At some point as a child, you may have come across the concept of the Tooth Fairy. She’s featured in fairy tails, cartoons, and even movies, but where did the Tooth Fairy really come from, and why does she always want to get a hold of your teeth? The history behind the Tooth Fairy doesn’t just come from one moment in time nor did she originate from one central location.
Discover how the Tooth Fairy came about and became a cultural phenomenon that resonates in the modern world.
What Is a Tooth Fairy?
In American culture, many people believe that the Tooth Fairy is a female with wings. When a child’s tooth falls out of their mouth, legend has it that Tooth Fairy takes flight to pay a visit to the child to collect the tooth while leaving her money underneath his pillow. The concept of the Tooth Fairy came about in the 20th century, but many of its roots can trace back to other traditions borrowed from other cultures.
It’s All Connected to Tall Tooth Tales, Religion and Culture
The myth of the Tooth Fairy is an evolution of other tooth-related beliefs that date back to ancient times. While the Tooth Fairy may be a more recent tale than other myths, she can be traced to the traditions of the Norse and Europeans. In different parts of the world, the story behind the Tooth Fairy goes a little bit differently.
For example, in the early days of the Vikings there was no pillow for the child to put their teeth under, but, if they did lose a tooth, the elders would give them currency for it. The main reason for this was that they believed that a child’s young tooth would bring them luck and good fortune on the battlefield.
In Europe’s Medieval times, it was common practice to burn the tooth or destroy it if it fell out. During this time, they believed that if a witch were to get a hold of your tooth, they would then have the power to control you.
How People Celebrate the Tooth Fairy Across the Globe
Today, people celebrate the Tooth Fairy in different ways. Here are some unique ways people celebrate the Tooth Fairy around the world:
- Tossing the Tooth. Instead of putting the tooth underneath a pillow, many individuals in Asia, such as Vietnam, India, China, Korea and Japan toss their teeth either to the top of their roofs or to their floors, depending on where the tooth falls from. Tossing the teeth is also a tradition that dates as far back as the 13th century in Middle Eastern countries such as Jordan, Egypt, and Iraq. This tossing of the tooth action is also sometimes followed by a request that includes a shout for filling the missing tooth with a replacement from a mouse. The concept behind this is that mice have ever-growing teeth, so replacing your missing tooth with one that will keep growing means you can relax if your permanent teeth ever get knocked out.
- Put It in a Slipper. In South Africa, missing teeth go into slippers. Instead of a person or pixie with wings coming to collect the tooth, a magical mouse comes to take the missing teeth from the slipper and replace it with a gift.
- Set Your Tooth Bedside in a Box. In Mexico, people place the tooth next to the bed in a small box. Tradition has it that El Raton, a magical mouse, comes to take the tooth and leave money behind for the child.
- Put It in a Glass. Kids in Argentina leave their missing teeth in a glass next to their beds in hopes that they’ll receive candy or coins in its place.
- Bury It. In Afghanistan, children bury missing teeth in mouse holes. In Turkey, where parents bury their children’s teeth has everything to do with their wishes for their child’s success in the future. For instance, if parents want their children to be successful soccer players, it’s not unusual for them to bury their child’s teeth in a soccer field. Mongolians also bury their children’s fallen teeth by trees in hopes of strong roots that secure the next tooth that grows in.
- Wrap It in Bread. People wrap lost teeth in bread in Kyrgyzstan.
- Feed It to a Dog. It’s not unusual to wrap your child’s missing tooth in fat for Fido to snack on in Mongolia, too. The thought behind this is that their children’s teeth will be as strong as dog teeth.
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FAQs
It's possible that the tooth fairy tradition traces its roots back nearly a millennium to the 10th century Norse peoples of Europe. In the “Eddas,” the earliest recorded writings of Norse and Northern European traditions, a tradition called the “tand-fe” (translated to the “tooth fee”) is noted.
What is the story behind the tooth fairy? ›
Some believe that the Tooth Fairy's origins lie in the European tradition, specifically, the Nords, for whom Viking teeth were crucial for their culture. Parents going on expeditionary adventures or war used to carry their kids' baby teeth for blessing and protection.
What is the dark history of the tooth fairy? ›
Dark Beginnings
During the Middle Ages, the importance of ejected baby teeth was darker than the legends of today. Common belief held that witches could use items that people held close, such as clothes, hair, finger/toe nails, and teeth, to create potions and place curses.
