Recently, my son lost one of his molars, and it was quite the ordeal—think blood, roots, and, well, just plain grossness. When I first heard about parents saving their children’s teeth, I thought it was a joke. Who in their right mind would keep a tooth? If it were up to me, baby teeth would go straight into the trash, alongside other less-than-pleasant remnants like toenails and hair clippings.
But lo and behold, it’s no joke! Many parents are genuinely sentimental about their children’s baby teeth and are going to extraordinary lengths to preserve them. I can understand wanting to hang on to memories and feel connected to our little ones. I mean, I even keep my son’s old blanket in my nightstand. But teeth? That’s a whole different ball game.
Just the thought of an old, bloodied tooth makes my stomach churn. When my husband casually mentioned that he might have a baby tooth stashed away in his nightstand, I chose to pretend I didn’t hear him—la la la! I can barely keep track of my kids’ art projects, so there’s no way I’m managing a tooth collection.
If you’re one of those parents who collects teeth, I’m not here to judge. Sure, I might gag a little, but to each their own. What I can’t wrap my head around is the sheer scale of this trend. Parents aren’t just saving teeth; there’s a booming market for baby tooth keepsakes. It’s baffling to think that people are spending their hard-earned money on displays for these tiny, former body parts.
And get this: there’s a teeth-saving kit that parents are raving about online. It’s so popular that they’re practically shouting it from the rooftops! The kit has a designated spot for every single tooth, along with space for keepsakes like umbilical cords and lanugo—the fuzzy hair that some newborns have. I’ve never met anyone who saves lanugo, but I guess that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Then there are bizarre products like tooth monster dolls. Seriously, what are people thinking? I can already feel the nightmares creeping in.
And let’s not forget the crowning jewel of this strange trend: jewelry made from baby teeth. Yes, you read that right! Some people are paying around $240 for earrings that contain their kid’s teeth. This is why we can’t have nice things, folks.
Parents, we need to take a step back and reassess our memento-keeping standards. A lock of hair? Sure, I can get behind that. But we’re talking about teeth here—old bones that have fallen out of our kids’ mouths. They’re often dirty and, let’s face it, not exactly pleasant to look at.
I’m all for the magic of the Tooth Fairy, but sneaking in and out of a sleeping child’s room is stressful enough without the added pressure of preserving old teeth. What’s next? A collection of toenail clippings? A jar of hair? A vial of blood like Angelina and Billy Bob? Enough is enough!
So, if you’re a tooth collector, I respect your decision, even if it makes me queasy. Just know that if you fork out cash for some tooth earrings, we may need to reevaluate our friendship.
For those interested in other family topics, you might want to check out this post about at-home insemination kits. It’s a completely different subject, but equally fascinating! Also, if you’re looking for reliable fertility resources, visit Intracervical Insemination for expert advice. And for anyone curious about IUI success rates, WebMD has excellent information.
In summary, while the trend of saving baby teeth is popular among some parents, it raises eyebrows and questions about our memento-keeping practices. Whether you’re collecting teeth or just trying to navigate parenthood, let’s keep the focus on what truly matters: the memories we make with our children.