A dentist in Adelaide May know The Tooth Fairy – But How About the Tooth Mouse?

While a visit to the dentist in Adelaide is not usually popular with children, losing a baby tooth is filled with utter excitement. As a kid I still remember the joy when one of my baby teeth that was hanging from a thread finally fell out. That night before bed, I would store my tooth in my special Tooth Fairy tooth holder with the hope of the Tooth Fairy visiting. In the morning, I would rush out of bed to see if the Tooth Fairy had visited. Growing up, I had always believed the Tooth Fairy myth was universal, just like Santa. However, after talking to some friends from overseas, I quickly discovered this was not the case. If you thought the Tooth Fairy story was zany enough, wait until you learn about the tooth-losing myths from around the world. 

The Tooth Fairy – Australia, US, England, New Zealand, Germany, Norwegian, Denmark

Most of us are familiar with the story of the Tooth Fairy, as we have grown up believing it. The charming tale was invented to alleviate the ordeal of losing a tooth and become very popular with children. Once a tooth is lost, children place the tooth under their pillow and go to sleep. During the night, the Tooth Fairy flutters through the window and exchanges the tooth for money. While the going rate in my household was $1 per tooth, back in the 90s, these days the going rate is apparently $3.70.   

The myth is said to originate from the 17th century story, “La Bonne Petit Souris”, which in English translates into The Good Little Mouse. The tale written by Madame d’Aulnoy portrays a battle of good verses evil. In the story, a good queen is trying to overthrow an evil king and gets help from a fairy. One night, the fairy transforms into a mouse and hides under the king’s pillow. The mouse then knocks out all of the king’s teeth. In 1949, a more modern version of the Tooth Fairy story was published. The story written by Lee Rogow entitled “The Tooth Fairy,” thrust the old myth back into discussion and established the story in tradition. 

The Tooth Mouse – Spain, Mexico, Peru, Childe, Argentina, Colombia, France, Belgium, Switzerland, Morocco, Algeria, Luxemburg

In French and Spanish speaking counties the story is pretty similar, however, instead of a fairy it is a mouse that collects the tooth. Just like the Tooth Fairy story, when children lose their teeth, they leave them either under their pillow or in a glass of water to be collected by the mouse. The teeth are replaced with either money or a present. In the instance where a child leaves their tooth in a glass of water, the mouse gulps down the water and keeps the tooth. He then places the present in the empty glass. In Spanish speaking counties the much-loved character is called a range of different names including Ratocinto Perez, Raton Perez, Perez Mouse and El Raton de Los Dientest. Whereas, in French speaking counties the mouse is affectionately referred to as La Petite Souris. In Scotland the story changes slightly with tooth being collected by a white rate. While it sounds terrifying to adults for a rat wandering around the house, the white rate buys the teeth from the children by giving them coins. Interestingly, in Canada where both English and French are spoken, children believe in both the Tooth Fairy and the Tooth Mouse. This dual belief is also shared in Italy, as well as numerous other counties.  

Throwing teeth – Asia, Japan and the Middle East

In Asian countries the tooth-losing tradition is very different. When a child loses a tooth it is either thrown up onto the roof, or down onto the floor. The direction the tooth flies in, is dependent on the positioning in their mouth. If the tooth was located in the upper jaw, the tooth is thrown onto the roof. However, if it is from the lower jaw, the child tosses it to the floor. Once this ritual is completed, a child requests that their tooth is replaced with the tooth of a mouse. While this request sound peculiar, they ask for a mouse’s tooth because their teeth grow for their entire life. 

The throwing trend continues in India, with children throwing tooth up onto the roof. The children then call upon a sparrow to bring them a new tooth. Similarly, in the Dominican Republic, teeth are also thrown onto the roof, however, the mouse trend continues and a mouse is meant to collect it and bring them a new one.


In the Middle East, they also follow the tradition of throwing their teeth. In counties including Egypt, Iraq, Sudan, Jordan and Palestine, teeth are thrown into the sky towards the Sun or Allah.  In Japan the ritual is a little different. The Japanese desire very straight teeth, so once a tooth is lost their throw in either up or down, but as straight as they possible can. 

Next time you take your child to the Dentist in Adelaide and they’re a bit nervous, tell them the lost tooth trends from around the world to keep them entertained. If you don’t have a dentist in Adelaide, visit Total Dental and Denture Care. You can learn more about their service by visiting their website at http://tddc.com.au. 

Invisalign or Snaggle Tooth in Adelaide? Beauty is Truly in the Eye of the Beholder

In Adelaide the invisalign treatment is taking over. Many teens and adults are choosing this near invisible teeth-straightening method to attain the smile they’ve always wanted. However, in Japan it is a completely different story. Rather than aiming for straight pearly white, many Japanese women want a snaggletooth. It may sound strange, but it’s important to remember that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Apparently in Japan, men go “cray cray” over a snaggletooth or yaeba, as they call it. While to Westerners the notion is hard to grasp, in Japan the concept of beauty is quite different. The Japanese are a culture that highly values youthfulness and the snaggletooth is believed to convey a youthful, childlike appearance. It mimics the look a child has when their teeth are not fully grown in yet, making women look cute and younger. 

