The replacement of milk teeth with permanent ones often takes place under the supervision of grandparents, who can tell many superstitions and signs. Superstitions concern the appearance of the first and subsequent teeth, the loss of old ones, the customs of disposing of obsolete pieces of bone tissue, and the eruption of new units. Traditions require correct behavior in these situations so that the child’s future life is joyful and comfortable.
Signs about who saw the baby's first tooth
There are a number of interpretations for those who noticed the child’s first tooth. The sign is considered a good sign and promises good news. The people treated the event with great trepidation. It predicted the future for the family:
- The appearance of a tooth is usually noticed by the mother. If it comes out earlier than four months after birth, the event promises her an early pregnancy.
- If the child’s father turns out to be more observant, the sign means profit and financial well-being for the family.
- A grandmother who notices her grandson's first tooth will live a long time. For grandfather, the event foreshadows a meeting with an old friend.
- If the godmother saw the first milk tooth, signs for an unmarried girl predict a quick wedding. If she is married, offspring are expected in the family soon.
- The event promises wealth and good luck to the godfather. This is a good sign for the child: fate will be favorable to him.
- It happened that older children noticed teething. An observant boy was predicted to have a successful career, a girl - early marriage.
After the appearance of the first tooth, fortune telling was performed
Symbolic objects were laid out in front of the baby - a hammer, a ladle, scissors, a stethoscope. What a child is drawn to will determine his future profession: carpenter, cook, fashion designer or doctor.
Attention! If your first tooth appears on Monday, you shouldn’t plan a trip. Notice on Sunday - your cherished dream will come true in the near future.
First steps in case of loss
A baby whose milk elements begin to change does not need painkillers. Adults think that the procedure of changing units is extremely unpleasant for the child, but before the tooth begins to loosen, the roots in it dissolve.
The loss causes discomfort, but the teeth do not hurt. A wound remains in place of the organ, which bleeds a little. Children easily tolerate a change in bite.
Losing teeth can be a shock to little ones, so parents should explain to them that this is normal, and new healthy teeth will soon grow and remain forever. At the age of 7-14 years, the oral cavity needs careful hygiene, and after removal, the following rules must be followed:
- immediately rinse your mouth with baking soda,
- prohibit the child from touching the wound to avoid infection,
- When the meal is over, rinse your mouth with warm water.
To help with loosening, you can give your child hard fruits and vegetables: apples, pears, carrots. Dried fruits in small quantities are also suitable.
A sign if the first tooth comes out from above
The first tooth is associated with many folk signs and customs. When deciphering an event, pay attention to the accompanying details:
- If a second appears immediately after the first, and there is a gap between them, the sign promises the child good luck in life. He will achieve great success, higher powers favor him.
- They also wondered about the child’s character. If the tooth erupts for a long time, painfully, the baby will be thoughtful, prone to melancholy, rapid eruption - a real fidget will grow up, which will cause a lot of trouble for parents.
- If a child’s first tooth comes out from above, a new addition to the family is expected soon; the signs promise parents news of pregnancy within a year.
- During teething, you cannot leave the baby, it is believed that during this period evil spirits may attach to it.
- The eruption of the lower one foreshadows the manifestation of talent. The heir can become a famous person who glorified his family.
- If the first upper tooth came out immediately after birth or the baby was born with incisors, the signs endowed the child with a special destiny. The people believed that this was a sign of the ruler.
To facilitate teething, the first baby tooth that falls out should be thrown over the shoulder at the intersection
Is it possible to throw away
Regardless of the country, all superstitions boil down to one thing - you cannot dispose of a tooth in the usual way. It is usually recommended to give it to a mouse or fairy, but there are other traditions and customs in this regard.
For example, in the northern part of England they say that if a baby tooth falls out, it should be burned. This is required to destroy any opportunity to influence a person at the energetic level, and will also supposedly have a beneficial effect on new root units.
