27 Jan Let’s Talk Tooth Fairy with Dr. Krista Kunz of Magnolia Pediatric Dentistry in Mt. Pleasant, SC

Our book review of “Throw Your Tooth on the Roof” got us thinking about teeth traditions and how they started. Here’s a bit of what we found.

The earliest Norse writing called, “The Eddas,” contain a record of a tradition called, “tand-fe,” or tooth-fee. For the first baby tooth lost, a child was given payment in exchange for the tooth. It was then worn around the necks of warriors headed into battle to bring them luck. This is likely the origin of the tooth fairy tradition in the United States.

It seems that no matter where in the world you go, there is a tradition associated with children losing their teeth. What a neat connection between different countries and cultures. So let’s take a little trip from our pediatric dental office in Mt. Pleasant to India where kids bury their teeth under a big tree in their neighborhood. Do you think the city of Mt. Pleasant would mind all of our kids burying their teeth at Laurel Hill County Park?

One of the most common myths across many cultures is that a rat or a mouse comes to collect your child’s tooth. This may be because rodent teeth don’t stop growing, and we want adult teeth to grow. In some hispanic cultures he’s called Ratoncito Perez. Kids leave their tooth under their pillow, and he brings them a gift. In Italy a tiny mouse called Topocino does the job. In Scotland, France, and Belgium, a fairy mouse visits when a baby tooth is lost.

In a 2013 survey conducted by Visa, it was found that $3.70 is the average payment per tooth in the United States. What are the kids in Mt. Pleasant getting for their teeth? Dr. Kunz wants to know! She got a quarter when she lost her baby teeth.

The idea of the tooth fairy is a great way to encourage your little ones to take more care when brushing and flossing. Knowing that the tooth fairy values healthy teeth more than those with cavities can persuade sleepy brushers into another minute of teeth cleaning.

One of our favorite things to listen to at Magnolia Pediatric Dentistry is “This American Life.” The tooth fairy themed prologue to their kid logic episode is hilarious. A warning though, this episode could ruin the tooth fairy magic for your kids, so listen to it alone.

If you want to add a little more magic to your kids tooth fairy experience, try writing a note from the tooth fairy that praises your kiddos for their good tooth brushing skills (or points out room for improvement). You could also sprinkle a little bit of glitter on the window sill where the tooth fairy came in and out of the room, or use some glitter glue on the money the tooth fairy left. Just make sure you let it dry completely before putting it under the pillow. Do you have any fun tooth fairy traditions? We’d love to hear about them!