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Keep kids smiling with these tips from DentalPlans.com
Many American children have been visited by the tooth fairy – generally envisioned as a Tinkerbell-type character who gives kids a financial reward in exchange for their baby teeth. In fact, the tooth fairy is so popular that there are two “national days” honoring her; August 22 and February 28.
According the Original tooth fairy poll, the fairy’s dental payouts are a good indicator of the economy. In early 2020, kids were getting around $4.00 for each lost tooth. Tooth fairy loot varies a bit according to location, with kids in the Northeast getting $4.35 per tooth compared to $3.97 in the Midwest.
Children typically have about 20 baby teeth, so at $4 per tooth the fairy’s total payout over the six or seven years of primary tooth loss adds up to $80 per child.
About 85% of American kids are visited by the tooth fairy. Elsewhere in the world, children expect a visit from the Tooth Rodent.
In Spanish-speaking cultures, he’s known as Ratoncito Perez or “El Raton de Los Dientes” (The Tooth Rat) or just “el Ratón.” Italian children anticipate visits from the “Topolino dei denti da latte,” (Baby Teeth Mouse). French children call him “La Petite Souris,” (Little Mouse) and he appears in French folktales as early as the 17th century.
America’s own Tooth Fairy wasn’t really fully established in the U.S until the 1940s.The very first print mention of her – in a children’s play – only dates back to 1927. She was almost put out of business in the 1960s, due to a campaign urging parents to donate kids’ teeth to science. These teeth were used in a study looking at possible links between cancer rates and the fallout produced by the detonation of the first atomic bomb, along with as the hundreds of nuclear tests conducted by the United States and the USSR between 1945 and 1963. Ultimately 85,000 teeth were collected, and were instrumental in proving that fallout raises the risk of cancer. Scientists continue to use the teeth in studies.
Why do we need a tooth fairy? The general cosensus seems to be that a magical creature who leaves money eases what can be a scary event for a little kid. It’s also a great opportunity to teach children how to take care of their teeth properly (we all know the fairy prefers to collect clean, healthy teeth, right?)
Here are some oral health care tips for parents:
Start early: Speak to a dentist to learn how to brush a baby’s teeth. Experts recommend starting brushing as soon as the first baby tooth erupts. Make sure to use an extremely soft toothbrush (or a prewashed, soft piece of cloth) and the tiniest bit of toothpaste.
Enforce the two-minute rule: Make sure your kids know that a proper brushing requires two full minutes. There are smart toothbrushes, and apps, that provide a fun way of timing tooth brushing sessions (and keep the kids engaged and entertained).
Be gentle: Make sure that your kids know that aggressive teeth scrubbing can wear down enamel and cause gum inflammation.
Visit the dentist: Dental professionals can teach children the right way to brush and floss. And seeing the dentist and hygienist regularly is essential for preventing dental disease.
Set a good example: Kids take their cues from the adults around them. If they see parents/caretakers skipping dental visits, they’ll assume oral hygiene really isn’t that important – or that it’s just kid stuff.
If budgets are too tight to afford dental care for everyone in the family, consider joining a dental savings plan. Members get 10-60% off the cost of dental care – from preventive to restorative treatments (including braces!) from a nationwide network of more than 100,000 dentists. Find out more by visiting dentalplans.com today.