What Do You Do with Lost Teeth?

My six-year-old daughter lost one of her front teeth recently. We were all so excited and she seriously could not look any cuter as she proudly smiles big showing off the crater that now appears in the place where the tooth once was.

Now, I know many moms out there that keep things like baby teeth and baby hair. My mom was one of “those moms.” I think she has some of my baby hair clipped into my baby book. To be honest, the thought of this makes me cringe.

In our house, the usual routine is that the Tooth Fairy takes the tooth in exchange for cash. And then the tooth goes away – because I’m not a mom who keeps things. But despite knowing the Tooth Fairy routine, my daughter asked a question that caused my Type A personality go a little crazy.

“Can I keep the tooth but still get money?”

I can only imagine how horrified my face looked as I thought about the possibility of having a spare tooth floating around the house. I responded to her by reiterating how the Tooth Fairy works; she keeps the tooth but leaves the child money.

“But I really want to show my tooth to Grandpa when he comes over on Saturday.”

Yes, in true kid fashion, she was guilt tripping me. I’m kind of a pushover for certain things, I will admit. In that moment, against everything my type A personality believes in, I gave in. But I didn’t go down without a fight. I attempted to tell her we would just wait until Saturday night to put it under her pillow. Then the Tooth Fairy would take it in exchange for money. She wasn’t a fan of that idea.

So what did I do?

I emailed the Tooth Fairy. I explained that just this one time we would like to keep the tooth but please still come on over and leave a dollar under the pillow. As I told this to my daughter, I made it very clear that the Tooth Fairy was complying but only this one time. She still has plenty of teeth to lose and I simply cannot imagine them popping up around the house. I think I would lose it. No pun intended.

The rule is that it must be kept in a Ziploc bag at all times. Even when showing people. I am hopeful my daughter will be convinced to let the Tooth Fairy come and take it one night soon despite having already left the cash. Because mom, I’m no fool. I know that tooth is going to make its way out of the little baggie and onto the kitchen table as we sit down to eat one night or get stuck to my work pants as I am scrambling to get out the door one morning.

What do you do with lost teeth? Are you type A like me or do you truly not mind having spare teeth hanging out around the house?

Related:

A Comprehensive Guide to Your Options When Your Child Loses a Tooth

A Brilliant Tooth Fairy Letter