Happy National Tooth Fairy Day!
Happy National Tooth Fairy Day!
Did you know today (2/28) is National Tooth Fairy Day? The tooth fairy is a friend of every dental office and it can be an important part of losing baby teeth for some families. Getting your child excited about losing a tooth and having a positive first experience can make all the difference, since most of the time ALL of your child’s baby teeth will fall out!
We encourage parents to use the tooth fairy legend to promote good oral hygiene by sharing the tooth fairy rewards more for a perfect tooth without cavity. Some families leave a note from the tooth fairy to praise their kids for taking excellent care of their teeth! (Or pointing out toys on the floor.)
A younger child probably doesn't understand the value of money and might be happier with a special treat instead. You can also try a voucher for ice cream or an adventure at the park! You know your child best and celebrate the occasion in a fun way that would make your little one happy!
What To Know About Losing Baby Teeth
- Most children have 20 teeth and most lose all 20 of them. So it’s very important to make sure the process of losing the first tooth is done well.
- The first tooth to fall out is usually the first one that came in. The average age your child will lose the very first tooth ranges from 5.5 years to 6.5 years old. Some kids lose their teeth earlier and some later!
- Sometimes a baby tooth doesn’t want to leave and the permanent tooth will come in at the same time (queue #babyshark 🦈 by #pinkfong). If this happens, look for the baby tooth to progressively get more mobile. If there isn’t any movement, please call our office to make an appointment for evaluation.
- Parents or other adults can inadvertently scare children by talking about their not-so-pleasant experiences in the past. (If you have dental and/or blood phobias, we recommend you try to keep your best poker face for your little one!) Losing teeth is a fun and exciting part of growing up! Not only is it an important childhood milestone but it’s also a biological sign of your child's healthy growth and development.
- The tooth will come out when it’s ready. As the roots of your child’s tooth starts to resorb, it will become wiggly, allowing your child to jiggle it back and forth in the mouth with the tongue. When the roots have resorbed enough, the tooth will become detached and eventually fall out without much force.
The loose baby tooth seems to be hanging by a thread and your child is uncomfortable? Here are some fun ways to pull a loose tooth at home!
- Use dental floss! Grab a long piece of floss and tie a loop around your child favorite stuffed animal, with your child’s permission of course. Once the teddy bear is secure, tie the other end of the floss to the wiggly baby tooth. Have your child throw the teddy bear down some stairs and the tooth should follow! A great family at our practice shared that idea and we loved it!
- A popsicle can help! Get a sugar-free popsicle (sugar-free to keep all the other teeth healthy!) and have your child enjoy it. Use the coldness of popsicle to numb the gums around the front and back of the tooth, and once it’s numb, it can help wiggle the loose tooth out.
- Be creative, but sensitive to your child’s needs. This might be a big deal for your child. Make sure your child feels ready and feel proud to lose the wiggly tooth! Explain that your little one is making room for the adult teeth to grow in– “Your big boy/girl tooth is coming in!!”, “I’m so proud of how much you are growing,” “I’m so excited to see your brand new tooth!”– and let your child know it’s something to be celebrated!
Does your child have a wiggly tooth ready for the tooth fairy? Come by our office for a tooth fairy case! We give it to all our patients when they lose a tooth so that the little tooth is not lost under their pillow for the tooth fairy. And remember to promote good dental habits to impress the tooth fairy!
