Tooth fairy box: what to look for, fun ideas, and how to keep baby teeth

Quick answer: what to look for in a tooth fairy box

• A lid that closes firmly, so a tiny tooth does not fall out under the pillow
• A size that is easy for small hands to open, but not so small it gets lost
• Smooth edges and no small loose parts for younger siblings
• A pouch or a box: pouches are soft under a pillow, boxes protect the tooth better
• If you want to keep the teeth later, a keepsake box with a slot for each tooth

Tooth fairy box or tooth pouch?

A soft tooth pouch is comfortable under a pillow and easy for a grown-up to find in the dark. A small hard box keeps the tooth safe and can be reused for every tooth.

Some families use a pouch for the tooth fairy night and then move the tooth to a keepsake box with labeled slots.

Simple tooth fairy ideas

Customs differ around the world. In some places a lost tooth is thrown onto the roof or under the floor, and in others a mouse visits instead of a fairy. Sharing these stories can make the day extra fun.

• Write a tiny note from the tooth fairy, praising your child’s brushing
• Leave a little “fairy dust” (glitter on a paper, not on the bed)
• Write the date on a card and keep it with the tooth
• Let your child draw a picture of the tooth fairy to leave in the box

Keeping baby teeth and lost-tooth dates

If you want to keep baby teeth, let them dry and store them in a keepsake box. A box with a slot for each tooth makes it easy to see which tooth came out.

Writing down the date and which tooth came out also helps you notice the order of loose teeth. In our app, Hamigaki Island, a grown-up can record lost-tooth dates on a tooth map from the parent menu.

When to ask a dentist

If a permanent tooth is coming in behind a baby tooth that is not loose, a tooth is very wobbly for a long time, or your child has pain or swelling, ask your child’s dentist.