All You Need-to-Know About the Tooth Fairy
The Tooth Fairy is not only a myth but a legend. The tradition passes from generations, as parents tell their kids to leave their baby tooth under the pillow. Then, at night a Tooth Fairy will leave money or other treats in exchange, easing the fear of teeth removal in kids.
This character is brought back to kids’ lives in the movies and innovatively appeals to new audiences. “The Tooth Fairy” was interpreted by “The Rock” in 2010 and its sequel in 2012. He works as a tutu, wings, and magic wand Tooth Fairy. While he familiarizes himself with this new job, he leaves some money in exchange for baby teeth for kids.
As time passes, this folklore figure remains vivid in people’s collective imagination in America and worldwide. But, what is the story of the “Tooth Fairy,” and how is represented in other regions of the world? Here we sketched and comprised some of this character´s depictions and history.
Baby Tooth’s Fortune Early Narratives
References about the origin of the Tooth Fairy might be a little confusing. However, there are fragments about a millennial tradition held in Norse territories found in oral poems compiled centuries later in the form of narratives.
The people of that time were superstitious. Being superstitious means they tend to believe that events, like forces o nature and fortune, were possibly controlled by uncommon events and present in particular possessions.
Norse and some European people thought that children’s teeth carried themselves good luck. Consequently, they used to hold necklaces made with baby teeth to feel safer at war. Vikings also used to bury the teeth so children could confront difficulties in the next life. Later, these superstitious traditions involved parents paying a sort of fee to kids when losing their first baby tooth.
A Broader First Depiction of the “Tooth Deity”
A first and customary depiction of the “Tooth Fairy” is found in Europe, later than the Norse narratives, and based on a character brought from fairy tales. Believe it or not, in most cultures, a mouse represents the “Tooth Deity.”
Records hold that this literary character was created in 1894 by Father Luis Coloma Roldán. Priest Coloma was a member of “The Royal Academy of the Spanish Language”. At that time, an eight-year-old King Alfonso XIII, the youngest king in history, had a tooth that fell out.
History tells that King Alfonso’s father died before he was born. The child was scared, so Father Coloma was appointed to write a story about the King, affectionately named Bubi by his mother, Queen María Cristina.
The story was about the incredible journey of King Bubi, who adopted the form of a mouse. Along with Little Mouse Pérez as his companion, he acknowledges how his subjects survived poor conditions. Father Coloma intended to teach King Alfonso values such as care for his subjects, kindness, and bravery.
The story of Little Ratón Pérez was made public in Wisconsin in the United States in1950. The tale also appeared in Japan in 1953. Little Ratón Pérez’s novel preceded the later fixed stories in which “Tooth Fairies” exchange money for baby teeth. This tradition is noticeable in Russia and Asian countries like China.
The “Tooth Fairy” as We Know It Today
The “Tooth Fairy” was mentioned in a Chicago Tribune article in 1908. The article suggested that parents leave five cents per baby tooth left by their kids under the pillow. Before that, the legend of King Alfonso converted into a mouse, and his friend “Ratoncito Pérez” (Little Mouse Pérez) was the first good fairy myth.
Later, adaptations of other characters with numerous shapes, animal and human forms derived from it. Finally, Walt Disney’s fairy characters popularized a transformation, and lately, with the introduction of pop culture, Hollywood depicted new and less common representations. For example, the Tooth Fairy is also present in a male form with big muscles.
With disregard the “Tooth Fairy” tradition comes from or its character form; its ultimate goal is to encourage kids to be brave and feel some comfort during this traumatic transition. Also, a newer approach used by parents and pediatric dentists is to increase the reward for a cleaner tooth, so…
Double Your Child’s Reward With Healthier Teeth at Parkway Pediatric Dentist,
The cleaner and healthier your child’s teeth are, the higher the “Tooth Fairy” fairy will leave under the pillow. It is also true, and this is not a myth, that our little patient´s parents should always keep their kids’ oral hygiene habits in mind. At Parkway Pediatric Dentist, we make your kid´s visits are as fun as the incredible journey of King Bubi.
Come to our office and schedule an appointment to teach your kid more about oral care and make it as fun as they need it to be.