Why does the tooth fairy want teeth? ›
So, what does she do with all those teeth? It's believed that the Tooth Fairy uses these teeth to help build the fairy community where she lives. Other times she will make jewelry for herself and her friends. How she sneaks under the pillow is still a mystery.
Why does the tooth fairy leave money? ›
So, why does the tooth fairy leave money under the pillow? The idea of exchanging a tooth for coins originated in Scandinavia. Vikings believed teeth to be a good luck charm in battle, wearing them on necklaces. When a child lost a tooth, adults would actually pay their children for a lost tooth.
Is Tooth Fairy Based on a true story? ›
They point out that there is no scientific evidence to support the existence of the tooth fairy. Additionally, some parents admit to playing the role of the tooth fairy themselves, further fueling doubts about its reality.
How does the Tooth Fairy know when to come? ›
Answer: I have a golden bell in my Tooth Fairy Castle that chimes whenever a child loses a tooth. My helper, Dr. Floss, lets me know where you live and I wait for it to get dark outside so that I can fly to your house while you are sleeping.
Is the Tooth Fairy witchcraft? ›
Luckily for us, the Tooth Fairy of today is neither a witch or a mouse. For most people, they think of the tooth fairy as a creature that swaps out our baby teeth for money under our pillow. No one knows what she does with our teeth after she takes them, but to a little kid, that's not what's important.
Who started the Tooth Fairy myth? ›
It's possible that the tooth fairy tradition traces its roots back nearly a millennium to the 10th century Norse peoples of Europe. In the “Eddas,” the earliest recorded writings of Norse and Northern European traditions, a tradition called the “tand-fe” (translated to the “tooth fee”) is noted.
Is Tooth Fairy pagan? ›
There are 3 central mythical figures in the western world: Father Christmas or Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy. The origins of these traditions date back to Pagan times and have naturally evolved through time and geography.
If the Tooth Fairy forgot to come collect, then tell your little one that everyone needs a day off. Even if they were slightly disappointed, just let them know that the day the Fairy chooses is always random and it just means they will come the next day. That will give them one more day of anticipation.
When should I tell my child the Tooth Fairy isn't real? ›
It can be difficult to determine an appropriate age to tell kids the truth about the tooth fairy. Children typically start to question whether the tooth fairy is real between the ages of 4 and 7. If a child is younger than 4, it might be wise to conceal the truth for a little while longer.
What time does the Tooth Fairy stop coming? ›
The Tooth Fairy stops visiting a child when they have lost all of their baby teeth or when they stop believing in the magic. Children begin loosing baby teeth between the age of four and eight. This process continues until a child is around nine to twelve years old.
What is the average tooth fairy payment? ›
On average, the Tooth Fairy leaves around $5, but some kids may receive up to $20 for a single tooth or an exceptional tooth. Some families may give a larger amount for the first tooth lost, while others may opt for non-monetary gifts such as stickers or toys.
Does the tooth fairy stop visiting? ›
The Tooth Fairy stops visiting children at different ages. Some may keep the tradition until all baby teeth are gone, but others think 12 years is a little too old to continue the game. One thing is for sure: children grow up too fast, so our two cents: keep the tradition alive as long as you can.
Where do tooth fairies live? ›
Where does the tooth fairy live? The tooth fairy lives in Fairy Land. It is a magical and secretive place not found on maps but rumored to be near Brush, CO. The tooth fairy's house is believed to be a huge white castle with towers and a sparkling moat made of teeth collected from children.
Why put a tooth in milk when it falls out? ›
When a tooth separates from its socket, it must stay moist. Otherwise, the likelihood of saving the tooth declines. Milk will allow the tooth to stay moist, but it also has vital proteins and sugars that make it a good choice in a dental emergency.
What age does the Tooth Fairy stop? ›
The ABCs of Vitamin C Summer Dental Health? Get into the Swim of It! While the last baby teeth generally aren't lost until age ten or 11, most children stop believing in the tooth fairy by the time they're seven or eight. Of course, children are more than happy to play along with the game when there's money at stake!
What is the Tooth Fairy leaving? ›
The Tooth Fairy brings children money or a small toy before she flies off to an undisclosed location. Some children write letters to the Tooth Fairy, while other families have the Tooth Fairy leave letters encouraging better oral hygiene.
