The 28th February is National Tooth Fairy Day. It is an annual holiday that celebrates one of a child’s most loved fairies. While Father Christmas brings gifts to children and the Easter Bunny gives the gift of chocolate eggs, the Tooth Fairy has a pretty cool arrangement with children all around the world.
Here are some facts to celebrate National Tooth Fairy Day:
1) In England during The Middle Ages, it was believed that if a child was to bury or burn their tooth, it was save them from pain and misery in the afterlife. It was thought that burning the tooth would stop witches getting hold of it and placing a curse on the child.
2) In some parts of Asia, it was said that if the child lost an upper jaw tooth then they should place it in a gap beneath the floor and if it came from the lower jaw they should throw it at the ceiling. It was believed they should do this whilst shouting to replace it with that of a mouse’s.
3) The Vikings had a tooth fee; an amount of money given to a child for their fallen tooth. The tooth would then be made into jewellery.
4) The incarnation of these ideas into an actual Tooth Fairy appeared in print in 1927 in a children’s play by Esther Watkins Arnold.
5) In 1984, a study conducted by Rosemary Wells showed that 74% of people surveyed believed that the Tooth Fairy was female. 12% thought the Tooth Fairy was genderless and 8% thought that the Tooth Fairy could be male or female.
If you want to stop witches getting hold of your teeth, keep them clean and visit Synergy Dental Clinic at http://synergydental.org.uk/
