Gifts for the first tooth — The Russian «На зубок» tradition and the most beautiful silver spoons

The first tooth – a milestone celebrated in many families with a photo. But did you know that in Russia and Eastern Europe, there's been a beautiful custom for centuries to honor this moment with a special gift? It's called «На зубок» (Na zubok): a silver spoon for the first milk tooth. In this article, you'll learn where the custom comes from, why silver is such a wise choice, especially for teething – and which spoons are particularly suitable.

The market for "first tooth gifts" is still a niche in German-speaking countries. Most parents know about christening spoons, but a spoon for the first tooth? This is a tradition we learned from our Eastern European customers – and one that deserves to become more widely known here too.

«На зубок» – The Russian Tradition for the First Tooth

«На зубок» – literally translated as "for the little tooth" or "on the tooth" – is one of the oldest and most vibrant customs in Russian family culture. When a baby's first milk tooth breaks through the gums, grandparents or godparents present a silver spoon. The moment marks a transition: the child begins to eat solid food and receives their first own cutlery.

The custom combines several ideas deeply rooted in Russian tradition:

• Protection: Silver has always been considered protective and purifying. A silver spoon in the child's mouth was not superstition – silver is indeed antibacterial.
• Prosperity: Similar to being "born with a silver spoon," the silver spoon symbolizes the wish that the child should never suffer want.
• Independence: The spoon is the first tool a child learns to use independently. It represents the beginning of a new stage in life.

To this day, «На зубок» is widespread in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus. In many families, it is the maternal grandfather who gives the spoon – an honor proudly borne. The spoon is often engraved with the child's first name and the date of the first tooth and kept for life.

More than Folklore: A Custom with a Practical Core

What distinguishes «На зубок» from many other traditions is its tangible, practical background. In times without refrigerators and sterilizers, a silver spoon was the most hygienic cutlery one could give an infant. The antibacterial properties of silver – now scientifically proven as the oligodynamic effect – protected the child from germs. Our ancestors instinctively knew this long before science could explain it.

The First Tooth: A Milestone in the First Year of Life

Most babies get their first tooth between 6 and 8 months of age. Some early birds show the first white tip in the lower jaw at 4 months, while others take until 12 months – both are completely normal. Usually, the lower incisors are the first to erupt.

For parents, the first tooth is an emotional moment: the toothless baby smile they know so well changes. The child visibly gets older, more independent. At the same time, the teething phase is often exhausting – for the baby and for the parents. The gums swell, the child drools more, is restless, and wants to chew on everything.

That's why a gift for the first tooth is so fitting: it honors a moment that can easily get lost in the hustle and bustle of daily baby life. A silver spoon says: We see this milestone. We celebrate it with you.

Why a Silver Spoon for Teething? Science Meets Tradition

The choice of a silver spoon for the first tooth is no coincidence and not purely custom. There are concrete reasons why silver is a particularly wise material choice, especially during the teething phase.

Antibacterial Effect: The Oligodynamic Effect

Silver ions (Ag⁺) have an antibacterial effect even in the lowest concentrations. They inhibit the growth of bacteria on the surface – an effect first scientifically described by Swiss botanist Carl Wilhelm von Nägeli in 1893. Especially when the first tooth breaks through and the gums are sensitive, a silver spoon offers a more hygienic surface than plastic or stainless steel.

Cooling Metal Soothes Gums

Silver conducts heat and cold excellently. A lightly chilled silver spoon – briefly kept in the refrigerator – can be gently guided over the swollen gums. The coolness relieves pressure and soothes the baby. Unlike plastic teething rings, the silver spoon is also an everyday object that introduces the child to eating.

925 Sterling Silver: The Right Alloy

Pure silver (999 fine silver) would be too soft for a spoon. Therefore, 925 Sterling Silver consists of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% copper. This alloy combines the antibacterial properties of silver with the stability a spoon needs for daily use. All our baby spoons bear the 925 hallmark as proof of quality.

Our Recommendation: DoDo Spoons for the First Tooth

If there's one spoon perfectly made for the first tooth, it's a DoDo spoon. Why? Because the DoDo collection is not only beautiful but also functionally designed – with a well-thought-out developmental concept for early childhood development.

Tactile Dots in the Bowl: Perfect for Teething Babies

What's special about DoDo spoons are the raised tactile dots in the spoon's bowl. These gentle elevations stimulate the baby's tongue and promote oral perception – exactly what a teething baby needs. When the first tooth breaks through, the child explores their oral cavity intensively. A DoDo spoon offers a meaningful, safe surface for this.

In addition:

• Colored enamel dots on the handle – high-contrast colors that baby eyes respond to
• Raised relief dots on both sides of the handle – train fine motor skills when grasping
• Gift box with rainbow design and satin ribbon – ready to be gifted immediately

Which Spoon is Suitable for the First Tooth?

