What is the Tooth Fairy? (with pictures) (2024)

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The Tooth Fairy is a cherished figure in childhood folklore, symbolizing a rite of passage as children lose their baby teeth. This mythical creature is said to exchange lost teeth for a small reward, often while a child sleeps. But where did this enchanting tradition originate? Uncover the magical history behind the Tooth Fairy and its cultural significance. What's your Tooth Fairy story?

What is the Tooth Fairy? (with pictures) (1)

Mary McMahon

Mary McMahon Last Modified Date: January 05, 2024

The tooth fairy is a legendary good fairy who collects teeth as children lose them, offering coins in exchange. She is part of a large and complex cultural tradition of good and bad fairies, and children all over the world leave teeth for the tooth fairy in the hopes of seeing some money in the morning. In some cultures, instead of money, children receive a treat or a toy from the tooth fairy, with some spoilsport tooth fairies leaving presents like toothbrushes or floss to encourage children to take care of their budding adult teeth.

Before delving into the story of the tooth fairy, you might be interested in hearing some background. Many cultures have a long history of superstition surrounding the loss of the milk teeth, the teeth which children use in their early years. In some societies, the loss of the milk or “baby” teeth is viewed as a rite of passage, with the loss of the teeth signaling a transition into adulthood. A history of performing some sort of ritual act with lost teeth is ancient.

A girl with a baby tooth missing.

Tied in with beliefs about the loss of the milk teeth are beliefs about witchcraft. Many cultures used to believe (and some still do) that if a witch manages to obtain a part of someone's body, he or she can use that body part to perform black magic. Milk teeth would be a prime target for witches, along with things like fingernail clippings and scraps of hair. As a result, many cultures had a tradition of putting milk teeth into safekeeping to ensure that they would not enter the hands of witches.

The tooth fairy make leave money for children who lose teeth.

Historically, some people buried milk teeth, fed them to animals, or saved them so that they could keep an eye on them. As early as the 1600s, legends about fairies who collected baby teeth began to arise, but it wasn't until the early 1900s that people started leaving offerings for the tooth fairy. This good fairy is supposed to take care of lost milk teeth, ensuring that their owner grows up healthy and strong.

Children start to lose their baby teeth by about age 6.

The tradition of leaving money behind in exchange for a tooth also reflects very old beliefs about fairies. In English folklore especially, there is a long tradition of leaving gifts for fairies and receiving presents in return. The fairies are in a sense rewarding the people who offer them assistance, and in the case of the tooth fairy, the money is an expression of thanks for the tooth, and a reward for bearing the discomfort associated with losing milk teeth.

What is the Tooth Fairy? (with pictures) (6)
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced theexciting challenge of being a LanguageHumanities researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College andspends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

What is the Tooth Fairy? (with pictures) (7)
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced theexciting challenge of being a LanguageHumanities researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College andspends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

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Discussion Comments

WaterHopper

@oceanswimmer: Some of the common answers to our children’s questions of “Where did my teeth go” are:

They were given to newborn babies who don’t have teeth yet.

They were given to Santa to put in dolls that they make in their workshop.

They were turned into seashells for fish to live in.

The teeth were turned into the stars in the sky.

The fairy grinds them into fairy dust that she uses when she flies.

They are used to make tooth castles in the sky.

Those are some of the responses that I have heard over the years from various people.

OceanSwimmer

Some kids have been told that a mouse comes and takes the teeth and leaves a treasure under the pillow. This story came after the publication of “La Bonne Petite Souris,” from the 18th Century. The mouse in the story hides under the pillow of the evil King. The mouse then changes into a fairy and knocks out all of the King’s teeth. Eventually, the story changed the mouse to a fairy.

So, what do we, as parents, tell our children the tooth fairy did with their teeth?

BoatHugger

Back in the day, the Vikings used to pay their children a “tooth fee”. It was a fee for the use of the children’s teeth. The teeth were taken and then strung onto a necklace or other jewelry. The Vikings strongly believed the power of the children’s teeth would help to aid them in battle.

Another story was, as the article stated, the teeth were hidden from witches or evil spirits so that they couldn’t be used to place curses. The tooth would often be planted in a garden near the house. In doing so, that assured that the new adult tooth would grow in its place.

bubblebee24

i have seen a fairy before so don't go and diss them and saying that they are mythical creatures!

