What’s The Going Rate for Teeth?
Quite a few variables determine how much tooth fairy money little Tommy or Sally will find — such as your location, income, education, and age. The data collected from a USA Today article provides an excellent guide to finding your comfort zone.
- 46% of parents said spare cash was the most significant factor in determining payouts.
- Poor planning (not having smaller $1s and $5s) can lead to much higher bills and/or small gifts. Learn how to put together a tooth fairy kit so you don’t fall victim to procrastination.
- 31% of parents said their children’s ages set the value of a tooth.
- In 2018, the average was $3.70 per tooth, which is a decline of $0.43 from the previous year’s $4.13.
- About 2 in 5 parents admit to paying at least $5 per tooth.
- Often, the first tooth received a larger contribution.
- Geography plays a factor in the payout, as kids in the:
- West got $4.19 per tooth.
- South got $3.91 per tooth.
- Northeast got $3.75 per tooth.
- Midwest got $2.97 per tooth.
How To Avoid Tooth Inflation
The last thing you want to do is cause turmoil on the playground for your kids — or any kids for that matter — as they spill the beans on the tooth fairy going too high or too low on their deposit. Based on the USA Today article, it seems the $3-$ five range creates a nice little sweet spot. But explaining that cleaner, well-brushed, and flossed teeth receive bigger payments puts a nice plot twist in the fairy tale lore.
If spending a little more per tooth yields healthier teeth, it’s probably a tactic worth implementing. And perhaps that will equate to less time at your dentist’s office and more time tiptoeing in the dark.
