Inflationary Fairy

Inflation hurts most those who can afford it least.  Just ask the poor Tooth Fairy.  This mythical creature has been keeping up with the cost of living for a long time.  Despite the great dental plan her job comes with, she doesn’t seem to earn enough to retire.  Instead, she doles out money every night to kids as they sleep after their teeth fall out, no matter the cause.

Last year, the average value of a single tooth reached an all-time high: $6.23.  That was up from $5.36 a year earlier.  Perhaps out of guilt for all the sweet tea served down there, the South came in with the highest payout, $6.59.  A more prudent payment of $5.63 was received in the Midwest.  Since 1998 (long after I lost my last tooth), the average price swapped for a bicuspid has grown 379 percent!  Before you run and tell your children or grandchildren about the outrageous values protruding from their gums, you should read on.

The Tooth Fairy just gave Jerome Powell, Chair of the Federal Open Market Committee, something to smile about.  That cost declined in 2024.  According to Delta Dental (they poll 1,000 U.S. parents of children 6-12 in January), the fairy can carry a smaller purse as a tooth only sets her back an average of $5.84 now.  You heard it here; the price of a tooth decayed.

Some parts of life are pure luck.  While you might be able to influence when your first tooth pops out, you can’t help when you’re born.  A child losing their first tooth last year raked in an average of $7.29, more than a dollar over what the second might fetch.  But those unlucky enough to be born a year later are only getting $7.09 in 2024.  Something else to cause Mr. Powell to don a grin.  This lower starting point is sure to influence future levels.

Figuring out when to lose a tooth used to be so simple.  Just hold on as long as you can and let inflation help you out.  It isn’t so simple now.  What would you tell a child who notices the first wiggle of a tooth?  Whatever it is, you probably want to reach for your wallet as well.