Tooth Fairy Ideas For Parents

tooth fairy Ideas for parents Salt Lake City UT

Tooth Fairy Ideas For Parents

kids dentist murray utah

Kids Dentist, Dr. Ari Hobfoll

Our Favourite Tooth Fairy Ideas

The Tooth Fairy is a fun and exciting way to promote good dental hygiene for kids. When your child starts losing their baby teeth, it’s time to start preparing for the tooth fairy to arrive! Here are some awesome Tooth Fairy ideas to help you make the best of this important time in your child’s life. 

What Should Parents Do When A Child Loses Their First Tooth?

Friendly pediatric dentist with child patient at Kaleidoscope Kids Dentistry in Sandy, UT.

If your child loses a tooth during the day, have them put it under their pillow when they go to bed. If they lose it at night, put it under their pillow in the morning. Either way, the Tooth Fairy will come while they’re asleep and leave them a special present in exchange for their tooth. 

If you don’t want to keep track of teeth, you can always leave a note from the Tooth Fairy letting your child know that their tooth has been received and thanking them for taking care of their teeth. You can also include a special message about taking care of their teeth in the future.

Whatever you do, make sure you have a plan in place so you’re prepared when your child loses their first tooth. With a little preparation, the Tooth Fairy can be a fun and exciting part of your child’s dental care routine.

“Your smile is a little gappy. The tooth fairy is coming to leave you a little treat to make you happy.”

Fun Tooth Fairy Ideas

Try Tooth Mail From The Tooth Fairy 

Transform the classic tooth-under-the-pillow tradition with the concept of Tooth Mail. Tooth mail involves sending tooth fairy notes or even a detailed tooth fairy letter recounting the cherished memory of the lost tooth. Have the tooth fairy write a teeny tiny note in return or leave a tooth fairy receipt for added fun. Tooth Fairy letters are a personalized touch that is bound to make the experience magical for the child.

Add a Little Sparkle

Turn the Tooth Fairy’s visit into a shimmering event. Imagine your child’s surprise when they find a sprinkle of fairy dust on their bedside table or window sill. You could even make glitter money by putting sparkly stickers and gems on the coins or bills. If you’re looking for a twist, you could opt for glitter nail polish instead of money. Just a dab of little glitter in your child’s room can make the experience a more memorable event.

Tooth Fairy Bedtime Story

Narrate tales of the tooth fairy coming to collect teeth from children all over the world. Stories filled with tooth fairy magic can spark a child’s imagination and get them excited for their own visit from the tooth fairy. There are many free stories and videos online that you can use, or create your own story!

Tooth Fairy’s Wand

One of the more creative tooth fairy ideas is when the tooth fairy visits, have her “leave” items behind. Putting the tooth fairies wand in your child’s room will make them extra excited in the morning. This idea can be spun in multiple ways. Maybe the tooth fairy forgot her crown or the tooth fairy leaves wings behind as a gift for your child. This is a great way to build more excitement around losing their next tooth and to spark their imagination.

Treats From the Tooth Fairy

Instead of the traditional money under your child’s pillow, the Tooth Fairy can leave behind some delightful surprises. A new toothbrush, dental floss, tiny things like a small toy, chocolate coins, or even a little note can be a fun way to celebrate the milestone. These tokens can make the tooth-losing phase a cherished memory in a child’s life.

Tooth Fairy Pillow

Making a tooth fairy pillow that your child puts their tiny tooth in is a great way to start a tooth fairy tradition. It will also make it easier for you to retrieve and find the tooth when the time comes. You can buy supplies like a small pillow from a craft store and paint or sew your child’s name onto it. You can also buy and decorate a pouch for a no-sew project.

What if You Want To Avoid Tooth Fairy Money? 

When it comes to finding the perfect Tooth Fairy gift, many parents struggle with finding a gift or experience that will reward their child for a lost tooth!  With so many options available, from toys and trinkets, it can be difficult to decide which one is right for your little one.

If you’re looking for an idea that doesn’t involve leaving money under the pillow, then we recommend creating an adventure in lieu of cash. A fun family activity allows kids to choose their own adventure and gives them the chance to explore new places and try exciting activities at their own pace. Whether they want to go exploring in the great outdoors or visit a local museum or zoo, offering a Tooth Fairy sponsored adventure is sure to provide your child with a memorable experience and get them excited for when that next wiggly tooth falls out.

Pediatric Dentist In Salt Lake 

Losing a tooth is an important milestone in childhood, marking the transition from precious baby teeth to permanent ones. It is something that all kiddos go through, and we love sharing our ideas for fun rewards. Your child’s oral health also becomes extremely important during this time.

