How Much Do You Give The Tooth Fairy?

How Much Do You Give The Tooth Fairy for a Lost Tooth?

The average amount paid to the Tooth Fairy for a lost tooth in 2017 was $4.16.

This represents a precipitous 11% drop from the previous year (2016), when the Tooth Fairy raked in an all-time high $4.66 per tooth, but is a step up from five years ago when the average tooth brought the Tooth Fairy $3.70.

How do we find out how much buccal baksheesh the Tooth Fairy is bringing in per lost tooth?

According to the Original Tooth Fairy Poll, sponsored by Delta Dental and conducted in December of each year, the latest poll asked 1,007 parents of 6- to 12-year-olds about their Tooth Fairy donations.

Payouts are broken down by regions, with kids in western states earning the most – at $4.85 per tooth, while children in the Midwest gaining the least average amount – at $3.44.

The poll was designed to capture a broad spectrum of the U.S. population, not just those with dental insurance.

How Much Should You Give the Tooth Fairy?

Although there is no real hard & fast rule in how much you should give the Tooth Fairy, there does seem to be a correlation between economic health of the country, and how much cash the Tooth Fairy cops during her nighttime visits.

Experts say the average Tooth Fairy payout is a good indicator of overall economic health.

There’s even an index, called what else but The Tooth Fairy IndexSM (TFI). This most finnecky of financial indices shows that the value of a lost tooth is closely related to the U.S. economy.

Much like Punxsutawney Phil’s Groundhog Day weather prognostication, the Original Tooth Fairy Poll has generally been a good barometer of the overall direction of the economy. In fact, for 12 of the past 14 years, the trend in average giving has tracked with the movement of the S&P 500.

And that’s just here in the good ‘ol U S of A. But the Tooth Fairy knows no borders.

Internationally, the children’s teeth for trade racket persists. For example, in Japan, the Tooth Fairy collects an average of ¥ 442.18 – which given current exchange rates at the time of publishing is $4.20.

In Canada the Tooth Fairy gets $5.25 per lost tooth, in Ireland & England, she cops €3.35 and £2.96, respectively.

And in Costa Rica, parents fork over ¢2360.00…which, at current exchange rates equals $4.18, while not quite a Toucan (¢5000.00), is actually higher than the current U.S. average of $4.11.

All the financial ballyhoo aside, parents should give the Tooth Fairy what they feel is right, whether that’s a sawbuck, a five spot, or a toothbrush, we needn’t let that greedy little Tooth Fairy call her shots!

Use The Tooth Fairy to Teach Kids About Dental Health

There is a lesson when determining how much money to give the Tooth Fairy, and that is one of optimal oral & overall health.

Any chance parents get to discuss dental health with their kids should be seen as an opportunity.

By adhering to a diligent daily dental health regimen – of brushing for #2min2x a day, daily flossing, rinsing with mouthwash, chewing sugarless gum with xylitol, and maintaining a healthy diet that is low in sugar – parents can set a positive example for their kids.

Since tooth decay is widely considered our number one chronic childhood disease, talking about the Tooth Fairy presents parents with the opportunity to make the subject of dental health fun and informative.

All parents have one thing in common, that is to want the best for their kids.

By having a fun yet educational conversation, all parents can help their kids develop positive dental habits from an early age, and therefore a lifetime of optimal oral health.

Do you agree?

Somerset NJ Dentist: Joseph Haddad, D.D.S.

We proudly provide modern family & cosmetic dentistry to the community of Somerset, NJ. 08873 in addition to the surrounding Franklin Township areas of Bound Brook, Hillsborough Township, Readington Township, and Bridgewater.

We offer the most advanced technology in a comfortable, inviting, comfortable environment.

If you have any questions about caring for your oral health, or any other happenings at our Franklin Township dentist office just give us a call today at (732) 545-8111.

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on Dental Patient News and has been republished here with permission. It has since been updated for accuracy & comprehensiveness.

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chrissocdent on
Mar 26th, 2018 1:27 pm
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