Dentists, Tooth Fairies And Baby Teeth

Dentists are highly trained oral health care practitioners who have attended many years of schooling in order to take good care of our teeth. Tooth fairies are mythical flying beings that snatch baby teeth from under children’s pillows in the middle of the night. What could these two possibly have in common? A vested interest in these tiny enamel covered human body parts, for one thing.

A child sprouts twenty baby choppers beginning in infancy. The first two to show up at the age of a few months are traditionally the central, lower incisors. The next two that emerge are the corresponding upper incisors. Incisors are those, which are meant for biting. Canines are another tooth classification used for tearing; molars are those, which grind. All of these are designed to pulverize and chop foods into manageable segments for swallowing and digestion.

By the approximate age of five or six years old, the typical child begins to lose his or her first set of pearly whites. The loss of a tooth is a turning point in growing up. This typically occurs in kindergarten or first grade. Some educational philosophies believe that the first incisor falling out aligns with developmental readiness of the child to learn new concepts. The brain is on a charted course of developing cognitive ability beginning at birth. Certain milestones such as walking, talking and reading will only occur when the child is physically and mentally ready. Some think that the loss of the first tooth equates to reading readiness.

There are various rites and passages associated with baby teeth. One is the custom of placing the old ones under the child’s pillow to be taken away by the tooth fairy while the tot sleeps. The tooth fairy, which is usually envisioned as a female flying with a magic wand, replaces the incisor, canine or molar with money. In the early days it was a coin, but modern times have upped the ante somewhat. Upon waking the next morning, the child excitedly looks under his or her pillow to see if the magical being showed up to do the exchange.

This custom began in Europe years ago and has spread into America and parts of Africa. Another French ritual includes a wooden box shaped like a mouse. The enamel-covered tooth is placed into the toy wooden rodent for safe keeping in exchange for a monetary reward. Other customs include throwing the tooth on one’s roof for good luck, making necklaces from it, wrapping it in a tiny rag, placing it in a glass of water or putting it out upon the earth as an offering to the sun.

Many people think that children don’t need to see dentists till they are approaching adolescence, but this isn’t true. Early visits to compassionate and sensitive practitioners will allow youngsters to become comfortable with oral hygiene, to establish good brushing and flossing habits and to be respectful of their teeth. Tooth fairies and other myths surrounding baby tooth loss are ceremonies of respect to the passing of their childhood pearly whites and the initiation into adulthood’s next set of 32. This respect brought on by myths and early dental visits will hopefully instill good oral health care practices that will last a lifetime.