Recently, my son lost a molar, and let me tell you, it was quite the scene. Blood everywhere and a view of the root where it had come loose—it was, in the simplest terms, incredibly unpleasant.
When I first heard about parents preserving their children’s baby teeth, I chuckled. Surely, this was some kind of prank. Who would actually keep their kids’ teeth? If it were up to me, those tiny teeth would go straight into the trash or down the drain, much like toenails and hair clippings. However, it turns out many parents genuinely feel a sentimental attachment to these little pieces of childhood and are making significant efforts to save them.
I understand the nostalgia, the desire to stay connected to our children, and the urge to cherish those small reminders of their early years. In fact, I hold onto my son’s old teddy bear tucked away in my nightstand. But keeping body parts? I draw the line there.
The mere thought of an old, blood-stained tooth makes my stomach turn, and when my partner confessed to possibly having one of our children’s baby teeth in his nightstand, I feigned ignorance. [Insert fingers in ears and start humming.] I can’t even bring myself to save my kids’ art creations; how could I ever track their baby teeth? It’s simply not in my nature.
If you’re among those who save teeth, I’m not judging—well, maybe gagging a bit, but not judging. I genuinely don’t grasp this trend, but to each their own, right?
However, the reality is that this teeth-keeping phenomenon has taken a bizarre turn. There’s now a thriving market for keepsakes made from children’s lost teeth. Yes, parents are actually spending their hard-earned money on items specifically designed to store their kids’ detached teeth. What is going on here?
Parents are so enthusiastic about these teeth-saving kits that they’re practically shouting their joy from the rooftops. These kits offer compartments for every one of your child’s teeth, along with spaces for umbilical cords and lanugo. By the way, lanugo is the fine hair on newborns—something I never knew anyone collected until now.
There’s even a “tooth monster” doll, which is frankly terrifying and will probably haunt my dreams for weeks. And to top it all off? Baby teeth jewelry—yes, earrings that contain your child’s teeth, priced at $240. This is why we can’t have nice things, folks.
Our standards for keepsakes have reached a new low. I can understand taping a small lock of hair into a scrapbook, but we’re talking about teeth here—old bones that have come out of our kids’ mouths. They’re often stained, sometimes bloody, and given our children’s dental hygiene habits, they might not even be that clean.
I appreciate the magic of the Tooth Fairy, but sneaking in and out of a sleeping child’s room is stressful enough. The thought of keeping a collection of old teeth in a fancy box, crafting a creepy doll, or turning them into jewelry is simply too much. What’s next? A box of toenail clippings? A nest of hair? A vial of blood worn as a necklace, à la Angelina Jolie and Billy Bob Thornton? This madness needs to stop!
In summary, if you’re a teeth collector, I won’t judge you. I might be grossed out, but I’d still probably be your friend. Go ahead and keep those peculiar little teeth, and I’ll pretend not to notice if there are a couple in my partner’s drawer. But if you shell out a fortune for teeth earrings? That’s where I draw the line.
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Summary: This article explores the perplexing trend of parents saving their children’s baby teeth, highlighting the emotional connections and bizarre keepsakes that have emerged from this practice. While the author expresses confusion and mild disgust over the trend, they acknowledge the sentimental value some parents find in these items.