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For many of us, the tooth fairy was a big part of our childhood. Every time we felt a tooth wiggle, we would anxiously await the day it fell out so we could stuff it under our pillow in exchange for money and treats. The concept of receiving a reward for teeth is not a new one. Writings have been found from the 13th century mentioning a tooth fee in exchange for a child losing their first tooth, and even Vikings had traditions of paying their children for losing their teeth. Throughout history, we can see teeth have always held some importance and value, but the tooth fairy was also introduced to distract children from the fear of losing their teeth.
Losing teeth can be a scary concept for children, and that’s why the tooth fairy can be such a helpful tool during this time in their lives. You can make it as fun and magical for your children as you like; some people even decorate little chests or cases to put the teeth in to make it a little more special. So how much does the tooth fairy pay?
The Original Tooth Fairy Poll shows that the average payout per tooth is $3.71. It’s important to keep in mind that over the course of their childhood, children will lose 20 teeth, so you may want to set your tooth fee at a reasonable price. One other thing to consider is that your child will lose their baby teeth from the ages of six to twelve, so the older they get, the more money they may expect.
So how can you make the tooth fairy work for you by teaching your kids about the importance of oral health? We’ve come up with a few suggestions for how the tooth fairy can teach your kids to take good care of their teeth, while also having fun:
- Highlight the fact that the tooth fairy prefers healthy teeth. As a general rule, the tooth fairy will collect all teeth, but it’s important to emphasize that she prefers healthy teeth. You might remind your kids that taking care of their teeth will ensure the tooth fairy gets shiny and perfect teeth and might give them a bigger reward the nicer the tooth.
- Leave a note that encourages good oral health habits. Tying into our last point, you can leave a personalized note from the tooth fairy with encouraging words and tips on brushing and flossing daily and visiting your dentist twice a year. You can find printable tooth fairy stationary online or make your own fairy dust with glitter. You can also use this resource for templates for letters or certificates for a lost tooth: https://www.deltadental.com/us/en/tooth-fairy/tooth-fairy-resources.html
- Give oral health gifts. Instead of giving cash for a tooth, you can opt to leave fun oral health gifts. A sparkly toothbrush, colored floss, or fun-flavored toothpaste can be an exciting treat for kids.
- Create a dental health tracker. You can use a chart from this site to start a dental health tracker: https://www.mouthhealthy.org/resources/activity-sheets/tooth-fairy Using a tracker to keep up with how well your child is taking care of their teeth will help them feel proud of their accomplishments, and it can be a tangible way to show the tooth fairy all the hard work they’ve put in in exchange for a treat.
- Allow the tooth fairy to be friends with your child’s dentist. Many children fear going to the dentist, but if they believe the tooth fairy is personally friends with their dentist, it may help to alleviate some of that anxiety. In your note from the tooth fairy, you can mention their dentist by name to create another bond between all the people who care about the health of their smile. The note can also encourage your child to trust their dentist and to see them as a friend.
The tooth fairy can bring a lot of lighthearted fun to an uncomfortable time in a child’s life. If you were on the fence about introducing your child to her magic, it may be time to let the tooth fairy pay a visit. At Simply Smiles, we are experts in pediatric dentistry, and we would love to talk to your child about the tooth fairy and how we all like to work together to keep their smile shiny and bright. Call our office and make an appointment today!
Sources:
https://www.premierdentalohio.com/blog/tooth-fairy
https://www.deltadentalil.com/your-health/childrens-oral-health/tooth-fairy-teaches-oral-health/
https://smileexplorers.com/starting-a-tooth-fairy-tradition-to-encourage-good-dental-habits/
https://southdakota.deltadental.com/blog/why-the-tooth-fairy-is-an-important-character-for-kids/
https://www.rosydental.com/how-to-use-the-tooth-fairy-to-teach-your-kids-about-dental-health
https://adambrowndds.com/tooth-fairy-come/