A 1984 study conducted by Rosemary Wells revealed that most, 74 percent of those surveyed, believed the Tooth Fairy to be female, while 12 percent believed the Tooth Fairy to be neither male nor female, and 8 percent believed the Tooth Fairy could be either male or female. Unlike Father Christmas and, to a lesser extent, the Easter Bunny, there are few details of the Tooth Fairy's appearance that are consistent in various versions of the myth. Lillian Brown, Tooth Fairy, Chicago Daily Tribune Appearance It is a nice plan for mothers to visit the 5-cent counter and lay in a supply of articles to be used on such occasions. If he takes his little tooth and puts it under the pillow when he goes to bed the Tooth Fairy will come in the night and take it away, and in its place will leave some little gift. Many a refractory child will allow a loose tooth to be removed if he knows about the Tooth Fairy. Īnother modern incarnation of these traditions into an actual Tooth Fairy has been traced to a 1908 'Household Hints' item in the Chicago Daily Tribune: In medieval Europe, it was thought that if a witch were to get hold of one's teeth, it could lead to total power over them. Fear of witches was another reason to bury or burn teeth. The Vikings paid children for their teeth.

Children who did not consign their baby teeth to the fire would spend eternity searching for them in the afterlife. In England, for example, children were instructed to burn their baby teeth to save the child from hardship in the afterlife. In the Norse culture, children's teeth and other articles belonging to children were said to bring good luck in battle, and Scandinavian warriors hung children's teeth on a string around their necks.ĭuring the Middle Ages, other superstitions arose surrounding children's teeth. 1200), which are the earliest written record of Norse and Northern European traditions. This tradition is recorded in writings as early as the Eddas (c. In Northern Europe, a tradition of tand-fé or tooth fee was paid when a child lost their first tooth. The folklore states that when children lose one of their baby teeth, they should place it underneath their pillow or on their bedside table the Tooth Fairy will visit while they sleep, replacing the lost tooth with a small payment. The Tooth Fairy is a fantasy figure of early childhood in Western and Western-influenced cultures. While this magical creature is still quite new on the scene, they’ve definitely made an impact.Īnd mamas have been helping them do so for decades.A woman dressed as the Tooth Fairy during Halloween While we don’t know for sure how long the tooth fairy may have existed within different families, public references date back to the early twentieth century.Īnd in writing? Well, that appears to have happened when Esther Watkins Arnold wrote a playlet called The Tooth Fairy in the 1920s.

The tooth fairy themself? They seem to have hit the scene a little more recently. There has long been a European tradition of tand-fe (or tooth fee) where money was given in exchange for a baby tooth.Ĭhildren’s teeth may have also been used to offer protection - as well as bring good luck to Vikings in battle.Īnd predating the tooth fairy is an adorable tooth mouse. In reality? Well, the idea of exchanging teeth for money has a complicated history. (This can be followed up with some exploration of what the mouth looks like and where each tooth lives.)

They are taken to dentists who use them to help people who need dentures.

Next time you make a wish, that’s where the magic will come from.Īnd if you want to use this as an educational opportunity:

Each tooth is ground down to make fairy dust.

Creative tooth fairy names