Tooth Fairy pay-outs on the rise, as inflation meets poor parenting

So much for the days of a dollar a tooth — or a quarter. Inflation has driven the costs of a Tooth Fairy visit sky-high, and kids nowadays are bragging on the playground about night-time exchanges that leaves them $5 richer.

Or more, as The New York Post reported.

The national average per tooth is $3.70 – up 23 percent in just a year, and 42 percent in two years, the credit card company, Visa, reported in a just-completed study. That’s a heck of an inflation figure.

But that’s just the average. Oone 39-year-old mother from South Orange, N.J., reports that her children – daughter Oona and son Jacques – say their playground friends are getting even bigger bucks: $5 a tooth, even $10 a tooth, in some instances, The New York Post reported.

Six percent of tooth payments hit more than $20 a pop, however. And 2 percent actually get $50 or more — per tooth, Visa found.

“A dollar still seems reasonable to me,” the shocked mom said, in the report.

Blame inflation — and poor parenting, said Jason Alderman, Visa’s senior director of global financial education.

“Tooth Fairy inflation clearly is surging,” he said, in The New York Post. “It is due to a combination of things: one is a reflection of an improving economy, and that parents feel they can afford to be generous in small areas. The other real drive is parental angst. It is very hard for us to say ’no’ to our kids.”

“Tooth Fairy inflation clearly is surging,” marvels Jason Alderman, Visa’s senior director of global financial education. “It is due to a combination of things: one is a reflection of an improving economy, and that parents feel they can afford to be generous in small areas.

At current rates, the Tooth Fairy will be paying $74 for a full set of 20 baby teeth in today’s market.

“That’s shocking,” Mr. Alderman said, in The New York Post. “I was flabbergasted when I heard that. After all, they are not donating bodily organs. I think the Tooth Fairy is suffering from irrational exuberance. She wants to be the best one on the block.”