For many children, the tooth fairy makes dental care fun. It’s a storied aspect of dentistry, and the staff at Pediatric Dentistry Kahala in Honolulu, HI, want to share the intriguing history of this legend. They believe that visits to a kid’s dentist should not only be helpful for oral health but also enjoyable for children and their families.

The modern conception of the tooth fairy is simple: at night, a fairy comes to take teeth from beneath a child’s pillow and replaces it with money. However, this legend has gone through many changes over time and has origins that date back thousands of years. It draws from many myths related to teeth, including cultures that placed significance on the first tooth a child lost. Norse warriors often carried the tooth into battle for luck, while others buried it for the child in the next life. 

The idea of providing gifts for lost teeth developed as cultures progressed. In France, for example, children were given a mouse when they lost a tooth. This is because rodents grow their teeth their entire lives, and they eventually became a common symbol of tooth loss. In other cultures, cats, dogs, and other animals took the same significance, which is why some traditions involved placing lost teeth in mouse holes, feeding them to a pet, or putting them in trees.

The tooth fairy didn’t take her modern form until the early 1920s in the United States. At this time, mice were becoming increasingly popular in American culture due to Mickey Mouse® and Walt Disney. Kid’s dentists leveraged this by drawing from myths that included fairies. Because the fairy ultimately had a more pleasant image, it adopted the heritage of the mouse and has since become an icon for dentistry.

If you’re interested in learning more unique dental facts while receiving reliable care, turn to a kid’s dentist at Pediatric Dentistry Kahala. They offer comprehensive pediatric dental services and are dedicated to creating a positive, welcoming environment for children. Call (808) 737-0076 today to schedule your child’s first dental visit and connect with them on their website and Facebook to learn more about their services.