Do you recall how much pocket money the tooth fairy left you as a youngster?
Twenty-five cents? Fifty cents? A single dollar?
That’s modest compared with what children receive now.
According to the latest results of the Original Tooth Fairy Poll, parents are averaging $4.13 per lost tooth tucked beneath their child’s pillow.
The amount has actually dipped from last year’s average of $4.66 — which was a record high for the annual survey run by Delta Dental.
If your youngster is losing their very first tooth, expect to shell out a bit more. The going rate for a first tooth is $5.70 on average — a slight decrease from the previous year’s $5.72.
Tooth-fairy payouts also differ across regions. The poll shows parents in the West are the most generous: they give an average of $4.85 per tooth, with first-tooth rewards averaging $6.76.
Those in the Northeast left about $4.35 per tooth, or $6.45 for that initial lost tooth. In the South, parents offered $4.12 per tooth or $5.68 for a first tooth. Midwestern tooth fairies were more frugal, averaging $3.44 per tooth, and $4.37 for a first tooth.
Some moms and dads go a bit further to keep the tooth-fairy magic alive. The Original Tooth Fairy Poll found 47% of parents include a small toy or game, and 35% compose a note from the fairy herself (a lost-tooth certificate makes a nice touch).
Thirty-one percent also give a new toothbrush — a smart nudge toward better dental habits.
Most parents (95%) who act as the tooth fairy add these little extras in addition to money. But that doesn’t mean everyone participates in the tooth-fairy tradition.
If you’re watching your spending (or simply don’t want to invent yet another nocturnal mythical visitor), don’t feel bad skipping the ritual. Sixteen percent of respondents with children aged 6 to 12 said they don’t do tooth-fairy visits.
For tips on keeping your child’s mouth healthy during periods at home, see how to take care of your teeth self isolation.
Alex Morgan is a contributing writer at Savinly. She covers family finances and parenting topics.
