People can recollect moments from our childhood years when the Tooth Fairy traded coins for our beloved baby teeth.
This is a popular custom for American families, and the Tooth Fairy is additionally a great tale for parents to apply when trying to convince their kids to take excellent care of their teeth. As a matter of fact, author Vicki Lanksy realized that children were far more interested in maintaining great dental hygiene if their parents convinced them that the Tooth Fairy gave more for excellent teeth. Yet did you realize that the Tooth Fairy that we are familiar with is largely unique to Americans? And unlike Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny, the foundations concerning this practice are relatively not known.
The Tooth Fairy Consultant
Rosemary Wells, an instructor from the Northwestern University Dental School, decided to conduct some investigation on the strange inceptions of the Tooth Fairy. What she uncovered was that the Tooth Fairy was not as old as was initially believed. The first oral evidence of this fairy happened close to the turn of the 20th century, and the first image in print was in 1927. Wells carried on her investigation for many years and she even conducted a nationwide poll that consisted of around 2,000 mothers and fathers. Amongst the most impressive of Wells’ results is the gallery that she has established that showcases all of her research and findings. And where is this museum? It’s inside of Wells’ Illinois home. Her business card even announces her as the official “Tooth Fairy Consultant.”
The Tooth Fairy All Around the Globe
Whilst the concept of the pop culture Tooth Fairy has its beginnings in American culture, the procedures surrounding lost baby teeth differ from country to country. Girl or boys living in Russia, New Zealand, France, and Mexico set their baby teeth underneath their pillow in the hopes that a mouse or rat will trade it out for money or sweets. The idea concerning this concept is that young children’s teeth are going to grow back as powerful as a rat’s.
Many different societies’ beliefs of the Tooth Fairy feature a mouse or rodent, yet it relies on the community; whenever the kid places their tooth beneath their pillow or if they keep it out for the rodent to snatch. The French named this character La Petite Souris, and the Spanish call it Ratoncito Perez.
Other popular customs incorporate dropping the lost tooth in a bottle of water or milk–and even wine–and setting it by the bedside table. Tannfe, the Norwegian tooth fairy, prefers the teeth in clear water since her worn out and drowsy eyes just cannot find the tooth anywhere else. Also once the child awakes in the morning, a silver coin will be at the bottom of the glass. For Irish children, the tooth fairy is a juvenile leprechaun named Anna Bogle that mistakenly knocked out her front tooth. She takes young children’s lost teeth to substitute her own, and in exchange, she leaves a bright gold coin.
At the same time, in Asian countries, kids will throw teeth lost from the lower jaw onto the roof of their home, and teeth lost from the top jaw will be thrown right into the area beneath their home. Traditionally, the children will shout a wish for sturdy, healthy teeth to evolve in its place.
There are a few cultures that treat the custom of lost teeth with caution. For instance, in Austria, children used to stash their teeth in the areas encompassing their house. This was done to guard the young children given that Austrians felt that if a witch procured a child’s tooth, that kid could end up being cursed. Yet, Viking fighters thought their children’s teeth provided success during the course of a war, and they regularly created necklaces out of the teeth to wear to combat.
Sensible Approaches to the Tooth Fairy
It could be said that the exercise of these various tooth fairy traditions can assist children to conquer the distress of losing teeth, and even give contentment during the course of this different experience. Anthropologist Cindy Dell Clark has said that a young child acquiring cash for their lost tooth is the initial transition toward adulthood given that making money during adulthood is an exercise in accountability and agency.
Rosemary Wells and Cindy Dell Clark aren’t the only ones who have been examining and researching the outcomes of the tooth fairy. In 2013, Visa presented that the normal amount left for a tooth in America was $3.70. Visa’s senior director of global financial education Jason Alderman has said: “It is due to a combination of things: one is a reflection of an improving economy, and that parents feel they can afford to be generous in small areas.”
We would like to know what you think! Did you have a unique tooth fairy practice as a kid? How much did the Tooth Fairy leave for you? Let us know on Facebook!
