Do you remember when you believed in Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny? Think back on the excitement the prospect of losing a baby tooth brought. Knowing that the Tooth Fairy was going to come to take the tooth and leave money, whether it was a dime, quarter, or dollar, is a highlight of childhood. Bringing the wonder of the Tooth Fairy to life with your own children is a whole new, exciting experience.
As the Tooth Fairy once again becomes a prominent part of your life, you may wonder how the Tooth Fairy came to be. There are many traditions relating to the loss of baby teeth going back thousands of years. When a child lost a baby tooth, they would do one or more of the following:
– Throw it into the sun
– Throw it into the fire
– Throw it between their legs
– Throw it onto or over the roof of a dwelling
– Place it in a mouse hole
– Bury it in the ground
– Hide it out of sight of animals
– Put it inside a tree or on the wall
– Swallow it, or have their mother or pet swallow it
There are many versions of the tooth deity. In some countries, a mouse would enter children’s rooms and remove baby teeth. The mouse is the tooth deity in many cultures because rodents continue to grow their teeth throughout their lives. In other cultures, the tooth deity varies to include beavers, dogs, cats, and squirrels. The tooth deity would take the lost baby tooth that was “buried” under a pillow and replace it with gifts like money.
Our beloved Tooth Fairy was inspired by the legend of the mouse combined with legends from Europe of a good fairy that originated in fairy tales. In about 1927, a book made our current idea of the Tooth Fairy popular in America.
We invite you to call Pell City Dental today to learn more and to schedule your next visit with our dentist in Pell City, Alabama. Dr. Scott Barnett and our team are dedicated to serving you and your family.
