Kids normally lose teeth as toddlers. Losing the first tooth is one sign that a toddler is growing up and getting bigger.
When a tooth is lost, a kid usually puts it under the pillow in exchange for a cash from the "tooth fairy." Doctors said, parents should keep the baby teeth and the tooth fairy thing can be used as a strategy.
Baby teeth are considered rich sources of stem cells that are like protocells, according to a study in 2003. These can be grown into multiple kinds of cells if needed, thus making it very vital and worthy to be kept.
Later in life, a child needs replacement tissue for particular reasons and the stem cells from their baby teeth have huge role in the production of the needed tissue. That's why, researchers encourage parents to keep their kids' baby teeth.
The scientific study into cell-based therapies has given much potential for the use of stem cells in treating many diseases and disorders, Snopes.com quoted California Dental Association's statement about dental stem cell banking in 2013. Many stem cell banking services especially the umbilical cord blood banking have sprung up around the U.S. already.
Researchers value the deciduous teeth stem cells that are harvested from temporary teeth. These are potential sources of tissue regeneration and repair.
Much like the marketing of the umbilical cord to pregnant women, the dental pulp stem cell tissue banks have also started a great business with dentists and the public. Most experts, on the other hand, suggest that dental pulp stem cells can be premature as a source of cells for replacing or regenerating tissue.
The tooth fairy tradition makes sense then that the question of the fairy's giving value for the baby teeth is somehow answered by this research. No wonder, she (being a fictitious buyer) pays for each baby teeth she gets.
