Blog Post

Use the “Tooth Fairy” to Enforce Good Dental Habits

John Adams • Dec 24, 2015
tooth fairy

Encouraging Kids to Practice Proper Oral Hygiene with a Little Help


Like Santa Clause, the Easter Bunny, and a number of other fictional characters from our childhood, the existence of the Tooth Fairy is very real and tangible to children. The general idea behind the Tooth Fairy is that when children lose a baby tooth, they place it under their pillow, on a window sill, or in another designated place and the Tooth Fairy comes to take the tooth and leaves them money. While the Tooth Fairy is often used to let children know losing their teeth is okay and a part of growing up, you can also use this fictional character to encourage them to practice proper oral hygiene.

Children generally begin losing their teeth around the age of six, so it is important to introduce the idea of the Tooth Fairy to them before they begin this process. When explaining what the Tooth Fairy does, make sure to tell kids that the fairy prefers healthy teeth that are brushed, cleaned, and cared for to teeth that are not. You can also tell children the Tooth Fairy can sense when their teeth are going to come out and will start watching the kids to make sure they are caring for the teeth properly.

When children do start losing their teeth and have their first encounter with the Tooth Fairy, consider giving him or her a special name. Names like Twinkle the Tooth Fairy or Flosser the Tooth Fairy (for those male fairies) are much more exciting and possible more believable than just Tooth Fairy. Have the Tooth Fairy leave the children a special note about how they are doing a good job cleaning and caring for their teeth or, if they are having a hard time with oral hygiene, have the fairy leave them some tips on how to care for their teeth better. Sometimes the advice coming from someone else sticks better.

When considering what kinds of gifts to give to children from the Tooth Fairy, make sure they are healthy gifts. While it may seem easy to give them candy or sweets as a reward, doing this could potentially do more damage to their teeth especially if they are struggling with oral hygiene. Most traditionally, the Tooth Fairy will leave children money, but you can also consider leaving them a new toothbrush, dental floss, a special mouth wash, or toothpaste to reinforce healthy habits.

The "Tooth Fairy" might need a little help from your local dentist, so if you don't have insurance, consider our family discount dental plan. With our plan, you will save as much as 20 percent of all annual and emergency care visits. For more information on all of our dental plans, click here.

Photo Copyright: dazdraperma / 123RF Stock Photo

By Gerald M 25 Jan, 2021
There is a new fad of using banana peels to whiten your teeth. To find out if it really works, click here.
By Gerald M 18 Jan, 2021
What foods are safe for you to eat after an extraction? To find this out as well as how you can save money on your dental bills with our NH supplemental dental insurance, click here.
By Gerald M 11 Jan, 2021
Considering using tooth paint as a whitener? To learn more about this as well as how you can save money on your dental bills with our New Hampshire discount dental plan, click here.
By Gerald M 04 Jan, 2021
How can you make sure you have healthier gums and teeth? To find this out as well as how you can save as much as 20 percent on your dental bills, click here.
By Gerald M 29 Dec, 2020
Love your coffee but hate the stained teeth? We have some tips on how you can fix those coffee-stained teeth. Read more...
By Gerald M 30 Nov, 2020
Have you heard about using strawberries as an alternative teeth whitening method? Before you try it, you better read THIS!
By Gerald M 23 Nov, 2020
Getting a filling done soon and worried if it will hurt or not? To find out as well as learning how you can save money on your dental bill with a NH discount dental plan, click here.
By Gerald M 16 Nov, 2020
Did you know endurance athletes may be more susceptible to cavities? To find out why as well as how you can save money on dental bills with our NH supplemental dental insurance, click here.
By Gerald M 09 Nov, 2020
If you are drinking a lot of sugary drinks, you need to understand how they impact your oral care. Read more...
By Gerald M 02 Nov, 2020
Learn more about when dentists need to use a temporary crown as well as how you can save money on dental bills with our NH supplemental dental insurance. Click here...
More Posts
Share by: