The Tooth Fairy’s generosity appears to be waning nationwide as payouts for a newly fallen tooth have dropped a full dollar over the past two years.
In a poll sponsored by Delta Dental, it was discovered that the Tooth Fairy is now leaving kids an average of $3.70. But, that’s just a nationwide average. The averages appear to differ in different parts of the U.S.
Regional Tooth Fairy Averages
For example, here in the western half of the country, the Tooth Fairy likes to give an average of $4.19. In the South, it’s $3.91. In the Northeast, it’s $3.75. And in the Midwest, it’s $2.97.
Although kids aren’t receiving quite as much money as they used to, the Tooth Fairy remains a great way to get kids excited about the milestone of losing a tooth. A visit from the Tooth Fairy is a great time to reinforce good oral health habits like brushing twice a day, flossing daily and visiting the dentist regularly.
An Economic Indicator
Interestingly enough, economists say the Tooth Fairy polls generally serves as a good indicator of the economy’s overall direction, tracking with the movement of Standard & Poor’s 500 Index (S&P 500) for 14 of the past 17 years. A year ago, a lost tooth was valued nationwide at $4.13 and dropped to $3.70 in this year’s survey, down 10 percent. Over the same time period, the S&P 500 also saw a decline and decreased by 3 percent.
For more information about the Original Tooth Fairy Poll and ways to make your child’s Tooth Fairy experience special, visit OriginalToothFairyPoll.com.
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