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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.
Dr Aditi Desai is President of the British Society of Dental Sleep Medicine. A restorative dentist for over 36 years, she now limits her practice predominantly to the management of sleep disorders. She works with respiratory, chest and sleep physicians, ENT consultants, neurologists and psychologists helping manage patients with snoring and sleep apnoea. Dr Desai's late husband was also a dentist.