Termed the “yaeba phenomenon”, women desire a fanged look, where the molars are pushed forward when they crowd the canines. The word yaeba translates into “double tooth” or “multilayered”. In Japan women go to extreme lengths to get the look. Some women undergo a procedure called tsuke yaeba or “attached snaggletooth”, where a fake yaeba in attached to their teeth with adhesive. The procedure can be either permanent or non-permanent and is very common in the Ginza district of Tokyo. In this district, dentists custom fit removable caps to your tooth for US$400. 

The trend that has hit Japan is believed to have been triggered by Japanese celebrities and pop stars. There is even a Japanese girl group called TYB48 (tsuke-yaeba48) who all sported the fanged-look. Interestingly, the group was actually created by a dental clinic called Pure Cure in Roppongi who specialise in the tsuke yaeba procedure. In a strange twist to the music industry, clinic director Taro Masuoka, came up with the idea for the group based on the popularity of the fanged tooth trend. Taro cites the, “impish cuteness,” that yaeba creates for the popularity of the dental phenomenon. In Taro’s clinic he even offers a half-price discount on the procedure for teens that present their ID card from their middle school or high school. 

The girl group is made up of 18-year-olds Mio, Nana and Rika. The girls were selected from a range of applicants and of course all have the crooked, fang like teeth. They portray an innocent demeanor and wear giant bows and plaid skirts, which are a popular look for Japanese pop stars. Ironically, their first album is titled, “Mind if I bite?”. 

While the girl group is yet to make it big, the “yaeba phenomenon” seems set to stay in Japan. The interesting question is though, whether the niche look could become popular in Western society. While to us, sticking fangs on to your teeth sounds strange, it is interesting to reflect on the wacky things we will do in Adelaide to make ourselves look what we believe is beautiful. From fake tans to drawn on eyebrows, to even botox, we are no strangers to extreme beauty trends. You never really know what new trend will pop up so maybe yaeba is not out of the question in Adelaide. 

However, if you are not digging the new dental trend and would like to stick with some traditional Western beauty, try invisalign. The professional dentists at Total Dental and Denture Care carry out invisalign Treatment in Adelaide and will make your teeth straight. To learn more about the procedure visit the Total Dental and Denture Care website at http://tddc.com.au.

Adelaide Dentists Thrill you with Fun Fact About Teeth – From Invisalign to Natal Teeth

The world of dentistry has come a long way over the years. These days, dentists can provide you with many more options than you thought in Adelaide including Invisalign treatment, crowns, dentures and more. All of these procedures transform your teeth and help you attain the perfect smile you have always wanted.

For many of us, we don’t know a lot about our teeth, other than we have to brush them twice a day. Below, the dentists at Total Dental and Denture Care have come up with three facts you didn’t know about teeth.

Babies can be born with teeth

While most of us begin sprouting our first tooth at 6 months old, in some rare cases babies are born with natal teeth. Approximately one in every 2000 babies are born with some teeth that grow on the bottom gums. Within their first days of life, these babies have to visit the dentist to have these little teeth removed. The teeth must be removed because it most cases they have weak root systems and can easily be swallowed. The teeth also become problematic at breastfeeding time, so for the safety and comfort of a woman’s breasts are removed. While it is unusual, it is normally harmless to be born with natal teeth. There are some cases where teeth can be a symptom of certain medical conditions, but this is quite infrequent. Back in ancient physiognomy, being born with teeth was though to be a sign of being evil, however, it is just a myth. There have been cases of famous people being born with natal teeth, which include Julius Caesar and Napoleon. 

Baby teeth don’t always fall out

Most children begin losing their baby teeth at around 5 or 6 and have our adult teeth by our early teenage years. For many of us it’s hard to look back at photos of ourselves with big gaps in our smile. However, at the time it was full of fun and suspense, waiting on the Tooth Fairy to deliver us our cash. Many important purchases back in the day were made from money from our pal the Tooth Fairy. However, for some unlucky children, the Tooth Fairy never visits. While they are blessed with 20 children teeth, they do not have the replacement permanent teeth, so the new teeth never push them teeth out.

Braces are no longer embarrassing 
 
For me braces have always been ironic. At the time kids are most sensitive about their appearance, is the time they are forced to wear chunky metal. While there was the option of picking the colour of the rubber bans, there was not much teenagers could do, except struggle through a few years without opening their mouth too much. These days though, there are a range of options available. The most popular invention would be Invisalign, which is a near invisible teeth straightening method. Patients are provided with clear plates that slowly and steadily move the teeth into the desired positions. Each couple of weeks, the plates are swapped from ones with different dimensions. Unfortunately for those who require extensive movement in their teeth, braces are the only option. However, braces can now be funked up with glow-in-the-dark or LED technology. Dentists now provide fluorescent rubber bands that when activated glow in the dark. Additionally, there are clothing shops in Japan that sell LED braces. These braces are only a fashion accessory and do no actually straighten the teeth. They begin flashing when the wearer smiles widely.   

