Nobody quite knows when the tooth fairy was born, but there are records of someone similar visiting children in Northern Europe as far back as the year 1200.
These days, a visit from this magical (mythical) creature is a rite of passage for many Australian children whenever they lose a tooth.
Parents, here’s how best to handle your starring role!
Introduce Her In Advance
The best way to prepare kids for the tooth fairy’s visit is to get them excited! We spend our lives telling them all about avoiding strangers - and some kids are afraid of strange creatures - so the last thing you want is for them to be freaked out by her visit.
Tell them the way it’s going to go in your house, for example that she may leave a special something under their pillow if they leave their tooth out for her.
How To Deal With The Wobbles
Once your child’s baby teeth start getting wobbly, let them know that this is really natural and means they’re about to get their big teeth. And, when they fall out, they’ll get a special treat.
Now, in reality, their teeth are probably going to fall out when you least expect it. Pre-write notes in advance from the tooth fairy in advance so that you’re prepared, and remind them to keep hold of the missing tooth if it falls out at school or somewhere you won’t be present.
The Big Visit
Many parents get their child to put the tooth that’s fallen out under their pillow as a gift for the tooth fairy. If your child is a light sleeper, encourage them to leave their tooth somewhere else instead, perhaps in a box next to the bed.
You get to decide what the tooth fairy gifts in return. If you can afford it, a gold coin does the trick. However, don’t feel pressure to make this about money - a cute note or something more creative like a certificate will go down nicely.
It’s totally up to your family how you have this fun with your child!
Fielding Their Questions
Being curious is a natural part of childhood, and so your child may have questions.
If they wonder where the teeth go, you can use your imagination. Perhaps the tooth fairy uses them to create her castles, or she sends them up to the skies to be stars.
Sometimes questions relate to little mistakes you may have made. If “the tooth fairy” forgets to pop by and this is questioned, you can simply say that your child didn’t look hard enough. Send them off on a treasure hunt around the house, and quickly go about saving face.
Older children may question whether she’s real. It’s up to you how to handle this one!
What’s In It For You?
Seeing your child light up isn’t the only benefit of a visit from the tooth fairy. Her appearance also gives you an excuse to have a chat about the importance of looking after teeth.
To continue the little white lies even further, you can try saying that the tooth fairy especially loves teeth which are super clean and shiny. This can encourage better brushing habits. Some parents even make her gifts tooth related, such as a cartoon character toothbrush.
Having big teeth is a big responsibility, and telling them you trust them to take care of them can make your child feel really grown up.
Advice From The Professionals
It’s important that your child sees a dentist every six months throughout childhood. Even baby teeth can become decayed, which can affect overall health.
Once their adult teeth start coming in, it’s vital that your child really understands dental hygiene. You can always ask your smilogy dentist to show your child the best brushing and flossing techniques.
At smilogy, we make visiting the dentist fun. Our Australian dentists love working with kids to help them understand how their smile health affects the health of the rest of their bodies.
Visits are affordable, using the Child Dental Benefits Schedule, your insurance, or one of our low-cost payment options.
To book a visit to one of our comfortable and caring smilogy clinics, call us now on 02 8005 4434.