The Tooth Fairy is a common childhood myth. If your little one is losing their baby teeth, you may be introducing them to the ritual of leaving their teeth under their pillow in exchange for money or goodies. Have you ever wondered where the tooth fairy myth originated? We did some digging to find the origins of this fun character who makes tooth loss more fun for children:
The first published mention of the “Tooth Fairy” was found in an article in the Chicago Tribune, dating back to 1908. In this article, the author, Lillian Brown, gave new parents a suggestion that would help them persuade children to have their loose baby teeth pulled. That suggestion was a “tooth fairy” who would leave them a small gift of 5 cents under their pillow for each tooth that they lost.
After this initial mention of the tooth fairy, there were many others published in later years. Eventually, the myth of the tooth fairy was born into popular culture and it has since become a quintessential part of growing up.
Where did Lillian Brown get the idea for the tooth fairy in the first place? 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. In this tradition, adults and parents would pay children a small fee when they lost their first tooth.
Why? There were various superstitions surrounding children’s teeth in Norse countries during this time. They were thought to be valuable and to bring good luck, and some warriors would even fashion necklaces out of multiple teeth to protect them and keep them safe during battle.
Everyone knows that the tooth fairy won’t pay as much for decayed teeth! To make sure that your child’s oral development is on track as they lose their baby teeth, it’s still very important to see a pediatric dentist regularly.
Contact the team at The Little Royals and come in for an appointment with Dr. Sal or Dr. Yasi. Our office is located conveniently near Jupiter, Palm Beach Gardens, Abacoa, Jupiter Farms, and Country Estates.