In Rus', loss was given not only to a mouse, but more often they asked for the intercession of a brownie. Gypsies buried or threw the tooth to the moon. At the same time, special conspiracies were uttered so that future life would be happy, successful and comfortable. In Asia, the upper teeth were thrown onto the roof, and the lower ones under the porch, to protect the baby from the evil eye and damage.
What do you give to a child for his first tooth?
Teething had a symbolic meaning. This is a significant event after birth. It was believed that after the appearance of the first incisor, the baby could be shown to strangers. Before this, only relatives and godparents were allowed to look at the child. This is how the baby was protected from the evil eye and damage. It was believed that if the teeth were large and wide, the child would be kind and generous, while small, narrow teeth predicted a quarrelsome character.
If the first baby tooth has been lost, the child will live away from home
What does the godmother give for the first tooth?
According to customs, the godmother gives a silver spoon for the first tooth. The metal is considered precious and symbolizes wealth and prosperity. The gift promised the baby good and prosperity in the future. Silver was associated with the protection of the Moon, protection from troubles and misfortunes. They put a spoon in the baby's crib. She served as a talisman and protected the baby's sleep. The godmother is considered the child’s mother before higher powers and is responsible for his spiritual development. The donated spoon also symbolizes the spiritual food necessary for the development of goodness and piety.
The appearance of the first tooth meant the need to introduce complementary foods. Silver has unique antibacterial properties. Bacteria die on its surface, and the metal disinfects food and water. Silver ions help not only fight toxins, but also strengthen the immune system, protecting the baby from colds.
Advice! Before giving a spoon, you need to immerse it in blessed water for 3 days.
This way she will absorb holy energy and protect the child from illness.
It is recommended to choose products without protruding edges that are safe for babies
What do grandparents give for the first tooth?
Grandparents are the oldest representatives, the roots of the family. Not only their gifts are important, but also their wishes. The energy of love and care will help the baby grow healthy and happy, to the delight of all relatives. Grandparents can give a small family member a bag of silver coins. A symbolic gift is a wish for a long, rich life, not only materially, but also spiritually. It was believed that silver absorbed evil spirits; darkening of the metal meant damage, the evil eye. It is enough to clean the product of plaque to restore its magical properties.
What do you give a boy for his first tooth?
In addition to the spoon, you can choose other gifts made of silver. The first tooth symbolizes the beginning of the transition from mother’s care to the big world. Symbolic gifts are recommended to protect the child’s energy:
- You can give a set of silver so that the boy grows up strong and healthy.
- The icon with the savior will protect the child and will become a valuable gift for the whole family.
- The silver chain symbolizes the endless circle of life, the youngest child becomes a continuation of the family.
What do you give to a girl for her first tooth?
A girl should also be given gifts made of silver. They will help maintain the purity of the soul and protect from bad thoughts. A gift for the first tooth is presented with parting words for future growing up:
- The silver-plated icon of the Mother of God is a powerful protection for the girl and will help her become the guardian of the hearth.
- The silver ring given for the first tooth was kept for the engagement. It was considered the key to a happy family life.
- A silver cup will help you grow beautiful not only in face, but also in soul. Drinking water cleanses you of bad thoughts, envy, and fills you with love and goodness.
Gift for the first tooth
Traditionally, it is believed that godparents give an expensive gift to a baby. This can also be done by the person who discovered the first tooth in the baby’s mouth. This event should not be ignored. Otherwise, the baby will be doomed to illness.
Gifts for your baby may include toys or hygiene items. But the best gift option is a silver spoon. From the moment the first teeth erupt, the baby is given not only milk, but also supplementary food. Silver has the ability to disinfect water and food, so parents can rest assured that dangerous bacteria will not get into their child’s mouth.
Be sure to tap the tooth with the given spoon. These actions symbolize that the baby will be able to eat the same food as his parents and at the same time all his teeth will remain healthy until they fall out.
Due to its purifying properties, silver is used in the production of crosses. It is from this material that crosses are acquired immediately after baptism.
Why do people give a silver spoon for their first tooth?
