How Much Did the Tooth Fairy Leave?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the amounts of money received from the tooth fairy for lost teeth, with participants sharing personal anecdotes and historical context. The conversation touches on inflation's impact on these amounts over time, as well as variations in practices across different households and cultures.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Historical

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants report receiving amounts ranging from 5 cents to a dollar for lost teeth, depending on the decade and personal circumstances.
  • One participant suggests that inflation could be calculated to compare past amounts to current values, although they express difficulty in obtaining the necessary data.
  • Several participants mention the lack of a tooth fairy in their households, indicating that the tradition may not be universal.
  • There are discussions about the perceived value of teeth, with some humorously suggesting that the quality of teeth might affect the amount given by the tooth fairy.
  • One participant references historical studies on tooth fairy economics, noting that the exchange rate for teeth has been tracked against inflation over the years.
  • Some participants express skepticism about the tooth fairy's existence or the amounts given, sharing personal experiences that differ from the norm.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the amounts given by the tooth fairy, with a wide range of experiences shared. There is also disagreement on the existence and significance of the tooth fairy tradition itself.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention varying amounts received based on personal and cultural contexts, and some express uncertainty about the historical accuracy of their memories. The discussion also highlights the influence of inflation on perceived values over time.

Who May Find This Useful

Readers interested in cultural traditions surrounding childhood experiences, inflation's impact on monetary values, or anecdotal accounts of growing up may find this discussion engaging.

  • #31
These days I think kids are doomed to being stuck at $1 for quite awhile. Inflation will likely eat away at that until the introduction of $2 coins.

Maybe the kids can ask Congress for a bailout for the eroding value of tooth redemptions?
 
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  • #32
No tooth fairies in Poland. Unless my dentist qualifies, but she never gave me anything. Quite the contrary.
 
  • #33
LowlyPion said:
These days I think kids are doomed to being stuck at $1 for quite awhile. Inflation will likely eat away at that until the introduction of $2 coins.

Maybe the kids can ask Congress for a bailout for the eroding value of tooth redemptions?
The last thing we need is another bailout. No one has done any research on the declining quality of children's teeth. With all of the rotten food kids eat these days, how can we rule out the possibility that the Tooth Fairy isn't willing to pay out the big bucks for terrible teeth? Have we totally forgotten about the aspect of quality?

Oh well. Maybe I don't know what I'm talking about. I'm not a toothologist. Never said I was. But there is one thing I do know: it's not inflationary. They don't worry about rising costs in The Land Beyond Time And Space And Rainbows.
 
  • #35
Thanks for the link. It also has an answer for Redbelly98:

Tooth fairy economics have been closely studied. Rosemary Wells, acknowledged as the world's leading tooth fairy authority, tracked the exchange rate for teeth from 1900 to 1980 against the consumer price index, and found that the tooth fairy kept up with inflation. Another survey in the mid 1990s claimed that the going rate had increased to nearly two bucks from a dime 25 years previously. If so I must have come from a privileged background – back in the 1950s I could swear I got a quarter.
 
  • #36
Math Is Hard said:
The mid 1970s ranged 25 cents to 50 cents for me.

Same for me, usually just a quarter. The exception was the last couple of molars earned a silver dollar each. Apparantly the toothfairy thought those were special teeth.
 
  • #37
Math Is Hard said:
The mid 1970s ranged 25 cents to 50 cents for me.

Moonbear said:
Same for me, usually just a quarter. The exception was the last couple of molars earned a silver dollar each. Apparantly the toothfairy thought those were special teeth.

Mid-70's 7-year-olds are definitely post-babyboom. With the supply of fresh teeth dwindling, I guess the tooth fairy had to put up more and more cash to make her quota.

Monique said:
Thanks for the link. It also has an answer for Redbelly98:

Cool! Thanks Monique.
 
  • #38
I don't remember, maybe a nickel. There was no fairy, it was strictly a business matter between me and my father. He was always paying me for things. I got 10 cents for an A and 5 cents for a B on my report card. In the summer I got a penny a fly for killing flies in the house. Once we took a 2 week vacation on a lagoon and he bought me a crab trap and paid me 10 cents a crab. I had to buy the bait, but it was worth it. He would often give me 30 cents, 25 to go buy him a pack of cigarettes and 5 cents for a candy bar for myself. I got ten cents a week allowance until I was about 12 when I took a paper route.

I gave my kids a dollar a tooth, but I told them it was the tooth fairy. I did the whole thing, they had to put the tooth under the pillow, and I would come in after they fell asleep, took the tooth and left the dollar. I still have the teeth in a couple of envelopes to give to them, I don't know when.
 
  • #39
I really don't remember how much I got. It was the early 90s ( :-p ) and I remember at least a dollar for the later ones. For one I actually received a " tooth fairy coin" in a wooden container. I'll have to see if I can find that thing. I'm not sure if it was real silver and a troy ounce like the one in the link, but I remember it looking just like this.

http://cgi.ebay.com/RARE-TOOTH-FAIRY-COIN-SILVER-ART-ROUND-BULLION-bar-GIFT_W0QQitemZ270356622303QQcmdZViewItem
 
  • #40
Late 70's early 80's... 25-50 cents.

We don't do the tooth-fairy in our present household though.
Mainly because the kid in question would take any change and...
A) spin it noisily on the hardwood floor for hours...
B) then put it in his mouth...
C) then return to step A.
 

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