Tooth Fairy

(Google Image) 

By Diane Forrest

Today we want to recognize someone who needs no introduction, but is rarely celebrated.  The reason is, this person has no specific "day" or holiday....just shows up when the need arises.  To remain on standby, and show up at a moment's notice.  They complete their work in the dark of night, or wee hours of the morning, and receive no payment for efforts, not even a cookie or glass of milk.  Not only to they show up during your time of need, but make repeated visits without complaints.

I’m not talking about your Obstetrician, but the Tooth Fairy.  So who is the tooth fairy exactly?  The tooth fairy is a fantasy figure that belongs in the group of other famous people.  In the movie, the Santa Clause, There are quite a few prestigious members of that club.  There is Mother Nature and Father Time, Santa, the Easter Bunny, The tooth fairy, cupid, the sandman, and Jack Frost, a fantasy want to be.

(Google Image)

The earliest mention of the tooth fairy started in Europe.  It was the custom to bury the child's baby teeth, and then after the 6th tooth fell out, a gift of money was placed under the pillow.  Some even sprinkled glitter on the floor to depict a trail of fairy dust.  No one knows exactly what the tooth fairy looks like.  There is no standard picture as there is of Santa, or the Bunny.  Reports from Wikipedia states that a 1984 study conducted by Rosemary Wells revealed that most, 74 percent of those surveyed, believed the tooth fairy to be female, while 12 percent believed the tooth fairy to be neither male nor female and 8 percent believed the tooth fairy could be either male or female. One review of published children's books and popular artwork found the tooth fairy to also be depicted as a child with wings, a pixie, a dragon, a blue mother-figure, a flying ballerina, two little old men, a dental hygienist, a potbellied flying man smoking a cigar, a bat, a bear and others. Unlike the well-established imagining of Santa Claus, differences in renderings of the tooth fairy are not as upsetting to children.

After interviewing several people, the findings of the amount the tooth fairy left usually average out depending on each generation.  My father's generation usually got nothin, or maybe a nickel.  My generation got a quarter, while my son's generation got a dollar.  When asking my cousin what the tooth fairy brought her kids I was surprised.  The fairy brought $10.00 for the first tooth, and $3.00 to $5.00 for the remaining teeth.  I guess inflation hits everyone.  The reported average for teeth these days is around $2.70 per tooth.

(Google Image)

Today is National Tooth Fairy Day.  If you have already lost all your baby teeth, why not rent the movie The Tooth Fairy, and relive some of your fond childhood memories.