Tooth fairy feels economic pinch

The tooth fairy is leaving a little less cash under kids’ pillows than she did last year. The average of $1.88 per tooth is down from last year’s gift of $2.09—a 10 percent decrease.

Tooth fairy gift amounts ranged from a low of 5 cents to a high of $40 per tooth, according to a survey by DeCare Dental, a dental benefits management group. The downward trend in Tooth Fairy gifts appears to be driven by a decrease in the number of $5 gifts and an increase in $1 gifts, the survey showed.