My 4 Year Old Just Lost Her First Tooth! Isn't This a Little Young?

Updated on December 31, 2010
J.V. asks from Tucson, AZ
20 answers

I found out today from my mother in law, who picked my daughter up from preschool today, that she lost a tooth while eating a cupcake! She will be 5 on November 14th. Isn't this a little young to loose teeth? I always told her she would probably be about 6 years old before she started loosing teeth.

By the way, how much does the Tooth Fairy pay these days? When I was a kid, I was extatic about a quarter, or even a dime! I'm guessing with inflation and the state of the economy, its probably quite a bit more now. ;)

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So What Happened?

Thanks so much to everyone! Her mouth looks fine to me, though I don't yet see any little teeth growing behind the one that was lost. She says it doesn't hurt, and it really looks cute! She's the only one in her preschool class to have lost a tooth, so she's sort of a little celebrity. I told her to enjoy her 15 minutes of fame. :)

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A.V.

answers from Phoenix on

Some kids lose their first tooth early. She will be 5 very soon, so not to worry. My first daughter was a young 5 when she lost her first tooth.

For all my kids first tooth, the tooth fairy brought a dollar along with a glittery note that stated $1 is for her FIRST tooth. Really, the kids are happy to get whatever from the tooth fairy. My 7 yr old loves it when she finds glitter on her money:)

What a fun little milestone for her....make it magical, that's how childhood should be;)

In Peace,
A.
mom of 4

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T.H.

answers from Tucson on

Not at all! I actually lost my bottom two baby teeth when I was 3 because my adult teeth started growing in behind them. It was two years later when I lost my top teeth. Everyone is different :-).

T.

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L.G.

answers from Phoenix on

first tooth the child must write a letter to the tooth fairy to get anything! that buys you some time. sometimes it is nice to find a series (madeline, clifford...). something that she really doesn't know exists and give her a book or toy from that same theme each time. Something that she really wouldn't see on a commercial on TV or at the check out at the grocery store so she will believe had to come from a fairy.
you can even sign your note WOW (that is MOM upside down-- which she will let you know when she's older).

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S.C.

answers from Phoenix on

Ahhh, she has my birthday, only 40 years later! I started kindergarten when I was 4, and sometime during the Fall of that school year, I know I lost some teeth because I remember my mom singing "All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth" at Christmas time that year. So it would have been right about that same age as your daughter. Hope she has a wonderfully special birthday! :)

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J.J.

answers from Phoenix on

i guess ti depends on when their big teeth decide to come in. my oldest sondidnt lose his teeth til third grade. he wanted to lose his teeth so bad. he would push and pull on them . he wanted to be like all the other kids. i too took him to the dentist and he said they would fall off whenever his new teeth decided o come in . when he came home form school on the first day of third grade i asked him how school was. he said everyone of his friends was still in his class and that the only ones that had all their teeth were he and his teacher. he lsot his first tooth that week.

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A.H.

answers from Los Angeles on

I'm not sure what the right age is, but I used to get a half dollar coin for mine... I've heard of kids getting $5 but I think thats a bit much and only sets you up to give even more later for other things (like good report cards).

I would suggest a gold dollar coin, I think she'd like that.

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K.O.

answers from Phoenix on

Every child is different but I wouldnt be to worried about the timing. If you have true concern consult your dentist. Well the toothfairy in our house pays a 1.00 my husband thinks that is cheap. But hey I am not rich and I have alot of teeth to pay for:). Molars deserve more so we give around 3 bucks for those.

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S.D.

answers from Phoenix on

I personally started losing my teeth at 3 and had so many permanent teeth by the time I was in first grade that they put braces on me. Your daughter probably has a "mature" mouth. That's what they use to tell my mom I had.

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J.J.

answers from Phoenix on

Preschool or kindergarden seems about the age my kids lost their first teeth. Our toothfairy leaves two 50 cent coins, a $1 Sackagawea (sp?)coin, or a $2 bill. That way it's something you don't see everyday and it makes it more special.

