What to do with a Baby Tooth?

The Tooth Fairy is a popular tradition in Canada and the United States. When children lose a baby tooth, they put it under their pillow. During the night, the Tooth Fairy takes the tooth and puts money under the pillow. What are the traditions in other countries? Here is what some of our readers told us.

Hong Kong
Children dig a hole in the ground and put their tooth in it. They hope the baby tooth will grow into a permanent tooth.

India
First, children roll their baby tooth in cotton. They then throw the tooth up into the sun and say, "Sun, sun, take this old tooth and give me a nice, new tooth".

Thailand
Children tie a string around their baby tooth. If it is an upper tooth, they throw it up in the air. If it is a lower tooth, they throw it down.

Guatemala
Children throw their baby teeth on the roof. They believe a mouse comes at night and takes away the teeth.

Background Information

When you were a child, did you believe in the tooth fairy? Do your children? Talk about what you know about the tooth fairy tradition. Do you know what people from other countries do with their teeth?

Questions

1. What is a tradition?

2. Why do children lose their baby teeth?

3. Why do you think the Tooth Fairy leaves money?

4. What do children do in Hong Kong when they lose a tooth?

5. What is a permanent tooth?

6. What do children in India say when they throw their tooth up into the sun?

7. What do children in Thailand do that is almost the same as what the children in India do?

8. Why do children from Guatemala throw their teeth on the roof?

9. Why do you think they might want a mouse to take away their teeth?

10. Do you think any of these traditions really work?