After the candied frenzy of Valentine’s Day, perhaps it’s only logical that National Tooth Fairy Day is February 28th. There’s a companion day six months later on August 22nd. Katie Davis created the first official day in 2003 when she wrote Mabel the Tooth Fairy and How She Got Her Job.

Turns out, Mabel hated brushing her teeth and eventually lost them. So she started retrieving teeth from children who didn’t need them any more until she finally had a new set, though she continued to retrieve teeth. The vibrant illustrations of Mabel with her blue skin and green hair, were meant to reassure children about the fate of their lost teeth.

Baby Tooth Compensation

Traditionally, when a child loses a baby tooth and places it under their bed pillow or bedside table, the Tooth Fairy visits after the child falls asleep, takes the tooth, and leaves a reward. When I was a child, the going rate was a dime. Some of my friends received quarters, though I don’t know what made their teeth more valuable. According to researchers at Delta Dental, the going rate per tooth in 2023 was $5.84 per tooth. Whew! Talk about inflation.

While checking current prices for children’s teeth, I ran across Tiny Gifts, a website from which the Tooth Fairy and his or her accomplices can purchase a gift set with supplies for three lost teeth. Options include the Ahoy Matey that includes a ship-in-a-bottle, the Healthy Smiles edition with a tooth care bear, the Petite Princess with a tea set, and the Great Outdoors featuring a pocket harmonica. Each set costs $29.95 and includes fairy dust. I’m impressed with the entrepreneurial spirit that created these sets, but children typically have 20 baby teeth, and each gift set only has supplies for three lost teeth. I guess after those are gone, Tooth Fairy Assistants start looking at doll house furniture.

Baby Tooth Disposal

Turns out, discarded baby teeth have always had disposal challenges. During the Middle Ages, children were told to burn their baby teeth, or they would spend eternity searching for them in the afterlife, and also to prevent a witch from finding them. If she did, the witch would have total power over the individual.

According to Norse myths, children’s teeth had magical qualities and people wore them for protection and good fortune.

In Japan, lost upper baby teeth were thrown on the ground and lower teeth into the air so the new teeth would come in straight. In Korea, children threw their baby teeth onto the roof, because if a magpie found a tooth on the roof, it would bring good luck.

Once the Tooth Fairy acquires the teeth, what happens to them? One tale says the fairy uses them to build a castle in the sky, or perhaps make them into stars.

Sometimes the Tooth Fairy has a different manifestation. El Ratóné Pérez – the little mouse – first appeared in a children’s story written in 1894 by Luis Coloma for King Alfonso XIII who, at the age of eight, had just lost a tooth. El Ratóné Pérez exchanges the tooth for a gift.

in Italy, Saint Apollonia handles the tooth exchange. St Apollonia was martyred by having her teeth broken. She is considered the patron saint for dentists, and people with dental issues.

Alas, there are no prizes for adults who lose their teeth, only discomfort and expense. Until the 20th century, tooth extractions were the only way to remove infected teeth and end accompanying pain. Often without anesthesia, though sometimes with a large amount of alcohol, a practitioner “pulled” out the affected tooth with an instrument similar to forceps.

We’re better off doing what Mable the Tooth Fairy should have done: brushing, flossing, maybe using a water pic, and getting a check up twice a year.

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Sandra’s Books: Sea Tigers & Merchants. Ambition, Arrogance & Pride. Saxon Heroines. Two Coins. Rama’s Labyrinth.

Illustrations & A Few Sources

Try Some Magic by Bauschron; Doll Tea Set, Unknown Author; Ratón Pérez b Mariano Pedrero; Martyrdom of St. Apollonia, 1443; Dental Surgeon Standing on arm of Chair & Pressing, Wellcome Images; Female Dentist with Patient. Hold the Magic. All About the Tooth Fairy. Mabel the Tooth Fairy.

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