The Tooth Fairy is launching her new, free children’s book, “The Search for the World’s Greatest Smile: A Tooth Fairy Tale,” and delivering copies to Little Free Libraries statewide, including in Federal Way.
Local dentists and the Tooth Fairy have declared the day after Halloween as National Brush Day (Monday, Nov. 1).
Along with the free storybooks, the Tooth Fairy has left behind a single Great Green Ticket in 10 of the Little Free Libraries across the state.
The lucky kids who find the special tickets can redeem for a Tooth Fairy prize pack – including a child’s Sonicare toothbrush, kids’ dental health kit, copy of “The Tooth Fairy’s Amazingly Awesome Clean Teeth Club Coloring & Activity Book,” and a personal letter from the Tooth Fairy – plus a virtual visit to the child’s home or classroom.
A free digital version of the Tooth Fairy’s storybooks – are also available at TheToothFairyExperience.com.
The new storybook focuses on the importance of baby teeth as told through an exploration of various tooth traditions from around the world.
The storybook is the Tooth Fairy’s second book to help teach kids about the importance of oral health. The first storybook, “The Clean Teeth Club: A Tooth Fairy Tale,” released last year teaches kids about caring for their smiles and the importance of brushing and flossing. A third book in the series, planned for next year, focuses on the role of good nutrition and healthy lifestyles.
Created by Seattle-based author/illustrator Kelly Rae Behr, the storybooks are part of Delta Dental of Washington’s Tooth Fairy Experience program, in partnership with Arcora Foundation, School Nurse Organization of Washington, and Washington State Dental Association, and endorsed by the Washington Homeschool Organization.
The Tooth Fairy also offers up tips to parents and kids for healthy smiles post-Halloween:
- Eat before you trick-or-treat.
- Choose chocolate. Chocolate dissolves quickly which minimizes the amount of time it stays on your teeth. Plus, it contains calcium and antioxidants for healthy smiles and bodies.
- Ration candy consumption. Let children pick one or two pieces of candy per day, so it’s seen as a treat rather than a smorgasbord. Also freeze tightly sealed chocolate candy for small treats throughout the year. Chocolate candy which is frozen is typically good for six to eight months past the expiration date.
- Toss the taffy. While taffy is tasty, it can get you into sticky situations with your teeth. Taffy and gummy candies don’t wash away easily like chocolate. Cavity-causing bacteria love to feast on the sticky residue these confections leave behind.
- Pass on suckers. Hard candies like suckers and lollipops are a lot like taffy and gummy candies. They provide a feast for cavity-causing bacteria. Trade them in for chocolate.
- Savor sweets at mealtimes. The best way to enjoy sweets is in small portions as dessert. Eating a few small sweets with other foods helps wash away sugar and bacteria left by candy. It’s even better if you follow sweets with sips of water.
- Brush before bed. Brushing for two minutes, twice a day is key to having a healthy smile.
The Tooth Fairy Experience website provides year-round resources including a dental tips blog, child dental health activity sheets for home use, a quarterly e-newsletter Grin & Grow, Tooth Fairy letters for children, Tooth Fairy hotline with pre-recorded messages, and links to Delta Dental of Washington resources such as help in finding a dentist.
