The return of the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) has been hard on everyone and it appears that the Tooth Fairy is no exception.

In an annual poll released by non-profit Delta Dental Plans Association in the US the average amount kids are finding under their pillows or in their glasses of water has dropped by an average of 42 cents.

The poll found that in 2010 kids were waking up to find an average of $US2.52 in the place of their lost tooth.

The strain the GFC has put on the Tooth Fairy means the average tooth reward is now $US2.10 ($AU1.95).

James Brown, who attends Warwick's School of Total Education (SOTE), was very enthusiastic about his Tooth Fairy encounter.

"I'm missing two front teeth and the bottom two are wobbly," James said.

"I got $2 for the first one and $1 for the second."

Also from SOTE and also missing her top front two teeth, Lily Hughes was very excited about her visit.

"It was $4, two for this one and two for this one," Lily said.

"I'm going to save it for a guinea pig."

Colette Williams, who is a music teacher, said she hears of many of her students' Tooth Fairy visits.

"The normal going rate is $2 and some kids actually get more. But on a whole most kids get $2," Ms Williamson said.

Todd Brown said that the Tooth Fairy's visits are an incentive for his kids to brush their teeth properly.

"Ours get 50 cents for a good tooth and five cents if it is bad," Mr Brown said.

Despite the 16.6% drop due to the economic slump, the Tooth Fairy aims to keep her prices steady and be fair to all children.

FAIRY DILEMMAS

How should tooth pricings be determined - is a healthy tooth worth more than a rotten one or is a bigger tooth worth more than a smaller one?

Kids at sleep-overs and on holidays are sometimes hard to find.

Your tooth collection might be different to others because the Tooth Fairy likes to keep things interesting by surprising kids in many different ways.

How do you remind the Tooth Fairy ? Putting your tooth under your pillow just before you go to bed or in a glass of water are good ideas.

The Tooth Fairy is always prepared and keeps her jar of spare change full and close by.