In Rus', a child’s lost tooth was “given” to a mouse, in the West it was given to the Tooth Fairy: what is the meaning of such a ritual

» Rituals and rituals » In Rus', a child’s lost tooth was “given” to a mouse, in the West it was given to the Tooth Fairy: what is the meaning of such a ritual

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For children, losing their baby teeth is stressful, often accompanied by pain. Parents go to great lengths to make this difficult period easier for their children. And here various rituals come to the rescue, adding a little magic to the life of each child.

Russian rite

In Rus' they took fallen teeth seriously. It was believed that if a piece of a person falls into the hands of an evil sorcerer, then with its help he will be able to steal the soul. For this reason, the tooth was given to little helpers: a mouse or a brownie.

They hid it in a secluded corner, cellar or behind the stove. At the same time, it was necessary to say the magic words: “Mouse, mouse, take the old tooth, and give a new one in return.” Although arbitrary formulations of the conspiracy were also allowed.

They explained to the child that a baby tooth must be given away in order to receive a new and strong one in return. Sometimes the mouse brought a small gift.

Why do they give a silver spoon for the first tooth?

Folk customs

Our ancestors believed that silver attracts goodness and prosperity, protects against damage, the evil eye, and conspiracy. A spoon made of this metal was placed in a child’s crib as a talisman against evil spirits. Although such a custom has nothing to do with the Orthodox faith, some still remain superstitious today and follow the traditions of their grandparents.

Useful properties of silver

Who gives the silver spoon

Previously, only godparents could give a silver spoon to a child at a christening. It was cherished as a symbol of the emerging spiritual kinship, kept as a family heirloom and passed on by inheritance.

Today, a silver spoon for the first tooth is given not only by godparents, but also by relatives and family friends. In addition, it may not be one spoon, but, for example, a set of spoons and forks, rattles or cups.

Foreign rite

It is interesting that not only in Rus' it was customary to give a lost tooth to rodents. They are also trusted in France and Spain, only in these countries there are specific characters with names - the Good Little Mouse (La Petite Souris) and Perez, respectively. In Greece, China, Korea and Brazil, it is customary to throw baby teeth onto the roof so that some bird will pick them up.

In the West, the Tooth Fairy manages lost teeth. It is curious that this character was invented by the Spanish writer Luis Coloma, as well as the mouse Perez. The Tooth Fairy gained its greatest fame in 1949, when an American magazine published a whole story about her.

Initially, this publication was conceived by dentists to popularize oral hygiene among children and adults, but the good witch has firmly taken a place in the hearts of parents and children around the world. The image of the Tooth Fairy began to be often used in American comedies and cartoons. Now they believe in her as sacredly as in Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny.

The ritual of handing over a lost tooth to a fairy is very similar to the Russian ritual. In order for her to pick up the tooth, it must be placed under the pillow or on the nightstand. Unlike the mouse, the sorceress brings the child a coin or a small gift. It is believed that such compensation helps the baby recover from the pain and stress associated with tooth loss.

In fact, it is not so important to whom exactly the lost children’s teeth will be given. The main thing is that the kids get over this loss easily and quickly.

Waiting for the Tooth Fairy or When do the first baby teeth fall out?

Many parents are concerned about the question of when should the first baby tooth fall out . Endless questions begin from mothers of the same age, dentists and local pediatricians - when, when?

The issue of changing baby teeth is purely individual. But there is a relationship between the eruption of the first tooth and their subsequent replacement with permanent ones. As a rule, the early appearance of milk teeth foreshadows the corresponding growth of molars. On average, a child will have his or her first permanent incisor in the lower jaw at 5 years of age. Changing teeth is a mechanism for pushing out milk teeth - permanent ones. First, the root of the tooth dissolves, then its upper part begins to wobble and falls out, and a new tooth grows to replace it. The sequence of tooth loss usually coincides with the order of eruption. The change begins with the incisors and so on until the last. The milk bite has 20 teeth. At the age of 12-16 years, all permanent teeth erupt. Sometimes wisdom teeth appear with a delay of several decades, but this is the norm until the age of 30.

