On August 22nd, we celebrate National Tooth Fairy Day, a tradition filled with magic and wonder for children who have lost their primary teeth. The Tooth Fairy herself is a mythical figure who is believed to visit children while they sleep and takes their lost teeth, leaving behind a small token in return.
This day serves as a festive reminder of such unique childhood whimsies. It’s designed not just for children eagerly awaiting the tooth fairy’s visit, but also for the parents who help make the magic happen. The charm of this day lies in honoring these delightful milestones in a child’s life.
History of National Tooth Fairy Day
This day pays homage to the Tooth Fairy, an entity steeped in folklore and various cultural rituals associated with the loss of children’s baby teeth. In medieval England, for instance, kids were told to incinerate their fallen baby teeth to spare themselves from difficulties in the afterlife. Norse cultures, on the other hand, offered a “tooth fee” to children for each lost tooth.
The contemporary depiction of the Tooth Fairy — a kind figure who exchanges children’s lost teeth for minor gifts or coins left under their pillows — is broadly an amalgamation of these earlier customs and European fairy tales. American society began widely adopting this tradition in the first half of the 1900s.
The tradition of the Tooth Fairy as it is known today first made print in a short play for children penned by Esther Watkins Arnold in 1927. Following this publication, the Tooth Fairy quickly grew in fame, featuring in many children’s books, literature, and cartoons.
National Tooth Fairy Day is more than a celebration of a beloved childhood myth; it also provides a platform for parents, dentists, and educators to encourage good oral health among children.
National Tooth Fairy Day Timeline
Mythological tooth fairy creatures
Some societies in ancient history believed in a tradition that when a child loses a tooth, it must be buried to spare the child from hardships in the next life.
Viking Tooth Fairy Customs
Among the Norse, there was a tradition called 'tand-fé' or 'tooth fee', which was paid to a child when they lost their first tooth.
Esther Watkins Arnold’s Playlet
The eight-page playlet entitled 'The Tooth Fairy' popularized the figure in the modern American folklore.
Walt Disney's Influence
Disney's Cinderella introduced a good fairy doing good deeds, which helped strengthen belief in the tooth fairy.
Today’s Tooth Fairy
The tooth fairy continues to be a popular figure in modern folklore, and is deemed as a right of passage for many children who lose their first tooth.
Ideas to Celebrate National Tooth Fairy Day
1 
Magical Tooth Fairy Party
Throw a shimmering party with a tooth fairy theme. Use pastel colors and sparkling glitters for decoration. Serve tooth-shaped cookies and other meals. Don’t forget tiny tooth fairy flags and banners.
2
Make-Your-Own Tooth Fairy Box
Plan a craft session with your kids to make their own personalized tooth fairy boxes. It's a creative and fun way to celebrate, plus, kids can keep their lost teeth safe in preparation for the tooth fairy visit.
3
Reading Tooth Fairy Tales
Gather some traditional and popular tooth fairy stories. Schedule a reading session with your kids to help them understand the lore and mythology of the tooth fairy in different cultures.
4
The Big Tooth Fair
Host an outdoor fair where kids can play games related to teeth and dental health. Reward winners with tooth fairy stickers or toothbrushes. Invite a local dentist to talk to kids about the importance of dental care.
5
Donate to a Dental Charity
Organize a fundraising event or make personal contributions to a dental charity in honor of National Tooth fairy day. This could help less privileged kids get access to dental care services.
6
Teeth Health Awareness Session
To remember the spirit of tooth fairy day, conduct a dental health awareness session where the importance of daily cleaning, flossing and eating healthy foods is emphasized in a kid-friendly manner.
7 Interesting Facts About Tooth Fairy
1.
Origin of the Tooth Fairy
The Tooth Fairy as a figure originates from the U.S. in the early 20th century, though it likely draws from older myths and customs from various cultures about children's lost teeth.
2.
Price of a Tooth
According to a survey by Axios, the Tooth Fairy left an average of $6.23 per tooth in 2023.
3.
Tooth Fairy Variations
Instead of a fairy, some cultures have a 'tooth mouse' that takes children's lost teeth. This tradition comes from a French fairy tale about a mouse that turns into a fairy to help a good queen.
4.
Tooth Fairy’s International Siblings
In Spain, there's Ratón de los Dientes; in Italy, Fatina dei Denti; and in France, La Petite Souris.
5.
Tooth Exchange Ideas
In South Africa, children place lost teeth in a slipper for the Tooth Mouse to find, and in Mongolia, it's tradition to feed the tooth to a dog, or place it by a tree so a bird can take it.
6.
Tooth Fairy’s inflation
The amount of money that the Tooth Fairy leaves has been subject to inflation. In the 1950s, children typically received a dime or quarter, whereas now they receive an average of $4.70.
7.
Fairy vs Reality
In 2011, a study conducted by Visa Inc. found that American children in 90% of U.S. households receive a visit from the Tooth Fairy.
National Tooth Fairy Day FAQs
Next National Tooth Fairy Day Dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | August 22nd | Tuesday |
| 2024 | August 22nd | Thursday |
| 2025 | August 22nd | Friday |
| 2026 | August 22nd | Saturday |
| 2027 | August 22nd | Sunday |
| What is the pattern? | Every August 22nd | |
National Tooth Fairy Day Word Search
- Teeth
- Fairy
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Enamel
- Dentistry
