Is the Tooth Fairy Real?
A big milestone in any child’s life is when they lose that first tooth. When that permanent larger tooth pushes out the baby tooth, it’s like a rite of passage into big kid status. However, big kid or not, there’s one question you’ll likely hear: Is the Tooth Fairy real?
“Who is the Tooth Fairy?“
It all depends on how you define the Tooth Fairy. What kids are most interested in is the fact that they put their lost tooth under their pillow at night and when they wake up in the morning, the tooth is magically replaced by money.
However, there was never confirmation of a real person behind the Tooth Fairy myth like there was with Santa Claus (based on Saint Nicholas). The idea simply evolved over time based on some traditions in history. That being said, according to the National Museum of Dentistry, there is one woman in history who may have inspired this tradition: “Saint Apollonia is the patron saint of dentists who is depicted with pincers holding a tooth and palm fronds. In some depictions of Saint Apollonia the palm frond is even positioned in a way that resembles fairy wings. With America’s merging of cultures, it is easy to see how different legends can be combined to create a new one.”
How To Explain the Tooth Fairy
While you can discuss the Tooth Fairy tradition with your little one so that they know what to expect when they lose their first tooth (more on that below), when a child is ready to know the full truth, it’s a fun time to talk about the history and different traditions when it comes to losing baby teeth. Your child has maybe already guessed that you are the Tooth Fairy. Explain that you and other parents enjoy celebrating the milestone of losing teeth with their kids. Then, let them know that the tradition can still continue with any future teeth that they lose. They can even help you when younger siblings begin losing teeth as well!
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