The Tooth Fairy Tradition

The Tooth Fairy Tradition

The Tooth Fairy Tradition

There?s nothing a dentist office loves more than excitement from kids about their teeth. The tooth fairy tradition is said to have originated in the early 1900?s in the United States as a way to celebrate the loss of baby teeth. Many countries and cultures have various customs dedicated to honoring the loss of baby teeth, so here are some fun ways to create your own tooth fairy tradition at home.

What is the tooth fairy tale?

  • The tale of the tooth fairy is a folklore that states that when children lose their baby teeth, the tooth fairy will visit them while they sleep and replace the lost tooth with a payment if the children place the tooth under their pillow.

When does the tooth fairy start showing up?

  • Children generally start to lose their baby teeth around age 5 when the 20 baby teeth will fall out to make room for their adult teeth. A poll conducted by Delta Dental has found that the tooth fairy (*shhhhh* and sometimes parents) give children between $1.50-2.50 as a payment for each lost tooth. Sometimes, the tooth fairy may give other small gifts or toys as tooth fairy payments as well.

Why continue this tradition?

  • The tooth fairy tale can be an excellent way to motivate children to care for their teeth and establish good dental hygiene. Reminding children that the tooth fairy is looking for clean, shiny, well brushed & flossed teeth in order to leave a payment is an excellent way to get children more interested in reinforcing routine daily care for their teeth.

What are some creative ways to use the tooth fairy tale?

  • Sometimes, losing teeth does not go as planned. Whether a tooth is lost in an injury or has to be pulled at the dentist?s office, leaving your child a note of encouragement from the tooth fairy  about their bravery at the dentist or even leaving an IOU if the tooth fairy forgets to visit can be a great way to continue encouraging them during the process. Sometimes, the reassurance from the tooth fairy helps children continue to find motivation for good dental care and helps them build courage around visiting the dentist. There are also may fun cards and accessories you can find online to add some sparkle to the tooth fairy?s visits and payments for your family.

Have a fun idea for how to keep the tooth fairy tradition alive or need some ideas on how to encourage your family to keep up their dental hygiene by using her tale? Call your Krengel Dental team and tell us all about it: 952-8881311.