The argument for the existence of the tooth fairy is a lot like the argument for the existence of Santa Claus. Our views change dramatically as we age.
As very young children, we are too young to understand what it is all about. we are learning the intricacies of walking and talking so an age old debate is far from our grasp at this stage.
As we begin to become increasingly aware at the age of 3, we have all of our deciduous (baby/milk) teeth, and may start to hear about the tooth fairy from our parents and older siblings. We now begin to look forward to the day our first tooth falls out. It is a new feeling and a magical emotional time. We get excited about the idea if the tooth fairy however we are too young to appreciate what she he stands for.
As very young children, we are too young to understand what it is all about. we are learning the intricacies of walking and talking so an age old debate is far from our grasp at this stage.
As we begin to become increasingly aware at the age of 3, we have all of our deciduous (baby/milk) teeth, and may start to hear about the tooth fairy from our parents and older siblings. We now begin to look forward to the day our first tooth falls out. It is a new feeling and a magical emotional time. We get excited about the idea if the tooth fairy however we are too young to appreciate what she he stands for.
Ages 5-7: Here we start to lose our first teeth and our belief in the tooth fairy is at an all time high because it has to be! The promise of the tooth fairy can sometimes even be enough to enable us to sit through removal/extraction of bad teeth at the dentist. The belief is so great that it can encourage us to develop a greater understanding of ourselves in the face of adversity and a greater appreciation for our ability to overcome our anxieties.
If we have good teeth and do not require any to be taken out by the dentist then we have the experience of our teeth becoming loose and falling out (sometimes with a helping hand from a football or a rogue siblings foot) safe in the knowledge that it will be worth the temporary pain when the tooth fairy comes and leaves us a treat or some financial compensation.
Ages 7-10; between these ages, we start to develop our reasoning skills; although many still believe in the tooth fairy, the belief suffers from growing skepticism. This will largely revolve around the same anti-Santa arguments: how can the tooth fairy visit all the children in the world that lose a tooth on the same day? how does she (or he) get into the house? how does the tooth fairy have so much money to give away? and why does the amount of money differ from family to family? (does she have favourites?)
over 10's: Many here have deduced their own conclusion that the tooth fairy simply cannot exist due to all the pitfalls above and they feel that they have outgrown the very idea of the tooth fairy. At this age most children will have lost all of their deciduous teeth as usually the final baby teeth are lost around age 11.
Adults - I would fathom to assume that almost all adults are convinced that the tooth fairy does not exist (and that Santa Claus does not exist either for that matter). THIS IS INCORRECT and it is a shame, the Tooth Fairy does exist and in the same vain so does Santa Claus but we will save that argument for another day. Now let's look at this from an all encompassing business, health and economic perspective.
Reasons for Not Believing:
- I haven't seen her
- I (the parent/guardian) put the money or gift under the pillow
- I (the parent/guradian) keep the teeth in a jar in my memory drawer or dispose of them in the bin myself
- The gifts and amounts of money vary between families and even within families
- It is not possible to be in multiple countries and multiple places on the same night
- It is not possible to be inside peoples house without them or somebody else knowing or hearing something
- The Tooth Fairy is a fairy; a mythical creature; and therefore does not exist.
These are all valid points but they are not proof, they are weak evidence based largely on less than expert opinion.
Now why we should believe?
The Tooth Fairy, like Santa Claus, is known worldwide. Therefore the notion of the tooth fairy, without the need for global marketing, is accepted and reinforced by billions or people, it is on a par with Santa Claus himself, Jesus Christ and even Facebook!
Whether Adults believe in the tooth fairy or not, it is very rare that they do not rekindle and revel in the idea of her existence when they have kids of their own. Adults spend precious time convincing their own children about the existence of the tooth fairy which is an odd occurrence when you consider they do not believe in her themselves.
Parents, no matter what their financial situation, will always find a token gift or money to leave under their children's pillow and take their child's tooth in exchange.
Parents do all this on behalf of the Tooth Fairy without ever having direct contact with her and all to maintain their children's belief in her. This is carried out the world over, and has been for centuries so it must be important right?
Whether Adults believe in the tooth fairy or not, it is very rare that they do not rekindle and revel in the idea of her existence when they have kids of their own. Adults spend precious time convincing their own children about the existence of the tooth fairy which is an odd occurrence when you consider they do not believe in her themselves.
Parents, no matter what their financial situation, will always find a token gift or money to leave under their children's pillow and take their child's tooth in exchange.
