The Tooth Fairy!

What You Need to Know 

Dr Merritt offers this advice regarding the Tooth Fairy. A child's tooth beginning to loosen can bring on a lot of excitement. Please avoid the "String and Slamming Door" method for tooth pulling. Don't force the removal. A tooth that is ready to be removed will come out with a gentle tug. Using a dry paper towel to hold onto the loose tooth works well. A tooth that is ready to come out won't bleed very much. Warm salt water can be handy to rinse out the mouth.

What should you do if the tooth is accidentally swallowed? First, remember, this too shall pass. Inform the child that this is not the first time this has occurred and that they should relax. Leave a short note to explain to the Tooth Fairy that a tooth has indeed been lost. Just don't expect a "full" payment for the tooth.
 

When to expect teeth
(Tooth Eruption)

 

Tooth Fairy Chart
 
Clicking here will download a PDF chart that your family can use to log Tooth Fairy visits. Tooth Fairy rates vary widely across the country. Usually, the first tooth brings a premium amount. And the larger molars can be expected to fetch a larger award. However, a tooth that has been been cared for with proper brushing and regular visits to Dr. Merritt may be considered a high value tooth by the Tooth Fairy. It is very important to get to bed early and go right to sleep when expecting the Tooth Fairy. Also, help make it easy to find your tooth by placing it inside a "baggy." There are even Tooth Fairy pillows available. These are very small pillows with a little pocket to put your tooth in.