Everything You Need to Know About the Tooth Fairy Story (2024)

My eldest turned 6 this past week and one of the things he was most excited about was the idea of losing his teeth. This got me thinking about the whole tooth losing process – the Tooth Fairy story, going rate for a tooth, and creative money ideas.

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Let’s start by tackling this issue one step at a time, starting with the backstory behind the Tooth Fairy.

In This Guide:

The Magical Tooth Fairy Story

We all know the basics of the Tooth Fairy story: Kid loses a tooth and the tooth fairy leaves money in exchange for said tooth. Simple enough, right?

That explanation may be enough for some, but not me. My kids and I have so many questions! Starting with…

Why Does the Tooth Fairy Take Your Teeth?

The best Tooth Fairy story I’ve found is included in The Tooth Fairy Kitavailable on Amazon. The adorable book is called
Lunette, the True Story of the Tooth FairyEverything You Need to Know About the Tooth Fairy Story (1) and it explains how the Tooth Fairy came to be and what motivates her to collect teeth.

The kitEverything You Need to Know About the Tooth Fairy Story (2) includes the book, a keepsake journal for recording the story of each lost tooth, and a star plush especially made for holding teeth and treasures (as is explained in the story!).

The bookEverything You Need to Know About the Tooth Fairy Story (3) tells the story of a fairy named Lunette. She is a kind and clever fairy struggling to find her purpose in life (aren’t we all?).

Lunette wants her kindness to help those who are afraid. She finds the perfect opportunity when she meets a little boy scared about his wiggly tooth. To ease his worries, Lunette tells him to turn on the light in his room as a signal when he loses the tooth. She promises to come collect it and turn it into something magical.

Everything You Need to Know About the Tooth Fairy Story (4)

What Does the Tooth Fairy Do With the Teeth?

So what on earth is the Tooth Fairy doing with billions of teeth she has collected over the years?

According to the story, she uses them to make fairy dust and light up the stars in the sky.

Sounds magical and slightly creepy in my opinion. BUT the great things about this book is that it really helps ease the fear of children losing their teeth.

LunetteEverything You Need to Know About the Tooth Fairy Story (5) turns a process that can seem scary into something fun and exciting. That is worth its weight in gold. Which brings me right to my next question….

Everything You Need to Know About the Tooth Fairy Story (6)

Why Encourage the Tooth Fairy Story?

Between Santa, Leprechauns, the Switch Witch, and the Easter Bunny, why should parents lie to their kids about another magical figure? A few reasons,

Tooth Fairy traditions do a great job of soothing and comforting children through the process of losing teeth.

It can be scary! Everyone is telling them they’re growing up, they’ve got these big holes in their mouths, and there’s even the fear it’s going to hurt.

For kids, the Tooth Fairy turns something scary into something exciting.

Even better, parents can use the Tooth Fairy story to their advantage to model good behaviour and oral hygiene.

Here are a few examples:

  • If you are struggling to get your children to properly clean their teeth, let them know the Tooth Fairy pays more for clean teeth over ones with decay.
  • Similarly, you can tell children who enjoy too many sweets that the Tooth Fairy prefers nice, clean teeth without excess sugar.
  • For children with messy rooms, the Tooth Fairy can leave a note describing her inability to get to their bed with the mess on the floor.

Everything You Need to Know About the Tooth Fairy Story (7)

How Many Teeth Do Kids Lose?

Usually 20.

Babies generally start showing their first tooth between 6-10 months old, starting with one of the bottom middle teeth. Over the next 2ish years they’ll grow a total of 20 teeth (10 on the top, 10 on the bottom).

Starting around the age of 6, they start to lose all those baby teeth in the order they came in. The American Dental Association put out this neat little picture chart on primary tooth development that shows roughly when all the teeth develop and are later shed.

The process of losing teeth continues until the “tween” years (11-12 years old). After the last permanent teeth make their appearance (the wisdom teeth, which can come in as late as early 20s!), a total of 32 adult teeth will have replaced those original 20 baby teeth.

Everything You Need to Know About the Tooth Fairy Story (8)

What’s the Going Rate for a Tooth?

Tooth payout depends on a lot of factors including your location, socioeconomic status, and even the type of tooth that was lost!

