Did you know there was such a thing as National Tooth Fairy Day? There is! And it's actually celebrated twice a year on February 28th and August 22nd.
While it may seem like another silly made-up holiday, you can also view it as the perfect parental opportunity to discuss the importance of dental health with your kids.
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It just so happens to also be National Children's Dental Health Month -- so here's your reminder to make sure you have biannual dental cleanings on your calendar for each member of the family! The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends starting an oral care routine and dental check-ups by age 1.
Are your kids all about brushing their teeth, flossing and it's a no-fuss part of the day? Or are they a little more difficult to convince that it's a necessity?
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Either way, the tooth fairy makes for a pretty interesting topic to kids and it's never too early to get them excited for their big milestone in life -- losing their first tooth!
If your kids are anything like mine, having some great books on hand by authors who know how to intrigue their little imaginations is a great conversation starter.
Here are our favorites:
- Mabel the Tooth Fairy and How She Got Her Job by Katie Davis
- How to Catch the Tooth Fairy by Adam Wallace
- Tooth Fairy (Peppa Pig) by Scholastic Books
- Letters From My Tooth Fairy by Brooke Hecker
- The Berenstain Bears and the Tooth Fairy by Jan & Mike Berenstain
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And did you ever think about the fact that other countries have different tooth traditions?
The thought never even occurred to me until I sat down to think about and write this article.
Now thanks to moms of the internet, I've gotten this recommendation. I'm buying it for my own kids. You might want to check it out too!
The title comes from a tooth tradition in countries like Botswana, the Dominican Republic, India, the Philippines, Vietnam, Albania, Cyprus, Honduras, and Greece where children literally toss their teeth up onto the roof to trade them in.
There's a fun fact to tell your kids!
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Thinking again about American traditions, what are some ways you can help your child celebrate losing their first tooth when the time comes?
- Create a special bag or tooth pillow to hold their tooth so it doesn't get lost under their pillow.
- Print an official tooth fairy certificate for them to wake up and find. (Printable)
- Make a special note praising the child for taking such good care of their teeth.
- Besides a monetary reward, fun treasures can include a new toothbrush, floss and a brushing timer.
Create your own fun and family traditions, and make sure if your tooth fairy gives out $1 bills, you remember to keep a little stack on hand in the house at all times once your kid gets their first wiggly tooth!
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