Remember the excitement of getting money from the Tooth Fairy for a lost tooth? Today, kids are seeing less cash under their pillows as the mystical figure’s payouts take a hit. With inflation rising, even the Tooth Fairy is feeling the squeeze, disappointing children and their trusty piggy banks.
But how much of a change are we really talking about here? Figures from a comprehensive survey would have you believe we’re witnessing a significant drop in dental dividends. For the first time since 2019, the Tooth Fairy is doling out fewer notes and coins for those precious pearly whites compared to the year prior.
Recent data from America shows a significant decrease in tooth earnings over the past 5 years, dropping from an average of nearly $9.50 to a less impressive $8.90 average – that’s a decrease in 6% from 2023 to 2022. Regional differences highlight this trend further, with kids on the North West coast of the US pocketing an impressive $13 per tooth while Midwestern US children barely scrape by with just over $5.50.
Whilst research in Australia is yet to be conducted, it’s quite plausible that the patterns observed in the US may well have taken effect down under.
