SURVEY SAYS: Tooth Fairy Experiences
Last week, I asked NewsDash readers, “Did you partake in the tooth fairy or other tooth-loss tradition when you were a child, and if so, how much did you get? If you have children, do they get more than you did?”
Ninety-six percent of responding readers said they did partake in a tooth fairy or similar tradition, while 4% did not. All of those who did reported that they received $1.00 or less per tooth.
Among respondents who have children, 95% indicated they do/did partake in a tooth-fairy or similar exchange for teeth, and 5% do/did not. Those who participate(d) in a tooth exchange recognized inflation and were more generous than their “tooth fairies.” Thirty-two percent said their children receive(d) $1.00 or less, while 63% said their children receive(d) between $1.00 and $5.00. Three percent reported giving $5.00 to $10.00 per tooth, and 2% reported giving more than $10.00.
In comments submitted, there were tips— “I like the idea of encouraging good dental hygiene by planting the seed in the mind of the child that the tooth fairy pays more for teeth in good condition”— and funny stories—“My son tried to catch the tooth fairy recently. He put his tooth in a baggie and tied a bell to the baggie so it would wake him when it was removed from under his pillow.” Editor’s Choice goes to the reader who said, “Must be it’s more [now] than in my day. I left my upper plate out and my grandson said I’d be getting rich.”
Thank you to all who participated in the survey!Verbatim
Pretty
sure I got a nickel at first, gradually moving up to a quarter, which could buy
5 candy bars, packs of gum, or 25 pieces of penny candy. Quite a treat for
youngster back in my day!
When
the tooth fairy was late.... the amount of money went up...
I
do not have kids, but if I did, I would partake and I would leave between
$1-$5.
Considering
it was over 50 years ago, I think a dime was a pretty good haul. 🙂
My
wife and I have vastly different ideas about a fair amount. She thinks $2
should be the minimum - I prefer not to adjust for inflation from my days and
see $1 as a maximum.
One
of my students in first grade brought a $50 bill to class and said he got it
for losing his first tooth. I paid him another dollar not to let my kids know.
Way too Excessive!
I
like the idea of encouraging good dental hygiene by planting the seed in the
mind of the child that the tooth fairy pays more for teeth in good condition.
My
baby teeth roots never dissolved. I had to have them individually pulled as
permanent ones came in. Then, in the 8th grade, I had to have 8 pulled at once
plus a permanent one to get ready for braces. I was left with four top front,
four bottom front, and four molars. (not fun...at all!). I never put them under
the pillow for the tooth fairy. I was too traumatized! I think the tooth fairy
owes me $50 per tooth plus interest for the inconvenience!!
Growing
up I got a quarter per tooth. I feel so cheated!
Verbatim (cont.)
I
remember getting a quarter (25 cents). With my kids, it was a dollar. When I
suddenly became a divorced dad with 3 kids aged 6 and under (full-time
custody), the "tooth fairy" often became forgetful. When my child
would say, "Hey, no money," I (I mean, the tooth fairy) would
scramble to put it under another child's pillow, then help "find" it.
"Silly Tooth Fairy," we would conclude...
I
got a shiny new quarter. My kids get a dollar and so I have a stash of crisp
ones hidden for tooth emergencies that I keep away from my Lotto-addicted
husband.
Even
when I got the age when I knew the tooth fairy didn't exist, I still placed a
tooth under my pillow and tried to negotiate the price with my Mom. She found
it quite amusing; still only got 50 cents.
My
siblings and I received 10 cents per tooth. We were ecstatic because we could
turn around and spend the 10 cents on penny candy at the local candy store!
I
am pretty sure when I was a kid, I got about a $.25 (a quarter) and it was
awesome, enough to buy some nice candy. Our Children get a $1, enough to buy
some nice candy.
Timely
survey. My granddaughter just lost her 2nd tooth while I was visiting this
weekend.
Sometimes
I left a .50 cents or $1. Later I would leave a book or a small surprise.
Could
you ask if we have children?
Inflation
on teeth has far outpaced education!!!
Verbatim (cont.)
Nothing
worse than forgetting and one parent distracts the kids while the other
exchanges the tooth for cash!
I
got 25 cents, my kids $1 and my grandkids get $10 - inflation seems higher for
teeth
Getting
free money for getting older did not prepare me for crushing student debt.
The
tooth fairy came to my house in the 60's, a quarter was what I remember. But
once we understood there was no "Santa Clause", there were also no
more tooth fairy exchanges. When my daughter started to benefit from the tooth
fairy exchange in the 90's, the going rate was a dollar. Susan B Anthony Dollars
seemed cool at the time so the tooth fairy left 2 or 3 so that "mom"
could share in the excitement the next day.
We
got a quarter when we lost a tooth, which seemed like a lot back in the 50's.
Suppose that is equal to about $5 now.
$20
dollars?! Lucky the tooth fairy didn't get robbed!
My
kids have friends that get $20 per tooth. So they sometimes feel ripped off at
$5. I remind them that I got a mere $0.50 when I was a kid and they are a
little more thankful for their $5.
A
nickel per tooth.
My
teeth fetched silver dollars. My kids' teeth fetch gold dollars, assuming the
tooth fairy has them available. She has left a $5 on occasion.
Verbatim (cont.)
My
son tried to catch the tooth fairy recently. He put his tooth in a baggie and
tied a bell to the baggie so it would wake him when it was removed from under
his pillow. I'm glad he's a heavy sleeper. 🙂
I
usually received 25 cents for each lost tooth, but that bought at least 2 candy
bars to help decay the remainder of my baby teeth.
As
kids, we always received $.50 piece. It was very exciting since we never saw
them except at that time!
Like
the rest of us, inflation affects the tooth fairy. When I was little, I got
$0.10/tooth. My kids got $0.25-0.50/tooth. My grandchildren get $1/tooth. The
real question is: What to do with the teeth collected by the tooth fairy?
Since
I am in my 50s, I received a quarter for my teeth. I gave my children a $1 in
the 80s. That was 4 times more than I received. Wow, inflation! I would hate to
think what my grandchildren will cost!
It
was a long time ago. My children are almost 40.
My
father is a retired dentist but he still had us siblings believing in the tooth
fairy. Payment was usually around a quarter - a lot of money for a kid back
then. I carried on the tradition with my children with usually a dollar and
sometimes a book if the tooth was really difficult to get out.
I
got a quarter 60 years ago. My kids got $1.00 30 years ago. I guess my
grandchildren will get the benefit of inflation.
Good
memories for both child and parent.
Verbatim (cont.)
I
grew up in the 60's, so a quarter for a tooth was fine with me! On the other
hand, a friend of mine that's now my age and has little kids had a child lose a
tooth and that night had only $20 in her wallet, so left $20 under the pillow!
That did not set a good precedent! I would have told her the tooth fairy was
busy and maybe would come tomorrow night!
With
a quarter I could get a five cent candy bar but had to give my dad fifteen
cents for savings. I did the same with my children and we are all great savers!
Must
be it's more than in my day. I left my upper plate out and my grandson said I'd
be getting rich.
While
the tooth fairy only delivered my child $1.00 it was made special by delivering
it in the form of the $1.00 coin.
My
8 month old only has 1 tooth. We're not ready to sell it off yet!
If I remember correctly, we received a dime, but I'm pretty sure the tooth fairy missed several opportunities!
NOTE: Responses reflect the opinions of individual readers and not necessarily the stance of Asset International or its affiliates.