The shedding of one’s baby teeth from about the age of five is a thrilling rite of passage for any child.

And the financial rewards that can flow from having a gap-toothed grin only adds to the excitement.

But, as a survey of parents on The Leader’s Facebook page shows, the Tooth Fairy does employ a degree of discretion when doling out the money.

While the going rate for teeth these days seems to be most commonly $2, prices mysteriously fluctuate wildly from family to family.

Kirsty Jade Lohan’s eldest received $20 for his first tooth, while Fiona Sing’s daughter gets $10 a tooth, plus a letter from the Tooth Fairy.

Rae Patterson remembers the days when she got a paltry 20c for each tooth, but her kids receive a more generous gold-coin donation.

Daniel Hardaker’s offspring was very lucky in getting $20 for each front tooth and between $5 and $10 per chomper thereafter.

Lisa Simpson said her children were on a rate of $2 a tooth until the Tooth Fairy stopped coming when they started pulling out their pearly whites before they were ready.