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Here in America, we’re used to the tooth fairy wearing a little pink dress and fluttering into a child’s room to retrieve their lost tooth from beneath their pillow and leave a small gift as a reward. However, other cultures across the world have their own ways of celebrating this important and healthy part of growing up. Here’s some of the folklore surrounding the loss of baby teeth and how other cultures commemorate this passage into a new stage in life.
The Tooth Mouse of the Lands of Latin Languages
In many French- and Spanish-speaking countries across the world, children believe that a mouse retrieves their lost teeth at night and leaves them a small treat as a reward. While French-speaking children call this friendly rodent “La Petite Souris,” children in the Spanish-speaking world call him names like “Ratóncito Pérez.” This squeaky fellow is also believed to be active in South Africa. It is unknown if this mouse is a pet, friend, coworker, or rival of the tooth fairy, but we can safely assume that they enjoy comparing the teeth they have collected when they both have some time off.
Throwing Baby Teeth Around
In some parts of the world, people commemorate the loss of children’s baby teeth with celebratory rituals rather than by giving them to magical creatures. In Egypt, Libya, and Oman, children are instructed to throw their lost teeth at the sun in hopes that everyone’s favorite star will help their new teeth come in healthy and strong. In China, people throw lost bottom baby teeth onto their roofs and bury the top teeth to encourage the adult set to come in quickly.
Investing in Your Child’s Future
Do you have dreams of your child becoming a movie star? Try burying their baby teeth in Hollywood. Do you yearn to brag about how your kid grew up to be an astronaut? Consider dropping their baby teeth in a hole in the grounds of the Houston Space Center. Want your child to be rich? Bury their baby teeth near a Swiss bank. In Turkey, parents bury lost baby teeth in a location related to what they want for their children’s futures. This, they hope, will encourage their kids to pursue a desirable outcome in life.
The tooth fairy helps make losing baby teeth fun and exciting for kids. These days, she often likes to leave a new toothbrush or another item of oral hygiene to encourage kids to practice excellent dental care.
About the Practice
Glen Ellyn Pediatric Dentistry offers the finest dental services available to children in Glen Ellyn, IL. Led by a team of six skilled pediatric dentists, the staff ensures that children are comfortable and effectively treated in a warm and friendly environment. Areas of expertise include pediatric general, restorative, and emergency dentistry. To schedule your child’s next dental appointment, contact the office online or dial (630) 858-8755.