The custom of giving a silver spoon appeared a long time ago. Such a gift meant the wealth of the family, which means that the baby had a predictable happy future. The sign is associated with the first complementary foods; silver has antibacterial properties, prevents infections of the oral cavity and colds. The gift is considered a wish for good health and prosperity, and promises a happy, carefree life for the baby.
To protect the baby from dark forces, the name of the Guardian Angel is engraved on the donated product.
The custom also has another meaning: the silver spoon also symbolized the spiritual path. The gift should remind the growing child to maintain pure thoughts.
Customs associated with the first tooth
The most common ritual is the gift of a silver spoon.
It is given as a gift by godparents, according to other signs - the one who first saw the tooth should buy it. A silver spoon should be the first cutlery the baby uses to eat, it will attract good health, happiness, wealth and good luck. Many peoples of the world have a tradition of organizing a holiday in honor of the appearance of the first tooth. On this occasion, a celebration is held and relatives guess - objects that symbolize professions are laid out in front of the child. The child is seated in the middle of these things, they are covered with sheets, sprinkled with wheat grains, and they say in unison:
Grow strong, healthy, intact and white teeth. And you, baby, grow up healthy, smart, strong and happy!
Now the sheet is removed. Whichever thing the baby takes first, that will be his profession.
Who gives a spoon for the first tooth?
As a rule, whoever saw it first presented a symbolic gift. Babies were protected from prying eyes, so only close people - parents, godparents, relatives - could notice the teething. The tradition of giving a silver spoon for the first tooth is still relevant today. The boy is usually given a gift by his godfather, or his grandfather or father can also give him a gift. With a precious gift, a man conveys his wish to grow strong and courageous.
The godfather should knock three times with a spoon on the erupting tooth, according to legend, the next incisors will come out easily and painlessly
Who gives a spoon to a girl's first tooth?
Traditionally, the little princess is given a gift by her godmother or the eldest in the family - grandmother, great-grandmother. The silver spoon was given with wishes of health for the baby and joy for her parents. If the gift was given by an unmarried godmother, it means that she will have a girl first. For a married woman, the omen promised the birth of a boy. For a grandmother who gave a valuable gift to her granddaughter, the belief foreshadowed long years of life.
Some other signs
There are also other signs related to the baby’s first teeth. Here are just a few of them:
- if a child was born with one tooth, he will have a great future and become a great warrior (strong, courageous);
- how many new teeth will a baby grow by the age of 1, how many brothers and sisters will he have;
- Some peoples believed that late teething would bring happiness to the child.
As a conclusion, it is worth noting that these are the main signs according to which the future of the child and his mother can be determined based on the characteristics of the teething process.
Of course, you should approach everything with a smile and understand that real life has a rather weak correlation with fairy tales and customs of the Middle Ages. If a young mother likes to amuse herself with such stories, then no one forbids her from doing so. But there’s no point in worrying about “bad” signs either.
What does the chipper say?
All the signs of happiness are there!
In Russia, owners of the front gap were considered from birth endowed with a cheerful disposition and the ability to effortlessly conquer the opposite sex. And someone says that it’s a flaw... They don’t understand anything!
A large gap between the teeth, into which a silver coin could fit, was considered in England a sign of wealth and good luck awaiting a person. And in general, in the European tradition, rare teeth definitely promised the lucky one a life full of travel and interesting adventures. True, not too long.
Small and closely seated teeth in the gums are considered a sign of a tight-fisted, mischievous, but amorous person.
When do the first teeth start to fall out?
Children's baby teeth are replaced by permanent incisors and molars. The first tooth falls out at 6-7 years of age, but the timing may vary depending on the development of the jaw apparatus and the health of the child’s oral cavity. Mammary units are formed in the womb, and the permanent bite is formed after the baby is born. The timing of the change will depend on the growth rate of the tooth buds. The sequence of drops is the same for everyone:
- sixth teeth grow (they are not baby teeth);
- the lower and then the upper incisors become loose;
- first and second premolars fall out;
- fangs change;
- Wisdom teeth begin to grow at 10-25 years of age, sometimes remaining impacted.