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K.W.

answers from Phoenix on

I just went through this with my daughter too. She is 5 and lost her 2 front bottom teeth in the same week! I actually cried about it, never mind that she was starting Kindergarten. Losing a tooth made me feel like she was getting too big! Anyway, she got those teeth when she was between 4-5 months old which I was told was early so I guess that's why they went first. Since the 2 teeth came out so close together, I told her we should wait and put both of them under her pillow. The tooth fairy left her $5 but she would have been fine with less. I also put some clear glitter paint on her cheek and told her when she woke up that the tooth fairy must have kissed her while she was sleeping (she loved that!). Hope this helps. They grow up too fast!

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A.T.

answers from Phoenix on

My oldest daughter lost her first tooth when she turned five, your daughter isn't much younger. I wouldn't worry about it too much, it wouldn't have come out if it wasn't ready.
I give my kids a dollar per tooth. I used to get a quarter too, and was perfectly content with that. Seriously, I think my little ones would still be thrilled with that.

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D.K.

answers from Tucson on

People think of age seven when they think of first tooth. Seven is the average, with a range of kids on either side. :D

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D.P.

answers from Tucson on

I think every child is different in this. My first son got his teeth early and lost his first tooth about 3 months after he turned 4. I would not worry about it unless the tooth that is supposed to replace it is no where to be seen. She should be seeing a dentist regularly now, so if the tooth that is supposed to replace it isn't right under the gum right now, I would take her in to get it checked out and make sure the tooth is on it's way. Just make sure the whole in the gum gets brushed well as it will get infected otherwise and cause some problems.

We give our son a dollar, but I hear a lot of others give more then I do. I can't afford to do more then that though. My son is happy as a clam with anything. Some parents give little toys instead. I think it is up to the parent(s) to decide on what or how much to give though.

D.

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M.J.

answers from Tucson on

Everyone is different. My SIL lost all her teeth twice. Yes that is right she had 3 sets of teeth. She was in the 7th grade when they started to fall out again.

I used to get a pocket full of change from my dad. If I had lost a tooth he would just give me what he had at the end of the day minus the quarters. So everytime it was different. I think when it is my childrens turn I will give them a dollar.

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A.C.

answers from Louisville on

Not at all, My 11 year old began teething almost as soon as she was born by two months she had two teeth. At three years old those two teeth came out followed by the top two a few weeks later. Her DMD told me that he had seen it happen in many cases where an infant cut their teeth at an early age.
BTW, My daughter bit into an apple at her preschool when she lost her first tooth, poor baby she cried cause she thought something terrible happened to her.

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K.H.

answers from Phoenix on

My children were both 5 when they lost their first tooth. It depends on the child.

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J.K.

answers from Albuquerque on

Everyone is different, it is probably fine.

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J.B.

answers from Phoenix on

Hi J.,

My Daughter was also 4 when she lost her first tooth. I remember being so paranoid I actually took her to the Dentist. $50.00 and 5 minutes into the appointment the Dentist said it is normal. She got her first tooth when she was 3 months old, so the Dentist said that is why she is already losing them. She is now 5 1/2 and has lost 6 teeth (her most recent was two weeks ago). The Tooth Fairy leaves $2.00 at our house. She started out leaving $2 bills but my Daughter was unimpressed so last time she just left 2 $1 bills (my daughter doesn't exactly get the concept of money yet). I hope that helps a little, Good Luck.

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J.A.

answers from Phoenix on

My 6 year old lost her first tooth one month after her 4th birthday and now has lost a total of 6 teeth!! I thought it was a bit young too, but the doctor and dentist said kids are all different and will do things on their own schedule. Hope that relieves your concerns! They grow up way to fast. We give our daughter $1 per tooth.

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L.G.

answers from Austin on

Kids are all different. As far as the amount to leave, I didn't do money because my daughter had a very wealthy friend who got $5 per tooth! I would leave a little ring, hair accessory, etc. My son first got little plastic dinosaurs since he was really into those, then we moved up to baseball cards. I had to have things lined up because you just never knew when the teeth would fall out.

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