'TOOTH FAIRY' TRADITIONS SERIES: BURIAL

The cover series for volume 220 of the British Dental Journal features original paintings by English artist Thomas Allen which explore the many different 'tooth fairy' traditions around the world.

The cover of this last issue of the series represents traditions that involve burying the lost primary tooth. In Turkey, the child's parents bury the tooth in an area representative of what they want their child to succeed in later in life. For example, if they want their child to become a doctor, they will bury the tooth in the garden of a hospital. In Nepal, it is believed that if a cow or bird sees or eats the milk tooth then a new one won't grow.

Thus Nepalese children will bury their tooth in the garden, covering it with soil to hide it from prying eyes and chomping teeth. In Malaysia, children bury their tooth because, as it is part of their body, they believe it must be returned to the earth.

Painting by Thomas Allen

Website: www.thomasallen.uk.com

Original paintings available to purchase from the artist.

'TOOTH FAIRY' TRADITIONS SERIES: THE MOUSE

The cover series for volume 220 of the British Dental Journal features original paintings by English artist Thomas Allen which explore the many different 'tooth fairy' traditions around the world.

The illustration on this issue’s cover represents the 'tooth fairy' traditions involving a mouse. The mouse is probably the most popular alternative to our beloved tooth fairy. In many Spanish-speaking countries, El Ratón, El Ratoncito or Ratoncito Perez – as this little mousy character is variously known – comes along at night to collect deciduous teeth from under children's pillows. In Mexico and Venezuela, the tooth is often exchanged for money. In Argentina, rather than putting their tooth under their pillow, children have to put it in a glass of water by their bed and in the morning they will find that El Ratoncito has drunk the water, taken the tooth and left behind coins or candy in the empty glass. French children follow the same tradition of putting the tooth under their pillow, but the mouse is known as La Petite Souris. The mouse also features in traditions in South Africa, Russia, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

Painting by Thomas Allen

Website: www.thomasallen.uk.com

Original paintings available to purchase from the artist.

'TOOTH FAIRY' TRADITIONS SERIES: THE ROOF

The cover series for volume 220 of the British Dental Journal features original paintings by English artist Thomas Allen which explore the many different 'tooth fairy' traditions around the world. This illustration represents the traditions that involve throwing the lost tooth on the roof. In Taiwan, they simply throw the tooth on the roof. In Indonesia, they do the same but throw it backwards. In Greece, they throw the tooth on the roof while making a wish for their new tooth to grow in strong and healthy. In some cultures, they throw the tooth on the roof for an animal to take, with the expectation that the animal will bring them a new tooth in return. In Georgia, it's a mouse; in India, it's a sparrow; in Sri Lanka, it's a squirrel; and in Korea, it's a blackbird. It is also common practice, in a number of countries, to put the tooth in different locations depending on whether it's an upper or lower tooth. While the lower tooth is thrown onto the roof in all cases, the upper tooth is put in different places depending on the country, but often the underlying belief is the same: the new tooth will grow towards the old one. For example, in Cambodia and China, children put their upper tooth under the foot of their bed so that the new tooth will be attracted towards it and grow in straight.

Painting by Thomas Allen

Website: www.thomasallen.uk.com

Original paintings available to purchase from the artist.

'TOOTH FAIRY' TRADITIONS SERIES: THE BIRD

The cover series for volume 220 of the British Dental Journal features original paintings by English artist Thomas Allen which explore the many different 'tooth fairy' traditions around the world.

The cover of this issue represents traditions in which birds play a central role. For example, in Brazil, when the child loses their baby tooth they go outside and recite a poem: 'Lovely birds, dear birds, take away this tooth of mine and bring another one to me.' The birds are believed to take only teeth that are clean - encouraging the child to brush their teeth every day. Indian children throw their tooth on the roof of their house and ask the sparrow to bring them a new one. In Mali, the child throws their tooth in a chicken coop and the next day they hope to find a big fat hen in the coop from which their mother will make chicken soup! Bird-related 'tooth fairy'traditions can also be found in Mauritania, Korea and Moldova.

Painting by Thomas Allen

Website: www.thomasallen.uk.com

The original paintings are available to purchase from the artist.

'TOOTH FAIRY' TRADITIONS SERIES: THE MOON

The cover series for volume 220 of the British Dental Journal features original paintings by English artist Thomas Allen which explore the many different 'tooth fairy' traditions around the world.

The cover image on this issue represents the tradition in Botswana in which the children throw their milk teeth on the roof of their home and say, 'Mr Moon, Mr Moon, please bring me a new tooth!' Another moon-related milk tooth tradition: in Bhutan, children throw their milk tooth on the roof of their home as an offering to the moon goddess, who is believed to grant strong and healthy new teeth.

Painting by Thomas Allen

Website: www.thomasallen.uk.com

Original paintings are available to purchase from the artist.

'TOOTH FAIRY' TRADITIONS SERIES: THE WARRIOR

The cover series for volume 220 of the British Dental Journal features original paintings by English artist Thomas Allen which explore the many different ‘tooth fairy’ traditions around the world.

