Whether a child loses a baby tooth with help from the dentist or when biting into an apple, they will likely be longing for a visit from the Tooth Fairy. When it comes to the legend of the Tooth Fairy, most parents keep things pretty simple. Parents may talk about this legendary fairy in terms of the fact that she offers a reward for children after they lose each baby tooth. The fairy places her gifts under kids' pillows that very night when they go to sleep. It's not always this simple, though. There is more to the Tooth Fairy than meets the eye. Here's what you can tell your kids about this special fairy to make the anticipation of her visit even greater.

Rich History

The Tooth Fairy and the legends that created her go back a lot further than people may imagine. The Smithsonian reports that she first appeared near the turn of the 20th century. However, the tradition of giving children a reward for lost teeth goes back centuries. The first Tooth Fairy Museum was even founded in the later part of the 20th century. This grand fairy is now indisputably a part of most American childhoods.

Books About the Tooth Fairy

Along with a small monetary gift, you may want to leave a children's book about the Tooth Fairy to celebrate the loss of a baby tooth. It can start a new tradition where you read the book with your child every time that they lose a tooth. Some books you may want to consider include:

  • "The Tooth Fairy Book" by Deborah Kovacs
  • "The Dinosaur Tooth Fairy" by Martha Brockenbrough
  • "Dad, Are You The Tooth Fairy?" by Jason Alexander
  • "You Think It's Easy Being the Tooth Fairy?" by Sheri Bell-Rehwoldt

Your Own Traditions

You can create your own traditions with your children to make losing each baby tooth a memorable and even fun occasion. You may try some of the following traditions.

  • Have your child draw the Tooth Fairy and hang the drawing in the bathroom so they can see it when brushing their teeth.
  • Leave out dental-friendly snacks for the tooth fairy like you do with milk and cookies for Santa.
  • Take a photo of your child's smile each time they lose a tooth to see how it changes.

Finally, keep in mind that your child is likely to have a changing relationship with the Tooth Fairy as they grow and continue to lose teeth. Don't be surprised if a child may lose faith in the Tooth Fairy before they lose all their baby teeth. Don't worry. They will still want the treats that the Tooth Fairy brings. 

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