FAQs
Origins. In Northern Europe, a tradition of tand-fé or tooth fee was paid when a child lost their first tooth. This tradition is recorded in writings as early as the Eddas (c. 1200), which are the earliest written record of Norse and Northern European traditions.
What does the tooth fairy do with the teeth answer? ›
Tooth fairies use some of the collected teeth to build their fairy kingdom. Have you ever noticed how solid and pristine white a tooth is? It's perfect for these little fairies to make their solid and white fairy castles.
How does tooth fairy come? ›
Folklore from many parts of the world tells us that when children lose a baby tooth, they should place it underneath their pillow and the Tooth Fairy will visit while they are asleep, to take that lost tooth and leave a small payment, especially if those teeth have been kept very clean and shiny.
Is the tooth fairy real yes or no answer? ›
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.
What is the dark history of the tooth fairy? ›
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.
Why did tooth fairy take teeth? ›
Why does the tooth fairy keep teeth? Folklore tells us that the tooth fairy keeps teeth for her own personal pleasure. The tooth fairy is fascinated with teeth and keeps them with her in her castle as ornaments that light up her surroundings, especially if they are clean and shiny teeth.
Is The tooth fairy Real or is it your parents? ›
The tooth fairy may not be real, but it's still a fun way to talk to your kids about their oral health. Lombard dentist, Dr. Brett Blacher likes to make pediatric dentistry fun for kids and is always ready to encourage preventative dentistry to all his patients, young and old.
What does tooth fairy leave for first tooth? ›
On average, the Tooth Fairy leaves around $5, but some kids may receive up to $20 for a single tooth or an exceptional tooth. Some families may give a larger amount for the first tooth lost, while others may opt for non-monetary gifts such as stickers or toys.
Where do tooth fairies get their money? ›
Where does the Tooth Fairy get her money? Once she places the teeth into the sky as stars, she can magically transform any star dust she collects into gold dust. Gold is worth quite a bit these days so she can exchange it at the fairy bank for currency.
Will the tooth fairy still come if I lost my tooth? ›
But don't worry, even if you can't find your tooth once it falls out, she will still visit.
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.
What to say when your kid asks if the tooth fairy is real? ›
A great way to determine the answer is to respond, "Why do you ask?" or "What do you think?" If he or she seems ready for the truth, give it to them. However, if they want to hold on to the story a bit longer, simply say, "Well, I absolutely believe in the magic of the tooth fairy!"
Does fairy exist? ›
In modern day, fairies have been associated with children's books, resulting in the moniker, “fairy tales,” according to Live Science. Though the belief in fairies still exists to present day, there is no concrete proof for or against the existence of fairies.
Is 11 too old to believe in tooth fairy? ›
"There is no such thing as being too old to believe in Santa, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy," Kelman tells Yahoo Life. "Letting kids figure it out on their own is preferable to parents breaking the news to them.
Does the tooth fairy have pagan origins? ›
The Early Origins of the Tooth Fairy
But while the origins of the first two can clearly be traced back to a combination of Christian and pagan traditions, with some recent tweaks from the marketing departments at Coca-Cola and Cadbury, respectively — far less is known about the third.
Is the tooth fairy a British thing? ›
The Birth of the Modern Tooth Fairy
The British tooth fairy is very much like its American counterpart. In 1908, the Chicago Tribune published a short article about the tooth fairy, announcing that American kids would receive a small monetary gift in exchange for the loss of their baby teeth.
Is the tooth fairy only in America? ›
The tradition we're most familiar with, of course, is the Tooth Fairy. In the United States, Denmark, England, and Australia, when a child loses their tooth, they put it under their pillow at night in hopes that the Tooth Fairy will come and replace it with money (or sometimes candy).
Is The tooth fairy Based on a true story? ›
The very first appearance of a tradition similar to the tooth fairy can be traced to Northern Europe. In the late 10th century, a “tand-fe” (tooth fee) was paid to children who lost their first tooth. This tradition traces back to the earliest written records of Norse traditions.
