Saving baby teeth in a special box: A cherished tradition in Japan & Korea

New Delhi: In many cultures, children excitedly place their fallen baby teeth under their pillows, hoping for a visit from the Tooth Fairy. However, in Japan and Korea, losing a tooth is not just a childhood milestone—it is a sentimental moment that parents preserve by storing their child’s teeth in decorative boxes.

Rather than discarding them, parents carefully keep these teeth as cherished keepsakes, believing they hold special meaning and memories.

In Japan, baby teeth are often stored in a small, wooden, circular box called a nyūshi bako (乳歯箱), which translates to "baby tooth box." These boxes are specially designed to hold all 20 baby teeth, with each slot labeled according to the tooth’s position. Some boxes even have a space for the umbilical cord stump, another treasured keepsake in Japanese culture. Parents believe that saving these items symbolises a connection to their child’s growth and serves as a nostalgic reminder of their early years.

Similarly, in Korea, parents keep their children’s teeth in tiny decorative cases or special pouches. While some families follow the Western tradition of discarding teeth or throwing them onto rooftops (a belief that encourages strong, healthy adult teeth), many prefer to keep them as meaningful mementoes. The act of preserving baby teeth is seen as a way to celebrate a child's development and create a tangible memory of their childhood.

The tradition is not just about sentimentality—it also has practical and scientific implications. In recent years, researchers have discovered that baby teeth contain stem cells, which could potentially be used in regenerative medicine in the future. While most parents in Japan and Korea store baby teeth for emotional reasons, some have started considering their potential medical benefits as well.

While the practice may seem unusual to outsiders, saving baby teeth in a special box is a heartfelt tradition that reflects the deep appreciation for family and personal history in Japanese and Korean cultures. It is a small yet meaningful way for parents to hold onto a piece of their child’s early years, long after they have grown up.