Audrey finally developed a loose tooth and it dropped today. I guess it was just a matter of time.
Her first 3 teeth – 1 on top, 2 at the bottom – were surgically removed when she was 4. We had consulted our paediatric dentist early on and she spotted several areas that were decay-prone, most likely the result of slow milk-drinking using the bottle. It was a very hard decision to put a 4yo under general anaesthesia for surgery and but we did, figuring it would be the best thing to prevent unnecessary pain or discomfort over the coming few years. She came out of the surgery very well and quite oblivious.
Her two bottom primary teeth replaced quietly over the last year, like clockwork – it would happen the year she turns 6 or 7, the dentist had said. We were waiting for the top teeth to pop out. So she’s not had any real experience with dropping her teeth ‘naturally’….until now.
Over the weekend, she started feeling a strange sensation with her top front tooth. She kept wiggling it, moving it back and forth, “Mom, this is really quite annoying!” She was excited and scared all at the same time. She wanted it to drop quickly and in the next breath, wanted it to stay forever. Next thing you know, she would have a finger back on her tooth.
Out the blue, she also asked, “So is there really a Tooth Fairy who will leave you $10?…It’s the Mommy and Daddy right?” Who’s been telling her these things. To soothe her fears and make this rite of passage easier to accept, I told her yes, she would get a tooth reward.
At dinner at my parents’ place, the shaking tooth finally let go. Slipped out whilst she was chewing her food. Painless but she shed a few tears at its sudden departure. She decided she wanted the Tooth Fairy to grant her an iPhone game – talk about Generation Z.
Guess we’ve come to another ‘monumental’ milestone of growing up. Slowly but surely, she’s replacing the ‘baby’ bits. All I can think of is.. my baby girl is growing up so fast.
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