The average gift from the tooth fairy dropped to $2.10 last year, a 42¢ decrease from 2010, but she's still visiting nearly 90% of U.S. homes, according to Delta Dental.
Delta Dental surveyed 1,355 parents and found the following:
- The average amount left by the tooth fairy is $1.
- Most children get more money for their first lost baby tooth.
- 35% of the parents surveyed allow their children three to four sugary drinks a day.
- 71% of parents first take their child to the dentist between 2 and 3 years old. Dental professionals recommend that parents take their children to the dentist by the time they reach 1 year or within six months after the first tooth erupts.
The poll has been a good barometer of the economy's overall direction and has tracked the Dow Jones average in seven of the last 10 years.