Parents do all this on behalf of the Tooth Fairy without ever having direct contact with her and all to maintain their children's belief in her. This is carried out the world over, and has been for centuries so it must be important right?
The Benefits of believing in the Tooth Fairy
1. The Tooth Fairy orchestrates an entire system of parents convincing their children and others children of her existence without having any direct contact or conversations with any of them. This serves to aid the development of imagination, encourage creative thinking, broaden the mind of children and offer practice for improvement of parent-child communication.
2. The Tooth Fairy also orchestrates a tooth-cash exchange system handling millions of pounds every day with absolutely zero staff costs, zero overheads and again without having to directly contact parents herself. This helps to develop children's early financial education and allows them opportunity to begin to comprehend the value of frugality.
3. The Tooth Fairy is such a worldwide brand that everyone knows about her one way or another and her legacy will live on long after she has gone, although no-one will ever know that she has gone such is the effficiency of her business. She is the second greatest delegator that ever lived (after Santa Claus of course). This realisation is an important leadership lesson for children and parents alike and is a style of leadership we should all aspire to.
4. The existence of the tooth fairy enables very young children to overcome fears and anxieties. It encourages a belief system for them (whether that runs parallel to a religious belief system or not) and brings their oral health to the forefront of their minds as well as their parents minds.
5. Oral Health may otherwise be overlooked in the years when it is vitally important if it wasn't for the tooth fairy. Childrens permanent back teeth (molars) are at most risk of tooth decay in their first few years in the mouth (ages 6-12), so utilising the tooth fairy to aid conversations about brushing teeth and maintaining a healthy mouth and smile can be imperative to a caries free child.
6. The Tooth Fairy's existence encourages older children to develop their logic and reasoning skills. It gives them early and ample opportunity to start to question and debate her existence whilst all the while developing their unique personalities. This stands them in excellent stead for getting ahead in life.
7. Finally and possibly most importantly, the tooth fairy is a compassionate being, she takes away something now useless to you, and gives you a tangible, useful gift in return. She has no favourites and treats everyone as equal. If you lose your tooth she still knows and will still pay you a visit in the night. This encourages children to show compassion, treat all people equally and to be selfless by way of giving without expecting something in return. If children and adults can absorb this teaching alone then the Tooth Fairy has served her purpose.
2. The Tooth Fairy also orchestrates a tooth-cash exchange system handling millions of pounds every day with absolutely zero staff costs, zero overheads and again without having to directly contact parents herself. This helps to develop children's early financial education and allows them opportunity to begin to comprehend the value of frugality.
3. The Tooth Fairy is such a worldwide brand that everyone knows about her one way or another and her legacy will live on long after she has gone, although no-one will ever know that she has gone such is the effficiency of her business. She is the second greatest delegator that ever lived (after Santa Claus of course). This realisation is an important leadership lesson for children and parents alike and is a style of leadership we should all aspire to.
4. The existence of the tooth fairy enables very young children to overcome fears and anxieties. It encourages a belief system for them (whether that runs parallel to a religious belief system or not) and brings their oral health to the forefront of their minds as well as their parents minds.
5. Oral Health may otherwise be overlooked in the years when it is vitally important if it wasn't for the tooth fairy. Childrens permanent back teeth (molars) are at most risk of tooth decay in their first few years in the mouth (ages 6-12), so utilising the tooth fairy to aid conversations about brushing teeth and maintaining a healthy mouth and smile can be imperative to a caries free child.
6. The Tooth Fairy's existence encourages older children to develop their logic and reasoning skills. It gives them early and ample opportunity to start to question and debate her existence whilst all the while developing their unique personalities. This stands them in excellent stead for getting ahead in life.
7. Finally and possibly most importantly, the tooth fairy is a compassionate being, she takes away something now useless to you, and gives you a tangible, useful gift in return. She has no favourites and treats everyone as equal. If you lose your tooth she still knows and will still pay you a visit in the night. This encourages children to show compassion, treat all people equally and to be selfless by way of giving without expecting something in return. If children and adults can absorb this teaching alone then the Tooth Fairy has served her purpose.
The Tooth Fairy therefore can be seen as a silent dental Dalai Lama offering an insight into the qualities of compassion and selflessness among other things for children and parents. Her values are shared without need for preaching as her existence alone enables self development and oral health promotion in so many ways.
Thank for reading
Dr T F Airy
Thank for reading
Dr T F Airy
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