Are you specifically looking for a spoon as a «На зубок» gift? Here's some guidance:

• DoDo spoons with animal motifs (butterfly, elephant, rabbit) – cheerful, colorful, ideal as a first gift
• DoDo spoons with zodiac signs – personalized by the child's zodiac sign, an astrological heirloom
• Classic baby spoons with angel or floral motifs – timelessly elegant, if you prefer something less colorful

All models can be found in our baby spoon collection.

Engraving for the First Tooth: How the Spoon Becomes an Heirloom

A silver spoon only becomes truly personal when it bears the child's name. Especially for the first tooth, an engraving is ideal to capture this special moment:

• Child's first name
• Date of the first tooth – a detail that most parents remember but don't record anywhere
• A short saying – for example: "My first tooth" or "На зубок"

Imagine the child as an adult holding this spoon and reading: "Sophie – 14.03.2026 – My first tooth". This is not a gift that disappears into a drawer. This is a piece of family history.

All details about fonts, positions, and the ordering process can be found on our engraving service page.

First Tooth Gifts in Other Cultures

The idea of celebrating the first tooth with a gift is not limited to Russia – although «На зубок» is probably the best-known and most vibrant tradition.

England: "Cutting Teeth" and the Silver Gift

In England, during the Victorian era, it was customary to give a baby a silver gift – often a small spoon or a silver rattle – for the "cutting of the first tooth." The tradition is less common there today than the christening spoon, but it continues in some families. The English saying "born with a silver spoon" has one of its origins here.

Germany: On the Rise

In Germany, the first tooth is traditionally more of a medical than a celebratory event – dentist visits, fluoride discussions, teething rings. But that's changing. More and more parents are looking for ways to consciously celebrate milestones in the first year of life: the first smile, the first word, the first step – and the first tooth. A silver spoon as a «На зубок» gift fits perfectly into this trend.

Other Cultures

In Turkey, the first tooth is traditionally celebrated with a "Diş buğdayı" (tooth wheat festival), where cooked wheat is served with sweets. In Greece and the Balkans, there are similar celebrations around the first tooth. The basic idea is the same everywhere: the first tooth marks the transition from infant to child, who begins to enter the adult world – starting with eating.

First Tooth, Christening, or Birth – When is Which Gift Appropriate?

Many grandparents and godparents wonder: should I give the silver spoon for birth, christening, or the first tooth? The answer is simple – it depends on the tradition you want to follow:

• For Birth: A birth gift says "Welcome to the world." Gift sets with a spoon and rattle are popular.
• For Christening: A christening gift is in the Christian tradition and is given by the godparent. Often an engraved spoon with the christening date.
• For the First Tooth (На зубок): The most personal timing – because it is based on the child, not the calendar. Grandparents often give it.

Of course, you can also use multiple occasions: a spoon for birth, one for the first tooth, one for christening. In Russian families, it is not uncommon for a child to grow up with two or three silver spoons – each with its own engraving and its own story.

Frequently Asked Questions About First Tooth Gifts

What do you give for the first tooth?
The traditional gift for the first tooth is a silver spoon. In the Russian tradition «На зубок», grandparents or godparents present a spoon made of 925 Sterling Silver – as a symbol of protection, prosperity, and as the child's first own cutlery. Baby spoons with engraving (name + date of first tooth) are particularly popular. DoDo spoons with tactile dots are especially suitable as they promote oral perception in teething babies. Prices start from €179.95.

Why give a silver spoon for the first tooth?
The silver spoon combines symbolism and function: silver has an antibacterial effect (oligodynamic effect) and protects sensitive gums from germs. Lightly chilled, it can even soothe swollen gums. Symbolically, the silver spoon represents the wish that the child should never suffer want. In Russia and Eastern Europe, this custom has been practiced for centuries – it is called «На зубок» and is still vibrant today.

What does На зубок (Na zubok) mean?
«На зубок» is Russian and literally means "for the little tooth" or "on the tooth." It refers to the custom of giving a baby a silver spoon when the first milk tooth erupts. Traditionally, it is the task of the grandparents (especially the maternal grandfather) to present this gift. The spoon is often engraved with the child's name and the date. The custom is still widespread in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus today.

When does a baby get its first tooth?
Most babies get their first tooth between 6 and 8 months of age. However, it can happen significantly earlier (from 4 months) or later (up to 12 months) – both are completely normal. Usually, the lower central incisors erupt first. By their 3rd birthday, a child typically has all 20 milk teeth.

Is a silver spoon good for babies?
Yes – 925 Sterling Silver is a safe and hygienic material for baby cutlery. Silver has natural antibacterial properties: silver ions inhibit the growth of bacteria on the surface. Unlike plastic, silver is free from plasticizers and BPA. A silver spoon is durable, easy to clean, and can last for generations. It is not just a gift, but a utilitarian object that can accompany the child from their first puree to adulthood.