Would you wear your children’s baby teeth around your neck, or does that creep you out? A recent blast of news articles on the internet have named this tooth-wearing trend the ‘next big thing’ for moms.
The thought of moms hanging their children’s baby teeth around their necks or on their wrists may sound a bit wacky at first. The trend has become popular due to the tooth pendants artist Jackie Kaufman designs and sells for the website Etsy which sells crafty items geared towards women. Somehow Kaufman’s pendants have become a phenomenon overnight. She’s had hundreds of orders, and even the HBO hit show Girls has reached out to her for some orders of baby tooth jewelry.
First, let’s clear one thing up – most of these moms aren’t wearing their child’s actual teeth. That would be a little strange we have to admit. Typically, the baby tooth is cast in sterling silver or gold which turns into the necklace pendant. In this way, each necklace is unique from the next, as it is an exact replica of the child’s molar.
On Etsy, Kaufman advertises her service as ‘better than the Tooth Fairy!’ She makes a fair point, asking what do we actually do with our children’s baby teeth besides hide them away in a jewelry box — and likely forget about them? Her service turns the baby tooth into an everlasting memory, a piece of jewelry to be worn forever. Kaufman has suggested that instead of getting money for losing a tooth, an idea is to give the child a pendant of their lost tooth. (Although, I have a hunch the child probably wouldn’t be as interested in wearing a necklace pendant mold of their own tooth.)
It’s really a very original idea, compared to the way we have preserved memories of our children’s youth in the past: wearing lockets with their photographs inside, getting their baby shoes bronzed, or plaster handprints. The truth is, losing baby teeth, especially the first tooth, is a big development in a child’s life. It signals the crossing over from a baby to a child.
Etsy also offers another unconventional keepsake memento called ‘breast milk jewelry’ although this may be going a bit far for us.
What do you think? Would you order a baby tooth pendant for yourself? To join the discussion, go to Babycenter.com and give your opinion!
Dr. Mike Malone and his team practice expert cosmetic dentistry in Lafayette, LA. Dr. Malone is the former president and current accredited member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. He is also the official Cosmetic Dentist of the Miss Louisiana USA and Miss Louisiana Teen USA pageants. Check out his website for more information.