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The Tooth Fairy Tradition

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The Tooth Fairy Tradition

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You might be surprised to learn that every known culture has a tradition for disposing of children’s teeth, and the tooth fairy as we know her in America is only one of many. In many countries, baby teeth are actually given to a mouse or rat as a sacrifice with the hope that the child’s permanent teeth will grow to be as strong as a rodent’s. The fairies of European folklore and the fairies featured in many Disney films aided in the creation of today’s gift-bearing tooth fairy, who is only a very recent American tradition.

So what about the practice of placing teeth under the pillow? It is widely believed that this tradition comes from the European custom of burying baby teeth in the ground when they fall out to ensure the adult tooth grows in.

So what can you do as a parent to make this tradition special and unique to your family? We have a few ideas!

  1. Have the Tooth Fairy leave your child a special note or a certificate documenting the occasion.
  2. Make or purchase a special “tooth themed” pillow for your child to sleep on the nights they are awaiting a visit from the Tooth Fairy.
  3. If you’re worried the Tooth Fairy will be discovered when retrieving a tooth from under your child’s pillow, consider putting the tooth in a specially decorated jar next to their bed instead.
  4. Sprinkle some glitter around the room as proof of the visit.

When children lose their baby teeth, it can be a very exciting time for both children and parents. Make the most of it by incorporating your own fun traditions! Adding special touches to the experience will also help to dissipate any anxiety or fear your child might be feeling about losing their teeth.

If you have any questions or concerns on when children should lose their teeth and what is normal as they develop and grow, make sure to check out our blog post on baby teeth or contact one of our doctors.

 

Bye, Bye Baby Teeth

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Bye, Bye Baby Teeth

When will my child lose their first tooth?

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 We all know that baby teeth have to go sometime in order for new, permanent teeth to grow in, but you might be wondering when exactly it’s normal for a child to lose their first tooth. If your child’s baby teeth came in early, you can usually expect them to lose them early too.

The front two bottom teeth typically fall out first, followed by the two top front teeth. Children usually start losing their teeth between ages five and seven, but wiggly teeth at 4-years-old isn’t uncommon. Keep in mind, children develop at different rates but there are some patterns. For example, girls tend to lose their teeth earlier than boys. If your child does start losing their teeth early (4-years-old or younger), check to make sure there are no signs of trauma or tooth decay. Otherwise, early emerging permanent teeth are likely to be pushing them out. If your child still hasn’t started to lose their baby teeth by age seven, you might want to consider consulting your dentist.

If your child’s tooth is loose, don’t feel like you have to yank it out. If a tooth is forcefully pulled out before it’s ready, your child might develop an infection. Let the tooth fall out on its own if possible. If the tooth is ready and your child wants it removed, use a piece of gauze to gently twist the tooth out. It’s likely that children will continue to loosen the tooth on their own by wiggling it, which is perfectly healthy. Just make sure their hands are clean and they’re brushing twice a day!

Once your child begins to lose their teeth it will take about six years for all their baby teeth to fall out and be replaced with permanent adult teeth. Make sure to take extra care once your child’s permanent teeth grow in as permanent teeth problems typically mean permanent and costly dental work!