When a child loses their first tooth, it is a fun milestone that deserves to be celebrated. It is also a great time for parents to talk to their child about the importance of good oral habits; because everyone knows the tooth fairy only leaves something special behind for children with healthy teeth! Here are some fun tooth fairy ideas to try at home.

The Tradition

The age-old tradition starts when a child loses a tooth and then places it under their pillow before they go to bed. While they’re asleep, the tooth fairy takes the tooth and leaves a coin, or another small trinket, in its place. Once the child wakes up, they look under their pillow to find what surprise the tooth fairy left for them. Some have jazzed up the time-honored tradition by leaving coins of various amounts under the pillow depending on which tooth was lost.

Glitter Dollars

Another tooth fairy idea is replacing coins, some parents, I mean fairies, with a single dollar bill under the child’s pillow. Leaving a single and ordinary dollar bill though pales in comparison to the magnificent dollar that the tooth fairy would leave. To put the fairy touch on your dollar bill, sprinkle some glitter on it to make a sparkly surprise for your child to wake up to. The child will see the glitter and know it came straight from the tooth fairy!

Glitter Steps

Most kids probably ask the usual question of how the tooth fairy gets into their room to take their tooth. To answer this question, without being too honest, leave a small amount of glitter on the child’s windowsill and make tiny little footprints by gently walking the tips of your fingers through the glitter. That way it looks like the tooth fairy snuck in through the window and after leaving a small surprise on her way out.

Tooth Fairy Pillows

Instead of placing the tooth in a plastic baggy under the pillow to keep it from getting lost, try sewing a pocket into a small pillow. The tooth rests securely in the small pocket under the child’s pillow, and the dollar bill, or another gift, can be easily slipped in its place.

Tooth Fairy Receipt

A fun way to show the child that the tooth fairy came to visit them is to leave an official tooth fairy receipt with the dollar bill, or other gift, under their pillow. It also serves as a memento that the child can keep and cherish for years to come, while also being able to keep track of how many teeth they have lost. Put the child’s name, the date the tooth was picked up, and the amount left by the tooth fairy with a small reminder on the bottom telling the child to remember to brush and floss daily.

Tooth Certificate

To further celebrate the occasion, leave a certificate congratulating them losing their first tooth. Be sure to include the child’s name and the date so later it can serve as a great addition to any scrapbook or another memory book.

As you can see, there are many ways to celebrate losing your first tooth and making it fun for the whole family. Try these creative tooth fairy ideas to make losing a tooth both a fun and educational experience. It’s important to keep regular dental appointments for you and your children, and continue to teach little ones the importance of oral care at a young age. Your local Tigard Family Dental staff are always happy to help keep your family’s baby and adult teeth healthy and bright at every age!