One of the most exciting parts of having children is introducing them to the things we remember with great fondness. For many of us, this means jumping into the traditions and lore of childhood and inaugurating your child into the trifecta of magical figures: Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy.

Unfortunately, we learn all too quickly that all those elderly ladies in the grocery were right when they said, “Enjoy it, it goes so quickly.” Suddenly, your little darlings are asking you the first set of hard questions about what’s real and what’s not. It seems like the Tooth Fairy is the first to um..bite the dust (sorry, we couldn’t help it). Anyway, no matter where you and your family are on the journey with the tiny dental diva, here are some answers to the common queries. 

How much money should the Tooth Fairy leave?

The Tooth Fairy’s going rate definitely varies household to household. Like many other parenting challenges, the most important thing is consistency. While the Tooth Fairy might bring more for the first lost tooth or a traumatic dental event (we’re thinking bike wreck or collateral damage from a wild pitch,)  it’s best just to keep a dollar or so within the range of the previous visit. 

Of course, the same going rate should be maintained between siblings. An easy way to achieve this is to keep a designated stash of cash on hand, so you aren’t dashing in at 4 a.m. to lift the pillow and deposit the only money you have on you (which will invariably be markedly more than the tooth fairy’s standard gift.) 

What does the Tooth Fairy do with all the teeth?

This is one of those where the parent on their "A" game remembers to turn it around on the child and say, “Gosh, there are a lot of theories on that; what do you think they do with it?” 

Is the Tooth Fairy made out of teeth?

 We’re going to go with “no.” Teeth simply aren’t very aero-dynamic. Make it sound complicated. 

What is the Tooth Fairy's favorite animal? 

Again, the best answer comes from the child. If they are asking  this question, survey says they probably have an answer in mind. If the old “what do you think?” doesn’t work, we suggest something with a lot of teeth, such as a T-Rex or an alligator. 

What age does the Tooth Fairy stop? 

Like many other milestones, the Tooth Fairy’s departure should be dictated by your child. If your child suggests they think the fairy is faux, it’s time to let them down gently. Otherwise, there’s not a certain age. If you have younger believers in a household with older children, the non-believers may be laughing all the way to the piggy bank, as the ruse depends on them getting rewarded too. Good news, though - getting older siblings in on the magic of a tradition like the tooth fairy builds compassion. Ask the older kids “Remember how you felt when so & so ruined if for you and you weren’t ready to hear it yet? Let’s not give your sibling that same experience.” 

What should the Tooth Fairy leave?

It seems that in recent years, the Tooth Fairy has been known to leave some children notes and/or toys. We think it’s a little implausible that the Tooth Fairy can carry toys. Our suggestion is to keep it simple. If you want to get fancy, get some gold dollar coins or two dollar bills. The main thing the Tooth Fairy shouldn’t leave, though, is the tooth itself. Take the teeth and be sure to squirrel them away where curious peepers won’t find them.