Has your child recently lost a baby tooth? Getting them excited about a visit from the Tooth Fairy isn’t always easy, especially if they appear fearful or nervous about the idea. When it comes to someone or something coming into their room at night while asleep and leaving a gift under their pillow, your little one may feel more scared than excited. To help minimize their fears and instead, get them excited about their upcoming visit, here are 4 tooth fairy stories from other parts of the world you can share.
The Importance of Healthy Baby Teeth
Before we dive into what other cultures do to help their children get excited about losing baby teeth, it’s important that you and your child understand why it’s important to keep these primary pearly whites in tip-top shape. While it is true they will eventually fall out, these teeth should remain firmly in place until it’s time for them to fall out and be replaced by permanent ones.
Cavities and tooth decay are common occurrences among children. From sugary sodas and fruit juices to candy and bread, and even novice oral hygiene skills, their primary teeth can develop problems that will carry with them into adulthood. It’s vital to not only play an active role in your child’s oral health regime, but you should also help them to get excited about taking care of their teeth and gums. Working closely alongside their pediatric dentist can make a big difference in the health and longevity of their smile.
4 Stories to Share With Your Children
If you’re looking for fun ways to tell your child about the Tooth Fairy, consider these stories and traditions from around the world to spur their excitement:
- China – Children are instructed to throw their lower baby teeth onto the roof and bury their upper baby teeth in the ground. While this might seem like an odd thing to do, the belief is that this will encourage permanent teeth to erupt quickly and avoid prolonged gaps in their smile.
- South Africa – Instead of a Tooth Fairy, children in South Africa will leave their baby teeth inside a slipper. At some point in the night, a tiny mouse will arrive and take the tooth, replacing it with a special gift.
- Turkey – If your child has aspirations to become president or pursue another career option, parents encourage them to bury their baby teeth in a place of meaning. This will serve to convey what the child hopes for in the future.
- Arab Nations – In countries like Egypt, Libya, and Oman, children are encouraged to throw their teeth toward the sun. In turn, it is believed their adult ones will grow in much stronger.
No matter how you choose to teach your child about the Tooth Fairy, don’t hesitate to talk to their pediatric dentist about additional tips or tricks. You might even find that a personalized letter from this mythical creature will be just what they need to take optimal care of their teeth so when one does fall out, they’ll be excited about what is to come.
About the Author
Dr. Homer Sedighi is a board-certified pediatric dentist in St. Louis who completed his dental doctorate at the Washington University School of Dental Medicine. After finishing a two-year residency in pediatric dentistry at the University of Rochester, he eventually opened his own practice. As an expert in all things related to the Tooth Fairy, Dr. Sedighi is here to provide you and your child with helpful information and facts about this tiny visitor and why it’s important to maintain good oral health. If you need assistance getting your child excited about their upcoming visit from the Tooth Fairy, check out the downloadable letter from the Tooth Fairy on his website and contact us at (636) 777-7777.