Value of a Lost Tooth Has Tooth Fairy Giving Record Amounts

Even the Tooth Fairy can’t escape inflation. Delta Dental’s 2023 Original Tooth Fairy Poll® indicates the value of a lost tooth has reached a record high, and it’s expected to continue to increase.

According to new Delta Dental findings from its tooth fairy poll, the average value of a single lost tooth during the past year increased 16% from $5.36 to $6.23. The new value not only has children beaming with gap-toothed smiles but also represents a record high in the 25-year history of the poll.

Since the poll’s inception, the average cash gift left by the Tooth Fairy has surged 379% from $1.30 to $6.23 per tooth. At this rate, in 2048, the Tooth Fairy would be leaving a whopping $30 under the pillow for a single tooth.

“Delta Dental has been analyzing the Tooth Fairy’s U.S. annual giving trends for a quarter century, highlighting the role of good oral health care habits for children,” Gabriella Ferroni, senior director, strategic communications, Delta Dental Plans Association, says in a press release. “We know this time-honored tradition will continue to bring great joy to homes across the country, and we look forward to seeing how the Tooth Fairy’s giving changes over the next 25 years. Given the projection, it would be in the Tooth Fairy’s best interest to invest in a larger purse.”

Economy and the Worth of a Lost Tooth
Historically, the Original Tooth Fairy Poll® has typically mirrored the economy's overall direction, tracking with the trends of Standard & Poor's 500 Index (S&P 500). However, while the average value of a single lost tooth increased 16% over the past year, the S&P 500 experienced an 11% decline during the same period. According to Delta Dental’s “Tooth Fairy Index” (see image), the 2 areas had experienced similar growth until this past year, when the value of a lost tooth kept increasing and the S&P 500 took a hit.

U.S. regional ranking for the average value of a lost tooth

1. South ($6.59): Led U.S. regions with the highest monetary gift for a lost tooth, marking a 14% increase since last year’s results.

2. West ($6.25): Increased 53%, despite being only two cents higher than the national average.

3. Northeast ($6.14): Dropped below the national average, after leading last year with $7.36 for a lost tooth.

4. Midwest ($5.63): While still trailing the national average, it went up $1.36 (32%).

Additional numbers from the Delta Dental survey include:

• More than 9 in 10 (91%) parents admit they play the role of the Tooth Fairy in their homes
• More than half of the parents (54%) feel the Tooth Fairy visiting their home gives their children something to be excited about and a chance to celebrate something fun (45%)
• Nearly two-thirds (61%) of children wait for their tooth to fall out, with a few (17%) even pulling it out themselves
• In anticipation of the Tooth Fairy’s arrival, 27% of children head to bed early on the nights they have lost a tooth

About the Survey

The Original Tooth Fairy Poll® was conducted between Jan. 6, 2023 and Jan. 19, 2023, among 1,000 parents of children ages 6 to 12. The margin of error is +/- 3%.

The January 2022 S&P 500 average was 4,410 and decreased to an average of 3,942 for January 2023, consistent with the timing of the Original Tooth Fairy Poll®.

For more information about the Delta Dental-sponsored survey and oral health tips for infants to pre-teen, visit the Original Tooth Fairy Poll®.

Based in Oak Brook, Illinois, Delta Dental Plans Association is the not-for-profit national association of the 39 independent Delta Dental companies.