Research Says Tooth Fairy Alive and Well in Iowa; Rate for Baby Teeth is Quite Good

Unless a child has some smarts, not too many, I doubt they'd be eyeballing my article, so discussing some issues that might make them wonder is ok.

I'm not here to rock the boat, I'm here to point out facts.  Allowing a person, being, a fairy, a friendly ghost, whatever, in your home to put something, mainly money, under your child's pillow, seems odd to me.  Have any of these beings undergone a background check?

If you've noticed, I'm having these thoughts after I've already recouped my cash payments from The Tooth Fairy (TTF).  Fair enough, but the amounts given today are exponentially higher than what I was compensated for my very valuable calcium pieces.

I'm not saying we even need to go much further than that, but if we diiiiiid, then we might chat about where those teeth go.  Is there some kind of factory that needs kids' teeth to keep it going? Hello, 60 Minutes? Seems I've served up a story for you.

If 60 Minutes doesn't want to take this up, maybe Jerry Seinfeld could make it part of his stand-up.  Who ARE these teeth people?  (You have to say it like him to make it fun, please do that now.)

What's The Going Rate for Baby Teeth in Iowa?

Affordable Dentures and Implants did some research, so I didn't have to.  What they found was quite interesting.  Where you live can dictate what kind of cash you'll rake in with a visit from The Tooth Fairy (TTF).  I'm not sure if there is a rate card for The Tooth Fairy (TTF).

What kind of cash are Iowans pulling in from TTF?  It's a pretty decent number.  Compared to the .50 cents I was given (rip off), Iowans are receiving the tidy sum of roughly $5 per tooth.  The actual number they came up with was $4.58.  I doubt TTF is carrying change, but that's a discussion for another day.

I commend you, TTF of Iowa. I'm guessing they have chapters, because it seems a lot of work for one TTF.  There are some states' TTFs that aren't getting it done like the great state of Iowa. Look at these paltry sums they're paying out! What is this, (    )?  Please insert a year that would make you smile when reading the line.

Imagine you wake in 2024 and find this madness under your pillow. Ugh, a sad, sad day.

A friend some years ago asked on Facebook what the going rate was for a first tooth. I said $20, but was quickly shut down.  I was told by multiple people that was too much.  I retorted, "$20 for a first tooth doesn't seem like too much, it doesn't seem like enough!"  I was on my hill, prepared to die!

Who Pays the Most for Teeth

Affordable Dentures and Implants found in these states, TTF is paying top dollar for baby teeth.  Though it's not a state, otherwise our flag would look a little different (see below), my hometown The District of Columbia, a.k.a. Washington DC, comes out on top at almost $6.

I never got that rate, EVER, but I suppose I don't mind for those who come after us.

Where Did The Tooth Fairy Come From?

Ah, the Tooth Fairy—just like Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny, they’re one of those magical childhood figures we all look back on with fond memories. Always ready to swap a lost tooth for a shiny coin (or maybe a few dollars, if you're lucky. I wasn't).

But, have you ever wondered where this magical being came from? How did they become a worldwide legend, and how long have we been leaving our teeth under pillows for them to collect? Well, buckle up, because we're about to take a wild ride through history to uncover the Tooth Fairy's secrets! All of them! 

Delta Dental says the Tooth Fairy isn’t as new as they seem. Sure, they might feel like a modern creation, but tooth-related myths go way, way back—way before Instagram or TikTok were even a thing. In ancient times, Norse and European traditions had some pretty wild ideas about baby teeth.

For example, people used to bury a child's lost tooth to protect them from bad luck in the afterlife. Some cultures even had a "tooth fee" (yes, you read that right) that they'd pay when a child lost their first tooth. Vikings? They’d collect their children’s teeth and use them as good luck charms in battle. Pretty hardcore, right? Let's see more of that winning attitude, Minnesota.  

And then there's the fairy-tale version of the story. Over time, a good fairy started popping up in European stories. But here’s the kicker: the most popular tooth fairy figure was… a mouse! Yup, a mouse! It might sound weird, but in countries like Russia, Spain, and China, the mouse was the one who’d sneak into kids’ rooms, take the lost tooth, and leave a little gift in return.

Now, the reasoning behind the mouse is rooted in something called "sympathetic magic." Basically, people thought that, since mice and other rodents grow their teeth forever (lucky them), they could magically transfer good luck to kids who lost their teeth. Makes sense, right? 

As you go around the world, you’ll find variations of the Tooth Fairy. In France, there’s a mouse or a rabbit that’s been around since the 17th century called "La Petite Souris." And, in Latin countries, the legend of Ratoncito Pérez reigns supreme.

They’re such a big deal, they even have a museum dedicated to them in Madrid! It’s like the Tooth Fairy’s cousin. And, just like the Tooth Fairy in Canada or the US, Pérez is used to sell dental products to kids.

Get our free mobile app

The whole mouse thing is super popular because of that whole "teeth forever" concept. But, if you think it’s just mice who’ve made it into tooth fairy history, think again! Some cultures even have beavers, cats, dogs, or squirrels playing tooth fairy roles. It’s like a whole animal kingdom of tooth collectors out there!

The Tooth Fairy, in all their magical glory, has been part of traditions and rituals for thousands of years—and it’s kind of fun to imagine how they’ve evolved from one culture to the next. 

So, there you have it! The Tooth Fairy might be a magical, sparkly figure, but their roots are deep in history, culture, and even a bit of animal magic.  Seems like there might be a song there, Animal Magic! Don't steal all my good, bad ideas.