Around me, by far the most popular option is giving out a dollar coin for teeth. Remember, there are 20 of them so make sure you properly prepare by going to the bank ahead of time if you choose this route! You don’t want your child to come home without a tooth expecting payment when you don’t have any more coins.

Visa does a survey every year to chart the average tooth payout. The rate hit an all time high in 2017 when the average was $4.13 per lost tooth.

In more recent years it has come down closer to $3.00. Practical Money Skills has a handy Tooth Fairy payout calculator you can use to estimate the going rate in your area.

Why do some children get more money than others?

This one is tricky. What if your kids come home saying that another child in their class got $5, $20, or even $100 for a lost tooth? Here are a couple of ideas:

— The Tooth Fairy pays more for clean, sparkly teeth that are well brushed twice a day

— Payout depends on the type of tooth and how many teeth you’ve lost

— The Tooth Fairy has a set tooth budget every night. If lots of kids lose their teeth in a single day they have to split the pot amongst themselves.

Overall the Tooth Fairy story can be a magical way to turn something scary into something fun and exciting. What are some of your favorite Tooth Fairy traditions?

Everything You Need to Know About the Tooth Fairy Story (2024)

FAQs

Everything You Need to Know About the Tooth Fairy Story? ›

The Tooth Fairy is not only a myth but a legend. The tradition passes from generations, as parents tell their kids to leave their baby tooth under the pillow. Then, at night a Tooth Fairy will leave money or other treats in exchange, easing the fear of teeth removal in kids.

What's 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 are the rules for the Tooth Fairy? ›

6 Simple Tooth Fairy Rules You Didn't Know You Needed
  • 1 – Create your plan before the first lost tooth. ...
  • 2 – Decide on the prize, and keep it on hand. ...
  • 3 – Be practical about tooth drop protocol. ...
  • 4 – Set a reminder, and then set another one. ...
  • 5 – Have a contingency plan. ...
  • 6 – Decide what to do with the teeth.
Sep 2, 2019

What is the dark story about the Tooth Fairy? ›

The Little Good Mouse

The fairy turns herself into a mouse, knocks out all of the king's teeth, and then hides them under his pillow before eventually killing him. The gruesome story not only introduced the concept of hiding lost teeth under a pillow, but also established the fairy's role in the entire process.

What is the moral of the Tooth Fairy story? ›

You too can get a wonderful gift like Amanda. So, next time you lose a tooth, remember to place it under your pillow before you go to bed and don't feel scared to lose your teeth. It just means you are becoming a grown-up. We hope you enjoyed reading this tooth fairy story.

Is the tooth fairy real truth yes or no? ›

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.

Why do tooth fairies give 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.

What age should kids not believe in Tooth Fairy? ›

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 should the Tooth Fairy leave? ›

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.

What age does 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 darkest fairy tale ever? ›

The eight darkest fairy tales
  • LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD. Charles Perrault, 1697. ...
  • THE LITTLE MERMAID. Hans Christian Andersen, 1836. ...
  • SLEEPING BEAUTY. Giambattista Basile, 1634. ...
  • RAPUNZEL. Charlotte-Rose de Caumont de la Force, 1698. ...
  • HANSEL AND GRETEL. The Brothers Grimm, 1812. ...
  • BLUEBEARD. ...
  • BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. ...
  • CINDERELLA.

How do you tell the truth about the tooth fairy? ›

Follow Your Child's Lead

A great way to determine the answer is to respond, "Why do you ask?" or "What do you think?" If he or she seems ready for the truth, give it to them. However, if they want to hold on to the story a bit longer, simply say, "Well, I absolutely believe in the magic of the tooth fairy!"

How does the tooth fairy know you lost a tooth? ›

Question from Joey: How do you know when I've lost a tooth? 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 Real or is it your parents? ›

For example, you can share with your child that while the tooth fairy may not be real, the legend of the tooth fairy is part of a fairy tale and fairy tales are still fun.

Should kids believe in the tooth fairy? ›

Lying to a child is not a good idea in general, but psychologists say that an exception can be made for such myths. Experts agree that believing in such characters or tales is a healthy part of a child's growing process.

What is the tradition of keeping baby teeth? ›

The most commonly practiced tradition in America is placing a lost baby tooth under a child's pillow. At night, the “tooth fairy” replaces the missing tooth with money. In some families, the baby's teeth are kept, while others will use them as part of a craft project or keep them as a memento.

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