The Tooth Fairy Recommends Tea

Colleen Walsh Fong

Day 7 of 10 Days of Tea

Who remembers the moment of pride when that first baby tooth fell out? And the excitement brought on by anticipating the Tooth Fairy’s arrival? Times were a little different in my youth. None of the kids I knew got allowances, so any chance to score a nickel or dime was a big deal. Of course those were the days of penny candy tubs at the five-and-dime store, and even a big name candy bar or pack of gum only cost a nickel, so our spoils went a long way.

I had a rude awakening about Fairy inflation when my eldest child lost her first tooth. After polling neighbors I learned that $2 was the going rate for a front tooth, and $5 was expected for molars. Ouch! My daughter’s gums hurt, too and bled for a while. She experienced similar discomfort on a larger scale a few years later when her wisdom teeth were forcibly evicted. I wish I’d known then that wet, cold tea bags can soothe the pain and even help to stop the bleeding of gums where teeth used to be.

To try this old home remedy, dampen a couple of tea bags with cold water, and chill them in the freezer for 5 minutes. Then set the tea bag on the excavation site and press down gently for a few minutes. Both the bleeding and the pain should abate.

Use hot peppermint tea mixed with a teaspoon of salt to ease toothaches. The menthol and the antiseptic properties of peppermint can bring relief when the tea is used as a mouth rinse.

These easy, homemade remedies can help as much as over-the-counter products, and they save money and time, too.

For other ways to save time and money by using the contents of your kitchen cabinets and fridge, check out the Easy Weekly Meals series of smart cookbooks. 

And be sure to stop in tomorrow for Day 6 of The 10 Days of Tea for National Hot Tea Month.

Featured Image courtesy of digitalart/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net