Daughter Upset About Loosing Teeth

so do we believe in the tooth fairy. i believe that when we are children these little make believe things make childhood so much more enjoyable. you know something to look foward to. christmas--easter --the great pumpkin --st valentine--and of course tooth fairy!!

on one hand it is silly but what a special time. maybe the toothfairy could write her a letter with a special little something add a liilt fairy dust(glitter) and feathers and hopefully she will let it go.
i give my 4 kids a two dollar bill

Hi A.,
Your little girl was obviously not prepared for this event. Losing a tooth does hurt, there is blood it feels really creepy and then you look different. How scarey for a liitle one!!! What your daughter needs is to feel normal again and to know that having a missing tooth is just a new normal.
Does the Tooth Fairy visit your house? The tooth fairy could write a letter or leave a special book to help your daughter understand what a special time this is. Even if the tooth has been gone a while the tooth fairy could just say that she saw what a hard time your daughter was having and needed to tell her something. This really helped my nephew who reacted just as your daughter is. He was so excited to get his letter from the tooth fairy.
You might also want to try setting out pictures of other family memebers and friends with missing teeth. Don't draw attention to them just put them out. Try to normalize this whole issue for your daughter. Stay calm when the power struggles come and don't buy into it. When she refuses to brush her teeth just calmly say, "I know it feels weird, everybody loses their teeth, and not brushing your teeth is not an option. I will stand with you while you do it." And if you stick to your guns once, no matter how long it takes her to brush her teeth, then she will know you are serious and that should help in the future.
Every time my children lose a tooth we have "tooth cake". I would just bake a cake, or cupcakes and let them frost it and add sprinkles etc. This helped the event to be less traumatic and a real celebration instead.
Hang in there!!! Take care,
B.

My first question is, does your daughter react strongly to new circumstances, her appearance, etc strongly in general? Mine does and so when she freaks out about something I know that its part of her personality and she will adapt. But you say she is not herself - is this a new kind of reaction for her?
There are some great, funny picture books you can read with her: Parts, Mooses Loose Tooth, Arthur Looses a Tooth (I think thats the name) and more.
Does she have a good relationship with older sister? Maybe she can help-remind your daughter of when the older sister lost teeth.
Make an appointment with the dentist. My kids dentist oohs and aahs over their missing teeth and they feel special. He can also show her where new teeth are growing in.
Finally, you may want to call your pediatrician. She can give you advice on if this is an issue that may need some counseling. It may be that there is something else that really caused the anxiety and the reaction to loosing teeth may be the outward showing of it

You most likely won't like my response but I will give it anyway. I believe in being honest with children. The fact is that she most likely does look silly and she hates it. I would too if I lost one of my teeth. I don't beleive that lying to the child is going to build her trust to believe in what you tell her in the long run. I told my 8yr old that he looked silly, but everyone has to go through it to get their adult teeth. I explained that it is part of life that everyone has to go through and having a bad attitude about it just makes the whole ordeal worse on them. I also explained that if they didn't lose their teeth they would look extremely silly when they got older and it also makes their teeth come in crooked. He wasn't thrilled, but he understood and got over it in a couple days.

have you tried the tooth fairy idea

Ignore it, do not buy into the drama aspect however you can be just compassionate and sympathetic to her feelings.
Let her know her grandparents, her parents, all adults at one point or the other lost teeth, it is part of becoming a big kid.
My daughter was upset because she didn't lose teeth yet, then lost one and wanted me to glue it back!! Some kids want change then freak when it happens.

You also need to explain her friends don't look ridiculous missing teeth especially because it is suppose to happen, explain that it is what needs to happen in order for her big girl teeth to come in and how silly she would look at 16 with baby teeth!!!!
Give it time, the new teeth will fill the spaces, it is part of the process.
I wouldn't however worry about "depression" she could be using this situation to get attention for another reason, just
maybe have her talk to her dentist, not a therapist!

I think kids all go through phases where they feel ugly or akward...I know I went through several! I'm wondering if a special pamper day wouldn't help her to see the beauty inside her and what a wonderful young lady she is. Pedicures and get her hair done, you could go to a beauty school and it wouldn't cost much that way. Or if finances allow, go to the spa for it. Call ahead and let the people who will be doing the services know what is going on, and NOT to mention your daughters teeth. They can tell her what a beautiful smile she has, or other attributes about her. take her to lunch or dinner and then present her with a letter or poem from you that tells her of the things you love and admire about her. That looks are only one small part of what a wonderful person she is. Perhaps she will open up to you more about why she feels so insecure. even if she doesn't though helping her to see her inner beauty, and to appreciate all of the aspects of her outer beauty can help her to realize that she isn't summed up by one part of her body, that her teeth are just one part of the wonderful beautiful young lady she is growing up to be.

I had to laugh a little when I read your post, I know it isn't funny but it reminded me of one of my little girls, it had nothing to do with teeth, but my two oldest DD's were arguing when the oldest was like "well I'm older then you" and DD#2 said "so your still not my boss" DD#1 "Yeah well you have only been alive for 5 years, so I am your boss" and the next thing we knew DD#2 was crying hysterically cause she had only been alive for 5 years.

Not the same but similar, I agree with everyone before, don't play into, remind her that it is ok, everyone has to loose their baby teeth, and maybe have her see a dentist so he can explain it to her, no child this age should be wrapped up in how they look, I think you are handling it pretty good, and they all go through the awkward stages, but they also all grow out of it. Good luck!

tell her about the "tooth fairy" she will be excited to lose teeth i know my daughter was