As the Tooth Fairy replaces our children’s lost teeth with money, there are other traditions around the world that help children feel better about losing their baby teeth, and some of those traditions include:
Argentina
Raton Perez is the small, kind mouse who rewards children in Argentina for losing a tooth. When a child loses their tooth, they put the tooth in a large glass of water on their nightstand next to their bed. As they sleep, Perez visits them and, because of his extreme thirst, he drinks the water, takes the tooth, and leaves a small gift in the cup.
Mongolia
Mongolians don’t have a Tooth Fairy, but they do, however, have a tradition that helps them grow into a strong and healthy smile. When a child loses their tooth, they wrap it in a piece of fat or a piece of meat and they feed it to a dog. This gesture means that they hope to have strong teeth, just like dogs. If there isn’t a dog around, they bury their tooth under a tree and they wish for strong roots.
France
Instead of a Tooth Fairy, France has a kind mouse named La Bonne Petite Souris who rewards children for their lost teeth. When a child loses their tooth, they place it under their pillow for Petite Souris. As they sleep, the mouse arrives and replaces the tooth with either candy or money.
Turkey
There isn’t a Tooth Fairy in Turkey, but they do have a tooth tradition. The parents of the child who loses their tooth believe that the lost tooth holds the child’s future. If they want their child to be a fantastic soccer player, they bury the tooth in a soccer field. If they want their child to go to dental school, they bury the tooth on dental school grounds.
El Salvador
In El Salvador, the Tooth Fairy is a small rabbit. When the child loses a tooth, they put it under their pillow and they wait for the rabbit. As they sleep, the rabbit will visit them and will replace the tooth with money.