Children receive a permanent bite by the age of 14. Parents have enough time to decide where to put their lost teeth.
Popular beliefs about baby teeth: keep or destroy
What to do with the first one dropped
Here it is, a mouse greedy for fallen incisors and fangs, helping to grow new and healthy teeth
Almost everywhere, it is customary to part with a child’s first lost baby tooth according to time-honored instructions. Just throwing it in the trash can is the height of negligence! At least, our Slavic and overseas ancestors would condemn such behavior in the strictest way.
- In Europe and America, a tooth is placed under the pillow, from where it is stolen at night by the mysterious tooth fairy, who leaves a coin in return.
- You are not particularly sentimental and have a desire for divination, but you still don’t feel like throwing away a tooth? Sprinkle it with salt and burn it, following the example of the superstitious Englishwomen. In the land of Big Ben and the Five O'Clock Tea Party, this action killed two birds with one stone. Firstly, no one could use a burned tooth for witchcraft purposes. Secondly, a dog’s fang should no longer grow in its place. Yes, yes, there is such a belief!
- In Rus', you had to hold the tooth in your palm, turn your back to the stove and ask: “Mouse-mouse, here’s a turnip tooth, give me a bone one,” and then throw your “burden” behind your head with a swing. No oven - no problem. A picky rodent will take a gift from the underground, a battery, and even agree to accept a tooth thrown from the balcony. The main thing is to follow the ritual to the delight of the baby. And don’t forget to warn your child not to lick the wound! Otherwise, the mouse will have nowhere to stick the promised root one.
- In the northern regions of Russia, the tooth is given to the spirits, and in some places to the brownie. With approximately the same saying: they ask for a simple one to take away, but to return a bone, iron or gold one.
- Sentimental mothers with a mouse and a fairy do not share, but pick up a tooth themselves and store it in a separate box.
There is nothing bad in this even from the point of view of beliefs that always doubt everything. - Sometimes superstitions reach the point of being ridiculous. Just think about the advice to secretly sew a child’s baby tooth into your husband’s clothes, so that your husband will always be drawn to the family! If you are tempted to strengthen the fidelity of your significant other in such an original way, think three times about how you will justify yourself when your spouse inadvertently discovers a “gift.” Will the family of the home-grown sorceress burst at the seams?
Want to strengthen your relationship? Don’t give up your loved one’s teeth, but rather go on another date
In some European countries, for a long time they believed that after death a person cannot go to the next world until he finds his milk teeth. Therefore, prudent parents provided their children with a service for the future: the burnt tooth had to patiently wait for its owner in Eternity, and not hang around in an unknown place in its vastness. In addition, the fire destroyed the evil eye and bad thoughts that could cling to the baby.
What to do with a lost adult tooth
A tooth of an adult that somehow left its home (whether it chipped, broke, or had to be pulled out during treatment, or maybe fell out on its own, but too late) is recommended to be buried in the ground. At least in a flower pot, if the proximity to such a treasure does not bother you. They advised to do the same with crowns, but not gold ones. They should have been melted down into some kind of jewelry.
In what cases is a doctor's help required?
There are situations when problems arise with the change of organs in the mouth. In 80% of children, it is discovered that the permanent molar erupts behind the milk tooth, and this forms an abnormal bite (see also: when does a child’s molars come in?). A temporary formation that does not want to leave its place is removed surgically. This will avoid the growth curve of the root element. Only a dentist will be able to pull out a unit if its root has not resolved, but has grown deeply into the gum. Self-removal can cause severe inflammation of the mucous membrane.
In most cases, baby teeth fall out on their own (we recommend reading: how to pull out a child’s baby tooth at home?). A child may need specialist help in several atypical situations:
- the gums are swollen and very painful,
- the milk element is broken,
- the wound bleeds for a long time,
- the child swallowed a tooth.
READ ALSO: What to do if an adult swallows a tooth?