So there you go, who knew teeth could be so interesting? If you have any further questions about any of the issues discussed or would like to find out more about Invisalign Treatment in Adelaide, visit the Total Dental and Denture Care website at http://tddc.com.au/.

Tooth-Losing Traditions Across the World That your Adelaide Dentist Forgot to Tell you About

While a visit to the dentist is not usually popular with children in Adelaide, losing a baby tooth is filled with utter excitement. As a kid I still remember the joy when one of my baby teeth that was hanging from a thread finally fell out. That night before bed, I would store my tooth in my special Tooth Fairy tooth holder with the hope of the Tooth Fairy visiting. In the morning, I would rush out of bed to see if the Tooth Fairy had visited. Growing up, I had always believed the Tooth Fairy myth was universal, just like Santa. However, after talking to some friends from overseas, I quickly discovered this was not the case. If you thought the Tooth Fairy story was zany enough, wait until you learn about the tooth-losing myths from around the world.

The Tooth Fairy - Australia, US, England, New Zealand, Germany, Norwegian, Denmark

Most of us are familiar with the story of the Tooth Fairy, as we have grown up believing it. The charming tale was invented to alleviate the ordeal of losing a tooth and become very popular with children. Once a tooth is lost, children place the tooth under their pillow and go to sleep. During the night, the Tooth Fairy flutters through the window and exchanges the tooth for money. While the going rate in my household was $1 per tooth, back in the 90s, these days the going rate is apparently $3.70.  

The myth is said to originate from the 17th century story, “La Bonne Petit Souris”, which in English translates into The Good Little Mouse. The tale written by Madame d’Aulnoy portrays a battle of good verses evil. In the story, a good queen is trying to overthrow an evil king and gets help from a fairy. One night, the fairy transforms into a mouse and hides under the king’s pillow. The mouse then knocks out all of the king’s teeth. In 1949, a more modern version of the Tooth Fairy story was published. The story written by Lee Rogow entitled “The Tooth Fairy,” thrust the old myth back into discussion and established the story in tradition.

The Tooth Mouse – Spain, Mexico, Peru, Childe, Argentina, Colombia, France, Belgium, Switzerland, Morocco, Algeria, Luxemburg

In French and Spanish speaking counties the story is pretty similar, however, instead of a fairy it is a mouse that collects the tooth. Just like the Tooth Fairy story, when children lose their teeth, they leave them either under their pillow or in a glass of water to be collected by the mouse. The teeth are replaced with either money or a present. In the instance where a child leaves their tooth in a glass of water, the mouse gulps down the water and keeps the tooth. He then places the present in the empty glass.

In Spanish speaking counties the much-loved character is called a range of different names including Ratocinto Perez, Raton Perez, Perez Mouse and El Raton de Los Dientest. Whereas, in French speaking counties the mouse is affectionately referred to as La Petite Souris. In Scotland the story changes slightly with tooth being collected by a white rate. While it sounds terrifying to adults for a rat wandering around the house, the white rate buys the teeth from the children by giving them coins.

Interestingly, in Canada where both English and French are spoken, children believe in both the Tooth Fairy and the Tooth Mouse. This dual belief is also shared in Italy, as well as numerous other counties. 

Throwing teeth – Asia, Japan and the Middle East

In Asian countries the tooth-losing tradition is very different. When a child loses a tooth it is either thrown up onto the roof, or down onto the floor. The direction the tooth flies in, is dependent on the positioning in their mouth. If the tooth was located in the upper jaw, the tooth is thrown onto the roof. However, if it is from the lower jaw, the child tosses it to the floor. Once this ritual is completed, a child requests that their tooth is replaced with the tooth of a mouse. While this request sound peculiar, they ask for a mouse’s tooth because their teeth grow for their entire life.

The throwing trend continues in India, with children throwing tooth up onto the roof. The children then call upon a sparrow to bring them a new tooth. Similarly, in the Dominican Republic, teeth are also thrown onto the roof, however, the mouse trend continues and a mouse is meant to collect it and bring them a new one.

In the Middle East, they also follow the tradition of throwing their teeth. In counties including Egypt, Iraq, Sudan, Jordan and Palestine, teeth are thrown into the sky towards the Sun or Allah.

In Japan the ritual is a little different. The Japanese desire very straight teeth, so once a tooth is lost their throw in either up or down, but as straight as they possible can.
 

Next time your child has a dental appointment and is nervous about visiting their dentist; share with them the stories from around the world. Conversely, if you are looking for a Good Dentist in Adelaide, visit the Total Dental and Denture Care website to learn more about their services at http://tddc.com.au/.