So, the long-awaited moment happened, and the first milk tooth left a number of its fellows. What should you do besides calling the Tooth Fairy? After a tooth falls out on its own or is forced to be removed, you should apply a piece of sterile bandage to the resulting hole and bite it for 10-15 minutes. Usually this time is enough to stop minor natural bleeding. When, after 20 minutes, blood still appears, you need to change the bandage and see a pediatric dentist. It may happen that the tooth becomes loose in the late evening. Then it is better to stock up on a pharmacy collection of nettle or sage in advance, make an infusion and cool it. It is dangerous to leave a loose tooth overnight, as involuntary movement of the tongue can cause it to come off, which can cause it to enter the respiratory tract. Therefore, it is important to lose a tooth before going to bed. And if the bleeding does not stop, soak a sterile bandage with herbal infusion and clamp it in the hole. You need to ask the child not to swallow the infusion that has accumulated in the mouth; it is better to spit it out and replace the tampon with a new one. After a day, you can rinse your mouth with soda or a weak saline solution.

Changing baby teeth is always an event not only in the life of a child, but also of the whole family.

Which teeth fall out first?

Although the age at which primary teeth are replaced by molars varies and is sometimes difficult, the order in which they fall out is the same for almost all children.

• Sixes begin to grow first. These teeth are not baby teeth, but in all children they are the first to make themselves known.
• Then the lower and then the upper incisors begin to loosen.
• After the incisors, a variety of teeth become loose in different orders and fall out.
• The last ones to loosen and fall out are the fangs.

The process of developing a child’s bite lasts quite a long time – up to 13-14 years. And, by the way, if a child’s baby teeth were uneven, this does not mean at all that the molars will grow the same. It is likely that the teenager will be proud of his Hollywood smile. A permanent bite is formed regardless of the past.

Princess doll

The girl will be delighted to receive a beautiful princess doll as a gift from the tooth fairy. Select:

• any of the Disney princesses or several dolls at once and a couple of sets of stylish clothes to go with them;

• a special doll for hairstyles. Hair dyeing kits are sold separately for them, as well as many hairpins and elastic bands to create an incredible look for the doll.

It is worth noting! If you play the role of the tooth fairy, then you shouldn’t limit yourself to miniature gifts, putting them under your pillow instead of a tooth. Place a surprise near the bed, explaining that the fairy did not want to wake up the baby and therefore did not put the gift under the pillow. Come up with a worthwhile excuse and give a gift of any size!

Silver gift ideas for babies on their first tooth

Ready-made silver sets in a gift box look beautiful and expensive. Usually these are sets of two - spoon and fork, spoon and rattle, sippy cup and rattle; or three items - saucer, cup and spoon or fork, spoon, sippy cup. Godparents can buy a set with a silver spoon and a silver-plated icon: with the Mother of God for a girl and with the Savior for a boy. Such a gift will be very valuable for the child and his parents.

What else can you give for the first tooth?

Babies' first tooth appears at the age of 6-9 months. During this period, the child is actively developing and learning about the world around him, so it is better to choose appropriate gifts:

Practical everyday things would also be appropriate:

• Bed linen for a baby crib is a beautiful and necessary gift for a baby and his parents.
• Openwork knitted blankets for walks and family photo sessions.
• Elegant and comfortable clothes for holidays and every day.

Which spoon to choose for the first tooth

When choosing, you need to consider several parameters:

What do godparents give for the first tooth?

It is advisable to give godparents a silver spoon with Orthodox symbols. This could be a model with a cross, an image of a Saint, a Guardian Angel, a prayer “Save and Preserve,” an image of a climbing vine, an inscription “To the Godson” or “Goddaughter.” Such a spoon will become a valuable keepsake, a symbol of spiritual ties.

What do grandparents give a child for his first tooth?

Grandparents try to give their grandchildren the best, so you can trust them to give a silver spoon. The most convenient model for a child to use is a teaspoon with a wide handle, without a large number of decorative parts.