If you are in search of a pediatric dentist in Salt Lake City, our highly trained team is specially trained to provide gentle care to kiddos of all ages, ensuring their comfort. Don’t hesitate to contact us today for more information about our pediatric dental services. We look forward to speaking with you soon!

Is Juice Bad For My Child’s Teeth?

Is Juice Bad For My Childs Teeth?

Is Juice Bad For My Child's Teeth?

kids dentist murray utah

Kids Dentist, Dr. Ari Hobfoll

Is Juice Really bad for my child's teeth? Yes.

Kids enjoy juice because it tastes fantastic, and parents love that their children drink juice since we are told that it is beneficial for them! After all, fruits are high in vitamins and nutrients that your youngster requires for their overall health. 

While this is true, allowing your child to drink too much fruit juice or juice that really doesn’t have any actual fruit in it may cause more harm than benefit. 

Today on the blog, our pediatric dentist in Murray Utah answers the question, “Is juice really bad for my child’s teeth?”

Isn't Fruit Juice Good for You?

Smiling child receiving expert care from a pediatric dentist in West Valley City, UT.

The fact that juice is derived from fruit does not imply that it is nutritious. In reality, this delightful beverage may have a lot less nutritional value than you think! Many fruit juices such as mixed fruit juice blends, fruit juice cocktails, fruit juice drinks, and fruit punch typically include only trace amounts of juice. 

Instead, our pediatric dentist in Salt Lake City explains that these beverages are loaded with added sugar, artificial sweeteners, and high-fructose corn syrup.

Even beverages made entirely of fruit juice may contain far more sugar than you believe. This is because the majority of popular fruits are high in natural sugar. A glass of apple, grape, or cranberry juice contains just as much sugar as a glass of soda!

3 Consequences of Drinking Juice

Pediatric dentist providing care in Salt Lake County

Did you know that the most frequent childhood ailment is cavities? While various things can contribute to children having a higher risk of tooth decay, many dentists suggest that juice drinking plays a significant influence. 

Our friend Dr. Helgerson, who is a dentist in Grand Junction Co, shares that three characteristics make fruit juice such a bad drink for growing teeth:

Sugar Content: As you might expect, the more sugar drinks your child consumes, the more likely they are to develop cavities.

Nature of Acidity: Citrus juices in particular, such as orange juice, are highly acidic. These acids can dissolve tooth enamel, leaving the teeth fragile, sensitive, and susceptible to decay.

Method of Serving: The more juice your child drinks during the day, the more sugars accumulate around their teeth and gums, encouraging tooth decay and gum disease.

What to Drink in Its Place

Smiling child at Kaleidoscope Kids Dentistry in Cottonwood Heights, UT

While the amount of sugar in beverages targeted toward children may appear overwhelming at first, there is no need to panic! Dr. Hobfoll, the best pediatric dentist in SLC, explains that there are still plenty of tasty drinks your child will like, as well as several techniques to make drinking fruit juice safer for their teeth.

You should make sure children under the age of six are drinking juice no more than 6 ounces per day, and children over the age of six glass no more than 12 ounces of fruit juices per day (as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics).

Some ways to make juice healthier for your children’s teeth and overall:

  • To minimize the impact of the fruit juice, drink in one sitting and avoid it in a sippy cup or bottle which will extend the acid attack on the teeth.
  • Make smoothies with whole fruits at home so your child gets the benefit of vitamins and fiber.

What to give your child to drink instead of juice:

  • Drink more milk at meal times, particularly low-sugar varieties such as almond, soy, rice, or whole milk, 2 % or non-fat is also okay for meal times.
  • Drink more tap water, which is both healthy and often contains the vital mineral fluoride, which can help your child’s teeth stay strong! If your little one is walking around with a bottle or sippy cup, water is the best option.

How To Prevent Cavities

Pediatric dental care team at Kaleidoscope Kids Dentistry, Taylorsville.

Minimizing sugary drinks is a great place to start when it comes to preventing cavities. When your child consumes fruit juices, we recommend encouraging them to drink or rinse their mouth with some water.

Having a healthy diet is also very important for preventing cavities. Good food such as whole fruit and vegetables are packed with vitamins that will not only help keep your child’s teeth strong and healthy but will help their overall development.

What to Do if Your Child has a Cavity

If you suspect your child has a cavity or any other oral health issues, it is important to take them to a dentist. If you are looking for a pediatric dentist in Salt Lake City, reach out to us at Kaleidoscope Kids Dentistry! Our entire team is dedicated to making sure your child receives the best dental care possible. We also provide dental education to make sure your little one knows how to properly care for their teeth and how to prevent getting cavities in the future.