When young children feel their first loose teeth, they probably begin thinking about the tooth fairy. Whether they have heard it from their older siblings, neighbors or classmates, most five-year-olds are quite familiar with the tooth fairy. Their eyes will light up at the idea of a mysterious fairy who “buys” their lost teeth from them while they sleep.
While each parent’s version of the tooth fairy may differ slightly, including tiny tooth pillows or a hand-written letter, the general story is the same. A child loses his or her tooth, places it under the pillow, and wakes to find the tooth gone and some money in its place.
Why Do We Have a Tooth Fairy?
Today’s tooth fairy legend may have its origins in Northern European traditions as far back as the 1200’s. Children often received a “tooth fee” when they lost their first teeth. The modern tooth fairy seems to be just over a hundred years old and began as a way to convince children into pulling or allowing someone else to pull a loose tooth.
Some children fear the loss of their first teeth, and rightly so! It’s not every day that part of your body falls out! Many simply fear the unknown, and once some pulls the first tooth without incident, the fear subsides. Other children may fear every loose tooth. The tooth fairy story can be a subtle method of bribing your child to pull the tooth.
Things to Factor Into Your Tooth Fairy Story
While each person may have variations in his or her version of the tooth fairy story, there are a few important things to remember as you begin recounting it to your children. These factors are helpful to both the parent and child.
The Need to Lose Baby Teeth
Children need to understand that it is healthy and good to lose baby teeth. Each human being has two sets of teeth, and the first set (the “baby” teeth) must be replaced by the permanent teeth. The configuration of baby teeth makes them unsuitable for long-term use. They have thinner enamel and shorter roots. They cannot withstand the forces of normal adult chewing. For a child to grow into a healthy and strong adult, he or she must lose the baby teeth.
The Need to Lose Healthy Baby Teeth
In the dental office, we often hear parents discussing the tooth fairy with their children, and sometimes parents promise a hefty tooth fee to a child undergoing a tooth extraction. If the tooth requires extraction due to large decay, we are going to suggest that the fee should be reduced.
This is to encourage your child to institute healthy oral care habits of brushing, flossing, and making good dietary choices. If they know that a healthy tooth is worth more than a tooth with a cavity, that could be the motivation they need to maintain those healthy habits.
The Expectation to Lose Twenty Teeth
As you are fabricating your unique version of the tooth fairy story, make sure you are factoring in the number of baby teeth your child will lose. Some parents begin the tradition with a relatively high fee, not realizing that over time, they will pay that fee times twenty!
We hear stories of parents who started at $5 per tooth, never understanding that this will cost them $100 by the time the child finishes losing teeth. And that is only for one child. Consider the siblings who will expect the same fee per tooth.
If you do not consider this aspect of the tooth fairy story, it could break the bank!
More Questions about Telling Your Child the Tooth Fairy Story?
Call Rockland Dental Specialists today to schedule a consultation with one of our dental experts. We love helping parents take great care of their children’s teeth and initiating great habits for a lifetime.
