Big moments
Tooth fairy stories for kids: losing a first tooth
A wiggly tooth, a gap-toothed grin, a surprise under the pillow: losing a first baby tooth is a big moment, usually around age 6. Somewhere between pride and a few worries, here’s how to support your child, make the tooth fairy tradition your own, and share a story to talk about it together.
· By the Child Fiction team
What your child may be feeling
Losing a tooth is visible proof of growing up, and many kids can’t wait, especially once classmates are showing off gaps in their smiles. Others worry: will it hurt? What if I swallow it? A tooth that wiggles for weeks can also get annoying. All of these reactions are normal, and they often change from one day to the next.
- Ages 5 to 6: often the very first tooth. The tooth fairy is a big part of the fun, and the wiggly tooth becomes the topic of conversation at every meal. Some kids are unsettled by the feeling and stop wanting to bite into things.
- Ages 7 to 8: teeth come out one after another, and your child becomes an old pro. The questions start: how does the tooth fairy get to every house in one night? And what about the friends who say she isn’t real…
- Last one in the class: the age of the first lost tooth varies from child to child. If your child is still waiting while friends have lost several, reassure them that their turn will come. If you have doubts, your dentist can confirm that all is well.
Helping with a wiggly tooth
- Let the tooth come out on its own. Your child can wiggle it gently with their tongue or with clean hands; there’s no need to pull.
- Keep brushing, gently around the wiggly tooth. Explain that the new tooth growing underneath is the one they’ll keep for life.
- Be ready for the big moment: a clean tissue, a little box or envelope to keep the tooth safe, and a mirror to admire the new smile.
- Tell the tradition your way. The tooth fairy comes at night, takes the tooth tucked under the pillow, and leaves a coin, a dollar, or a small surprise. Some families write her a note, and she answers in teeny-tiny letters. In many Hispanic families, it’s Ratoncito Pérez, a little mouse, who comes instead.
- Get on the same page. If your child has siblings or cousins, it helps if the tooth fairy is about as generous in every house: kids compare notes!
- Save a keepsake: a photo of that first gap-toothed grin, the date written in a notebook. Kids love looking back at them a few years later.
A story to share this moment
A story about losing a tooth puts words to what your child is feeling: pride, impatience, a little nervousness. If your child is worried, take the worry seriously and never tease, even about a tiny tooth. And since the tooth fairy visits at night, it makes a lovely subject for a bedtime story read aloud, snuggled up together: the American Academy of Pediatrics notes that reading together often strengthens the bond between children and their parents, and a 2018 research review links a bedtime routine that includes reading to better sleep in young children.
Nathan and the Wiggly Tooth
For three days, Nathan’s front tooth had been wiggling. A little to the right, a little to the left, like a door that couldn’t make up its mind. Nathan pushed it with his tongue at breakfast, at recess, and even while Mom was talking to him.
At snack time, he bit into an apple, and crunch! The tooth stayed stuck in it. Nathan’s eyes went wide. He felt with his tongue: where the tooth had been, there was a soft little gap. He ran to the mirror. “Mom! I have a pirate smile!”
That night, he put the tooth in a little cardboard box and slid it under his pillow. He had written a note, trying his very best: “Dear Tooth Fairy, this is my first one. It’s kind of small. Thank you. Nathan.”
When he woke up, the box was still there, but the tooth was gone. In its place was a shiny coin and a tiny piece of paper folded up small, covered in teeny-tiny handwriting: “Thank you, Nathan. What a beautiful tooth. See you next time!” Nathan grinned at his reflection, pirate gap and all, and put the note in his treasure box.
Questions to talk about together
- How do you think Nathan feels when his tooth has been wiggling for three days?
- Why do you think Nathan writes a note to the tooth fairy?
- What do you think the tooth fairy does with all the teeth she collects?
- What would you write in your note?
On Child Fiction, your child can star in an animated story about their wiggly tooth, with family members and a favorite stuffed animal: choose the “Losing a tooth” moment, and the tooth fairy will be there, in a story that always stays gentle. Watch it together earlier in the day; in the evening, it’s time to read, with our free bedtime stories, written to be read aloud.
Common questions about the tooth fairy
When do kids lose their first baby tooth?
Usually around age 6, but it varies from child to child: some lose their first tooth a bit earlier, others a bit later. Your dentist can confirm that all is on track at a checkup, and tell you which teeth are likely to go first.
What if my child swallowed their tooth?
It happens, often during a meal. A swallowed baby tooth usually passes on its own. If your child has trouble breathing, call 911 right away; if they keep coughing or seem to have trouble swallowing, see a doctor promptly. As for the tooth fairy, no need to worry: a note under the pillow explaining what happened works just fine.
What should I say when my child asks if the tooth fairy is real?
You can start by turning the question around: “What do you think?” Many kids want to keep playing along; others are looking for a straight answer. When the question is sincere and they keep asking, an honest, loving answer protects their trust, and your child can become the keeper of the secret for younger kids. Our page on honesty has more ideas for that conversation.
How much does the tooth fairy leave?
There’s no rule: a coin, a dollar, a little note, a sticker… What matters is the magic of the moment and keeping things consistent between kids in the same family, much more than the amount.
When to ask for help
For anything about the teeth themselves, your dentist is the best person to ask. Check in, for example, if a tooth becomes loose after a bump or a fall, if the gum stays swollen or sore for several days, or if an adult tooth comes in behind a baby tooth that won’t fall out. And if your child is very anxious about losing teeth or going to the dentist, talk it over before the appointment: many pediatric dentists take time to explain to kids what’s happening in their mouths.
Keep reading
- Stories about patience: helping kids wait (a little)“Is it time yet?” Tricks to make waiting visible, a star-cookie story to read together, and questions to talk about patience with your child.
- Stories about honesty for kids, and what to do when your child liesWhy kids lie, what to do when your child lies, and how to talk about honesty without shaming: tips by age, a short story excerpt, and questions to ask.
- Short bedtime stories to read aloud or listen to togetherShort, illustrated bedtime stories for kids ages 3 to 8, to read aloud or listen to with the screen off, with questions to talk about. Free, no sign-up.
- Personalized stories for kids: books, audio, or animated?Printed books, audio, apps, or animated stories: how to choose a personalized story with your child’s name and family, while keeping their privacy safe.