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    What is the Tooth Fairy? (with pictures) (2024)

    FAQs

    What is the real story of the Tooth Fairy? ›

    Some believe that the Tooth Fairy's origins lie in the European tradition, specifically, the Nords, for whom Viking teeth were crucial for their culture. Parents going on expeditionary adventures or war used to carry their kids' baby teeth for blessing and protection.

    How do I add the tooth fairy to a photo? ›

    It's called the “I Saw The Tooth Fairy” app. All you have to do is to take a photo of your child sleeping, and the app superimposes a video of the Tooth Fairy fluttering around her. You can re-position the fairy, shrink or enlarge it as you see fit to customize your video.

    What is the concept of the Tooth Fairy? ›

    The folklore states that when children lose one of their baby teeth, they should place it underneath their pillow or on their bedside table; the Tooth Fairy will visit while they sleep, replacing the lost tooth with a small payment.

    What does the tooth fairy really look like? ›

    What Does the Tooth Fairy Look Like? Unlike some other mythical characters, the tooth fairy tends to vary in appearance. There's the small figure with wings and a wand, which is popular in the U.S., while other countries, including Mexico and New Zealand, describe the tooth fairy as a mouse or rat.

    What is the dark history of the Tooth Fairy? ›

    Dark Beginnings

    During the Middle Ages, the importance of ejected baby teeth was darker than the legends of today. Common belief held that witches could use items that people held close, such as clothes, hair, finger/toe nails, and teeth, to create potions and place curses.

    At what age does the Tooth Fairy stop coming? ›

    The Tooth Fairy stops visiting a child when they have lost all of their baby teeth or when they stop believing in the magic. Children begin loosing baby teeth between the age of four and eight. This process continues until a child is around nine to twelve years old.

    How do I get the Tooth Fairy to come? ›

    Let the Tooth Fairy Know She's at the Right House

    Make sure she doesn't miss yours by giving her a sign that she's at the right home. Go outside with your child before they go to bed and leave a little trail of glitter up your walkway or on your porch to signal that a tooth awaits.

    How much money do you put in the Tooth Fairy? ›

    In the United States, the average amount given to the tooth fairy ranges from $1 to $5 per tooth. In some bigger cities, it's not uncommon for parents to give tooth fairy payouts even more than that. Of course, it's ultimately up to you to decide the right amount for your child.

    Where do tooth fairies put teeth? ›

    When a child looses their teeth, a golden bubble with that child's name appears in the tooth fairy's castle. She takes all the bubbles with her when she collects the teeth, and puts the tooth in the child's bubble so it can float back to her castle and she can fly on to the next lost tooth.

    When should I tell my child the Tooth Fairy isn't real? ›

    There are no strict guidelines on when to tell your child that the tooth fairy isn't real,” says licensed psychologist Charlotte Tilson.

    Is the Tooth Fairy real or is it just your parents? ›

    They point out that there is no scientific evidence to support the existence of the tooth fairy. Additionally, some parents admit to playing the role of the tooth fairy themselves, further fueling doubts about its reality.

    How to explain the Tooth Fairy isn't real? ›

    Explain that it is a tradition that parents and children have been perpetuating for decades. Remind them of how much fun they had carefully putting their tooth under the pillow and excitedly waking up the next morning to find their prize. Tell them that parents do it because they love seeing their child's joy.

    Who is the real tooth fairy killer? ›

    Behind the scenes

    Francis Dolarhyde (June 14, 1938 - 1980) was a mass serial killer and the main antagonist of both the novel and film, Red Dragon. Although he is technically not a cannibal like Hannibal Lecter, he is nicknamed The Tooth Fairy by the press due to his compulsive tendency to bite his victims.

    Why did tooth fairy take teeth? ›

    Tooth fairies love babies, so they reserve some collected teeth for them. Babies have no teeth when they're born, but fairies know how to plant unique teeth into their gums, and they use some of what they collect from under kids' pillows.

    What kind of myth is the Tooth Fairy? ›

    Ancient Tooth Related Myths

    A tradition of the tand-fe or tooth fee originated in Europe for a child's first tooth, and vikings used children's teeth and other items from their children to bring them good luck in battle.

    What is the symbolic meaning of the tooth fairy? ›

    The Tooth Fairy holds symbolic significance beyond the mere exchange of teeth for rewards. Losing baby teeth is considered a rite of passage, marking the transition from infancy to childhood. The Tooth Fairy's visit symbolizes growth, change, and the cyclical nature of life.

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