten the strap and then let it inside the hole at the bottom. 

Strapping a mouthguard is extremely easy. If you are just starting with your mouthguard journey, it can be a tiresome task, but you will get the hang of it in a few days. 

How to Attach Mouthguard to a Lacrosse Helmet?

Wear the mouthguard and then wrap the strap around the bottom of the helmet. Insert it into one of the holes and then tighten it. Your mouthguard is now attached to a lacrosse helmet. 

Let us get into detail. 

• First, attach the guard so it protects your face and does not affect your vision. 
• Next, check if there are holes in the guard. 
• Wear the mouthguard and then place the helmet. 
• Wrap the strap around the bottom region and tighten it based on comfort. 
• Make basic mouth movements to check the comfort level. 

Remember to test the tightness before playing with a mouthguard attached to your lacrosse helmet. 

If you have a custom-made mouthguard without straps, remember to place an order as a strap is mandatory to wrap around the bottom. In its absence, the mouthguard can fall at any time. 

How Long to Boil a Shock Doctor Mouthguard?

Boiling a shock doctor mouthguard for up to 45 seconds gives the best result and longevity to the mouthguard. 

Boil a bowl of water for a few seconds and turn off the stove once it is boiled. After 30 seconds, allow the mouthguard to immerse in this water bowl for 45 seconds. This will add flexibility and resistance to the shock doctor mouthguard. Further, it will also soften the mouthguard when you take it from a water bowl. 

Never exceed 90 seconds of boiling time as it can hamper the mouthguard. 

How Tight Should a Chinstrap Be?

Due to different face structures, there is no specific tightness level recommended, but a chinstrap should protect your face and teeth and never intrude on other activities. 

When you attach a mouthguard to a helmet, you need to tighten it in a way it does not interfere with your actions. Loosen or tighten it based on comfort. Move your head and perform everyday actions to check if the strap is interfering with any activities. 

What Kind of Mouthguards Do NFL Players Use?

NFL players use high-end mouthguards from Nike and Shock Doctor. Some of them are customized to fit their chin shapes and for maximum safety of the mouth region when they play the game. 

Nevertheless, attaching a mouthguard to a helmet is highly recommended to protect your face and divert your focus towards the game without worrying about your safety.