Losing baby teeth is a significant event in the lives of children. It is a sign that they are growing older and are no longer babies. In America, the event is celebrated with the tradition of a tooth fairy exchanging money for the missing tooth. Here are some legends collected by Selby B. Beeler from people from all around the world.
Money Traditions
Children around the world exchange baby teeth for money. In America, the creature who takes the old tooth and replaces it with treasure is a tooth fairy but in other countries other beings or animals are responsible for increasing the child’s wealth.
- Mexico: In Mexico, children leave their tooth in a special box on their nightstand with the hope that El Raton, the magic mouse, will exchange the tooth for money. Front teeth are more valuable than any other teeth.
- France: In France the tooth is placed under the pillow for La Petit Souris, a little mouse, to take and exchange for a gift.
Healthy Teeth
Many traditions around the world reflect the desire for the child’s new tooth to come in straight and healthy.
- Yellowknife Denne (Native American Tribe): People from the Yellowknife Denne tribe place the lost tooth in a tree and dance around it. The custom is supposed to ensure that the child’s new tooth will grow as straight as a tree.
- Kyrgyztan: In Kyrgyztan, a child will hide their tooth in a piece of bread and give it to an animal with desirable teeth. A mouse will give the child healthy white sharp teeth while a dog might give a child yellow stained teeth.
- Cambodia: Children in Cambodia bury toss their lower teeth on the roof and bury their upper teeth in the ground. They hope that the new teeth will grow towards the old teeth and be straight.
A Remembrance of Childhood
In some countries, the tooth is preserved as a memorial to the passage of childhood.
- Costa Rica: In Costa Rica, the lost tooth is plated in gold and made into an earring.
- Chile: In Chile, the lost tooth is made into a charm and set in precious metal to be used as a necklace or an earring.
A Charm for the Future
In some countries, the passage of childhood is a time for hope in the future. Some parents use the teeth with the hope of gaining blessings for their children.
- Turkey: In Turkey, parents bury their children’s teeth in a location that might benefit the child’s future. For instance, if the parents want their child to grow up to be doctor they will bury the teeth on the hospital grounds. If they want their child to become a college graduate they will bury the tooth in the college garden.
To learn more about different traditions for celebrating the transition from baby teeth to adult teeth read Selby B. Beeler’s book Throw Your Tooth on the Roof: Tooth Traditions from Around the World.
