History of National Tooth Fairy Day and How to Celebrate It

Dentists are some of the most hardworking professionals that do everything possible to ensure that their patients can enjoy perfect oral health and a gleaming smile. In this sense, a good dentist is a lot like that (not so mythical) tooth fairy that visits us to take away our child’s broken teeth, and blesses them with strong choppers so they can eat well and grow up in a healthy way. It is this sentiment that defines “National Tooth Fairy Day”, celebrated in the US twice a year:

1. February 28^th
2. August 22^nd

Read on to discover more fascinating aspects of this wondrous festival.

A brief history of Tooth Fairy in time, first brought to life by a play

Way back in 1927, a children’s playwright, Esther Watkins Arnold, brought to life an extraordinary, elf-like creature, in an 8-page playlet. She playfully christened it as the “Tooth fairy”, and this mythical creature had the power to fly around visiting young children, to collect their fallen (milk) teeth.

The fairy was also the resourceful sort, giving back pennies and gifts in return for her precious tooth collection. With this, she actively inspired both children and parents alike, to seek her presence and invoke her mighty powers!

Belief in this fable grew stronger when Arthur Conan Doyle, considered a “pragmatic” playwright, willingly published photographs of girls protected by “verified” fairies. Many more luminaries from the literary world supported this theme, including columnist Bob Balfe from Palm Beach Post, with his rendition of this fairy in a 1942 post.

The tooth fairy legend still lives on to date, with more modern renditions presented by a radio DJ from Chicago during the early 70’s.

Celebrating National Tooth Fairy Day in modern times

If you are a young parent, or even a seasoned one, do not miss out on the joy of celebrating this marvelous day with your precious children. Here are some tips to bring the legend into your lives, in fun and cheerful ways.

• Introduce your cherub to a dentist, when they turn one. This is the real life tooth fairy that will be responsible for protecting your child’s priceless smile.
• Honor and support your neighborhood tooth fairy. Yes, the legendary elf may be closer than you think!
• Use your dentist’s help to develop a daily dental routine for your child. Remember, a good dental routine means strong and bright looking teeth!
• Each time your child loses a tooth, teach them to invoke the tooth fairy. The real gift the fairy leaves behind is the lesson learned in protecting our teeth!
• Take pictures of the tooth’s fairy’s yearly visits with your child. Engage with your child to make a collage of these precious memories, and create a scrap book or a coloring book with it.

In essence, have FUN with this playful yet profound premise. If you’re doing this right, the tooth fairy legend should teach your child to feel comfortable with their dentist, comply with their oral health advice, and visit the dentist’s office without irritation or fear.

Schedule your family’s dental appointment today!

Do you know that our Dentist near Roswell, GA at Sunshine Smiles Dentistry has extensive experience living up to the tooth fairy legend with young children? Schedule an appointment today for a fulfilling family dentistry experience.