Exclusive interview with Tooth Fairy Tammy
By special request and because it’s National Tooth Fairy Day, Tooth Fairy Tammy sat down with Texas A&M College of Dentistry in Dallas to answer children’s questions about oral health care and reveal some of the behind-the-scenes, never-before-revealed inner workings of the tooth fairy world. Tammy only speaks Fairy, as all fairies do, so Jane C. Cotter, associate professor in Texas A&M’s dental hygiene program, was her interpreter.
Interviewer: Thank you for taking the time out of your busy tooth collection travels to answer some questions. Let’s begin.
The first question is from Andrew, 9.
Andrew: Which toothpaste is best?
The kind you use twice a day when brushing.
Andrew: How do you make it to visit every kid who lost a tooth each night?
We have a battalion of tooth fairies assigned to different zones all over the world. Once a child loses a tooth, a global notification is sent to the fairy in charge of that zone.
Carter, 6: How do you pick how much a kid gets for their tooth?
It is a highly complex math formula. Tooth plus brushing twice a day, divided by your age. Then, we subtract for any cavity bugs that are on your teeth.
If your teeth are healthy, we will give you a higher payment. However, Mom and Dad must negotiate the terms first and promise to keep up the dental appointments.
Carter: Since you are a fairy, do you know how to fly?
Yes, we learn to fly when we are young. In Tooth Academy, we are taught how to use pixie dust to increase our speed.
Carter: How do you become a tooth fairy?
Seven years of education at the Tooth Fairy Academy in Toothy Hollow.
Interviewer: Ezra, 8, has some questions.
Ezra: How do you brush a loose tooth so that it doesn’t hurt?
Very carefully.
Ezra: How do fairies lift all those teeth when fairies are so small?
Like Santa’s toy bag, the teeth collected magically have no weight. Plus, we do have a great workout program.
Interviewer: Sydney, 10, wants to know your source for the money given to children. Do you sell the teeth?
We sell the items we make out of teeth for income.
Sydney: When is the best time to brush your teeth if you only do it once?
Brushing two times a day is preferred. It is essential to brush before bedtime to remove the food of the day from the teeth, so the cavity bugs don’t have anything to eat.
Sydney: Does the tooth fairy give more money for healthier, cleaner teeth?
As shown in the formula, the amount of money left in exchange for the teeth is dependent on brushing and health.
Sydney: How important is flossing really?
Very important! As the dean of the Tooth Fairy Academy always says, “Only floss the teeth you want to keep.”
Interviewer: Athena, 6, has a question.
Athena: Do you brush your teeth fast?
Me? No! I am very careful to make sure each tooth gets brushed on the cheek side, the tongue side and on the top side (chewing side). It usually takes me two or more minutes to do a good job.
Athena: What foods should I eat?
Healthy foods and milk are best for growing healthy teeth and keeping away the cavity creeps. It’s fine to have sweet treats sometimes, just not every day. The absolute worst are soda pop and other sweetened drinks.
Athena: Where do the tooth fairies live?
Some live in Toothopia or Toothy Hollow. Most live in fairy communities in the zones where we work.
Interviewer: Calista, 7, has some questions.
Does a tooth fairy have to wear a coat in the winter? She shouldn’t have to if she’s a fairy.
No, coats are not part of our uniform. They get in the way of our wings.
Calista: Does the tooth fairy make a palace with the teeth?
Actually, we make art and sculptures from the teeth we collect, which we then sell to make money. Some are used as decoration on our houses.
Calista: Are you real?
Yes, if you believe. Your belief keeps me alive. Snap your fingers if you believe.