While the last baby teeth generally aren’t lost until age ten or 11, most children stop believing in the tooth fairy by the time they’re seven or eight. Of course, children are more than happy to play along with the game when there’s money at stake! While it is impossible to know what the tooth fairy does with all those teeth (are they labeled and stored like museum pieces in a giant fairytale castle?), it is possible to trace the history and myth of the tooth fairy to several cultures and traditions. the doctor and our team learned about some interesting myths about the tooth fairy!
The Middle Ages
Legend has it that Europeans in the Middle Ages believed a witch could curse someone by using their teeth, so it was important to dispose of baby teeth correctly. Teeth were swallowed, buried, or burned. Sometimes baby teeth were even left for rodents to eat. Despite being pests, rodents were valued for their strong teeth; it was generally believed a tooth fed to a rodent would lead to the development of a healthy and strong adult tooth.
Eighteenth Century France
The tooth fairy myth began to show more characteristics of a conventional fairytale in 18th century France. La Bonne Petite Souris, a bedtime story, tells the strange tale of a fairy that changes into a mouse to help a good queen defeat an evil king. The mouse secretly hides under the evil king’s pillow and defeats him by knocking out his teeth.
Scandinavian Lore
So, why does the tooth fairy leave money under the pillow? The idea of exchanging a tooth for coins originated in Scandinavia. Vikings paid children for a lost tooth. Teeth were worn on necklaces as good luck charms in battle. While the idea of exchanging a tooth for coins quickly spread throughout the rest of Europe, a fierce, horn-helmeted Viking is far cry from the image of a fairy collecting teeth.
While the tooth fairy as children know her today didn’t make an appearance until the 1900s, tooth myths and rites of passage have existed in numerous cultures since the dawn of time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did people in the Middle Ages keep or dispose of baby teeth in unusual ways?
People in medieval Europe believed that improperly disposed teeth could be used by witches to cast curses. As a result, baby teeth were sometimes swallowed, buried, burned, or given to rodents.
Where did the story of the tooth fairy begin?
The modern tooth fairy developed from several older cultural traditions. One notable influence was the French 18th-century fairy tale La Bonne Petite Souris, which featured a fairy who transformed into a mouse.
Why does the tooth fairy leave money under the pillow?
The tradition of exchanging a lost tooth for money is linked to Scandinavian customs. Vikings reportedly paid children for their lost teeth and sometimes wore them as good-luck charms.
When did the modern tooth fairy become popular?
Although tooth-related myths and traditions have existed for centuries, the familiar image of the tooth fairy collecting children’s teeth became popular during the early 20th century.