The cover of this issue represents the tradition in Tajikistan where children sow their teeth in fields in the belief that those teeth will grow into warriors. There is a related tradition among Aboriginal Australians whereby they put the tooth inside the shoot of a pandanus plant so that when the pandanus grows into a tree, their tooth will also grow. But, similar to the protective warriors in Tajikistan, protective spirits are believed to reside in the leaves of the pandanus plant and they will look after the child while their new tooth is growing.

Painting by Thomas Allen

Website: www.thomasallen.uk.com

The original paintings are available to purchase from the artist.

'TOOTH FAIRY' TRADITIONS SERIES: THE SQUIRREL

The cover series for volume 220 of the British Dental Journal features original paintings by English artist Thomas Allen which explore the many different 'tooth fairy' traditions around the world. The cover of this issue, depicting a squirrel, represents the tradition in Sri Lanka for children to take their milk tooth, go outside and, in the presence of a palm squirrel, say: 'Squirrel, squirrel, take this old tooth and give me a new one!' As they do so, they close their eyes, throw the tooth as hard as they can up onto the roof of their house or into a tree and then run back inside before opening their eyes. They mustn’t look back!

Painting by Thomas Allen

Website: www.thomasallen.uk.com

Original paintings available to purchase from the artist.

'TOOTH FAIRY' TRADITIONS SERIES: PIXIES

The cover series for volume 220 of the British Dental Journal features original paintings by English artist Thomas Allen which explore the many different 'tooth fairy' traditions around the world.

This cover of this issue is a representation of the tradition known well to those in the UK: the Tooth Fairy itself. Not only in the UK but also in the USA, Ireland, Canada, Australia and Denmark, it is believed that if a child puts their milk tooth under their pillow at night, while they are fast asleep the Tooth Fairy will come to collect it. In Denmark, this fairy is known by the name of Tand Feen. In exchange for the tooth, the Tooth Fairy leaves behind some coins as a reward. In fact, a 2015 survey discovered that the Tooth Fairy has been suffering from price inflation in the USA, with some children in New York getting over $13 per tooth!

Painting by Thomas Allen

Website: www.thomasallen.uk.com

Original paintings available to purchase from the artist.

'TOOTH FAIRY' TRADITIONS SERIES: THE SUN

The cover series for volume 220 of the British Dental Journal features original paintings by English artist Thomas Allen which explore the many different ‘tooth fairy’ traditions around the world. The cover of this issue illustrates the tradition of throwing the milk tooth at the sun. For example, in Egypt they wrap the tooth in cotton or tissue and throw it at the eye of the sun, saying: 'Shining sun, shining sun, take this buffalo’s tooth and bring me a bride’s tooth.’ In Lebanon, they throw the tooth into the sea or a field while reciting: 'O sun, take the mouse’s tooth and give me a gold tooth.' Whereas in Oman, they face the sun and throw the tooth saying: ‘O mighty sun, take this tooth, play with it, and do not forget to bring it back!' In Libya, they throw the tooth at the sun and believe they will have a bright smile as their teeth come from the sun.

Painting by Thomas Allen

Website: www.thomasallen.uk.com

'TOOTH FAIRY' TRADITIONS SERIES: NECKLACE

The cover series for volume 220 of the British Dental Journal features original paintings by English artist Thomas Allen which explore the many different 'tooth fairy' traditions around the world.

The necklace on this issue's cover illustrates the tradition of parents turning their child's milk tooth (usually the first one to be lost) into an item of jewelery and giving it to their child to wear. In Chile, the tooth is set in gold or silver and worn by the child as a necklace or earring. In Costa Rica, the tooth is plated with gold or silver and made into an earring to be worn by the child.

Painting by Thomas Allen

Website: www.thomasallen.uk.com

'TOOTH FAIRY' TRADITIONS SERIES: TREES

The cover series for volume 220 of the British Dental Journal features original paintings by English artist Thomas Allen which explore the many different 'tooth fairy' traditions around the world.

This issue's cover represents the traditions involving a tree. In North America, among the Yellowknife Dene, children's milk teeth are taken by their mother or grandmother and put in a tree. The family then dances around the tree together in the belief that the ritual will ensure that the child's permanent tooth will grow as straight as the tree. Among the Navajo, the child’s mother takes the tooth and they go together in a southeasterly direction away from their house, in search of a healthy young sagebrush, rabbitbrush, or pinyon tree. When they find one, they bury the tooth on the east side of the tree because east is associated with childhood (probably because the sun rises in the east and so is associated with beginnings). In Australia, Aboriginal families help the child to put their tooth inside the shoot of a pandanus plant. When the plant grows, so will their new tooth. It is believed that there are spirits in the pandanus leaves that will look after the child as their new tooth is growing.

Painting by Thomas Allen

Website: www.thomasallen.uk.com

'TOOTH FAIRY' TRADITIONS SERIES: THE RIVER

The cover series for volume 220 of the British Dental Journal features original paintings by English artist Thomas Allen which explore the many different 'tooth fairy' traditions around the world.

The cover of this first issue of the series illustrates the use of rivers in some traditions. In Pakistan they throw the lost primary tooth, wrapped in cotton, into a river at sunset and in New Zealand the parents take the tooth and throw it into the Waikato River.

Painting by Thomas Allen

Website: www.thomasallen.uk.com