Top tips for being the tooth fairy
Good oral health is key to your overall wellbeing. Brushing, flossing, and regular check-ups benefit more than just your teeth. How healthy your teeth and gums are can influence other parts of your health. This includes your heart, lungs, and mental health. Here, I explain why dental hygiene matters and how it impacts your health.
1. Check your child is at ease
First things first: some children will get caught up in the magic and excitement of a surprise visit from their favourite mythical creatures. But others may find the idea of a tiny fairy sneaking into their room while they’re sleeping scary.
You know your little one better than anyone, so talk to them and find out how they feel. If they:
- seem worried, try reassuring them that the tooth fairy is nice and will leave them a gift
- don’t like the idea of something entering their room, offer to leave the tooth somewhere else
- are frightened by fairies, replace it with a character they like, such as a superhero
- are very scared, remember it’s OK to skip the tooth fairy tradition altogether
2. Teach healthy habits
A visit from the tooth fairy is the perfect opportunity to teach your child about the importance of good tooth care. What better encouragement than from the tooth fairy themselves!
Leave your child a letter from the tooth fairy thanking them for keeping their tooth clean and explaining that only the cleanest and shiniest teeth can be collected. Make it even more magical by using tiny handwriting, a glitter pen and tooth-shaped paper. You could also leave your child a new toothbrush to encourage them to keep up the good work.
3. Think ahead
From the moment you witness that very first wobble, get ahead and make sure you’ve got everything you need for the tooth fairy’s arrival. That shaky tooth could fall out any day now. So if your tooth fairy is planning to place a few coins under your child’s pillow, make sure you’ve got some cash around. If they’re leaving a small gift in exchange for their tooth, now’s the time to get something wrapped and ready.
4. Know the going rate
It’s up to you to decide what exactly your tooth fairy will leave behind. It could be something like a coin, book, toy, or letter. It’s worth keeping in mind that this will set expectations for future visits, and your child will lose 20 baby teeth over the coming years.
If your tooth fairy is planning to swap those canines for cash, you might be wondering: how much does the tooth fairy pay? This can depend on where you live, how much you earn, and how much other kids in your area are getting. You might want to check how much other parents are planning to leave, before your little one finds out from their friends. According to a 2023 dental survey, the average price of a milk tooth in England was £1.80.
5. Get crafty
While tradition tells us to leave your little one’s tooth beneath their pillow at night, this can make it pretty difficult to find. If you have time, try making a homemade tooth container, such as a box or pouch with your child. This will make the tooth easier to locate, whilst also building the excitement for your child. Be as creative as you like, adding a touch of that fairy magic with extra sequins and sparkle.
If you’re short on time or not the crafty type, try placing the lost tooth in a glass of water or a piece of tissue so you can stealthily make the swap.
6. Be ready for questions
The arrival of the tooth fairy might also bring a barrage of curious questions from those inquisitive little minds. Your child might ask:
- Is the tooth fairy real?
- Where do they live?
- What does the tooth fairy do with teeth?
So it’s a good idea to prepare your answers ahead of time so you don’t get caught off guard. Here’s one to get you started.
Isn’t it funny
How the tooth fairy knows
When a wobbly tooth
Is ready to go
She always arrives for her pearly white prize
Squeezing under the pillow past sleepy eyes
Leaving surprises as long as it’s clean
She’s gone in a flash, never to be seen
Protect it she must from all that she sees
Chocolate bunny rabbits
Sweet sugar bees
Finally touching down at fairy HQ
The teeth are being polished in an orderly queue
Off she goes to the big tall tower
Where it’s sent on its way with a little fairy power
Because every single star in the night
Is a tooth from you that shines so bright
7. Have a backup plan
Unsurprisingly, things don’t always go to plan when it comes to the tooth fairy’s impending visit. So it’s a good idea to come up with a plan B. Here are some ideas.
- If your child’s tooth falls out last-minute and you don’t have a gift or money yet...write them an IOU from the tooth fairy explaining they were very busy and will be back tomorrow.
- If your child loses their tooth down the toilet or sink... get them to write a note for the tooth fairy saying where it is and explain that the fairy will go and find it there.
- If you forget to play the role of the tooth fairy and your child wakes up wondering why they didn’t come... ask them to look harder and quickly throw some coins or a gift somewhere in their room.
- If your child is a light sleeper and catches you in the act... excitedly explain that you were just checking to see if the fairy had been yet.
Here at Bupa we understand how important your family is. So with our family health insurance you can rest assured knowing that eligible treatment and support is available to you and your loved ones when you need it.
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Sources Sources
- Children’s teeth. Oral Health Foundation. dentalhealth.org, accessed February 2025
- Toumba, KJ. The legend of the “tooth fairy”. Eur Arch Paediatr Dent 2013; 14: 277–278. doi.org/10.1007/s40368-013-0093-9
- Map showing how much is spent on the Tooth Fairy in every county in England. Dental phobia. dentalphobia.co.uk, accessed February 2025
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