Poll also reveals more than 1 in 4 children go to bed early in anticipation of Tooth Fairy’s arrival

CHICAGO — Aug. 17, 2023 — In recognition of National Tooth Fairy Day on August 22, Delta Dental released additional findings from its 2023 Original Tooth Fairy Poll®.

The Poll, now in its 25^th year, finds the Tooth Fairy is welcomed into an overwhelming majority (81%) of U.S. homes. Further, the delight of the Tooth Fairy is experienced by children and parents alike. More than 1 in 3 (36%) parents say the Tooth Fairy instills good oral health habits in their children, and in anticipation of the Tooth Fairy’s arrival, 27% of children head to bed early.

“The Tooth Fairy is a beloved visitor into homes across the country and helps foster proper oral hygiene habits at an early age, which in turn supports overall health,” said Gabriella Ferroni, Senior Director, Strategic Communications, Delta Dental Plans Association. “To encourage positive dental care, parents can remind their children the Tooth Fairy prefers the cleanest, healthiest teeth. We look forward to seeing how traditions evolve over the next 25 years.”

Highlights from this year’s poll include:
 

Tooth Fairy giving reaches record high

• The average value of a single lost tooth during the past year increased 16% from $5.36 to $6.23 – 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, which equates to a staggering $600 for a full set of 20 primary teeth.
• Further, 20% of children receive both money and something else, such as a physical gift, for each tooth they lose.

Tooth Fairy pays a premium for the first tooth

• The average value of a first tooth is $7.29, which is just over a dollar more than a typical tooth receives.
• One-third (33%) of parents say the Tooth Fairy spends more on the child’s first tooth than any future teeth.
   

The worth of a lost tooth and the economy

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. 

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®.

About Delta Dental Plans Association

Based in Chicago, Illinois, Delta Dental Plans Association is the not-for-profit national association of the 39 independent Delta Dental companies. Through these companies, Delta Dental is the nation's largest dental benefits provider, covering more than 89 million Americans and offering the country's largest dental network with approximately 152,000 participating dentists. Over the last decade, Delta Dental companies and their foundations invested over $1.9 billion to improve the oral and overall health of our communities.

Visit deltadental.com for information on individual dental insurance plans and group dental insurance plans.

Delta Dental celebrates 25 years of its Original Tooth Fairy Poll®

OAK BROOK, Ill. — Feb. 23, 2023 — Even the Tooth Fairy can’t escape inflation.

According to new Delta Dental findings from its 2023 Original 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,” said Gabriella Ferroni, Senior Director, Strategic Communications, Delta Dental Plans Association. “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.”

The worth of a lost tooth and the economy

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. 

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%). 

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®.

About Delta Dental Plans Association

Based in Oak Brook, Illinois, Delta Dental Plans Association is the not-for-profit national association of the 39 independent Delta Dental companies. Through these companies, Delta Dental is the nation's largest dental insurance provider, covering more than 85 million Americans and offering the country's largest dental network with approximately 152,000 participating dentists. Over the last decade, Delta Dental companies provided over $1.88 billion in direct and in-kind support to improve the oral health of our communities. 

Visit deltadental.com for information on individual dental insurance plans and group dental insurance plans.

Follow us on Twitter @DeltaDental and Facebook: Delta Dental Plans Association.  

OAK BROOK, Ill. — August 18, 2022 — According to findings of the 2022 Original Tooth Fairy Poll® released by Delta Dental, the Tooth Fairy visited 79% of homes across the country with children ages 6-12 who have lost teeth. Most kids are demonstrating patience for the Tooth Fairy’s visit, with more than half of parents (61%) reporting that their child waited for their loose tooth to fall out, unlike 18% of their children that pulled their own tooth! One in 3 parents agree that the Tooth Fairy is a positive way to instill good oral health habits in their child. The 2022 poll builds on insights gleaned over nearly a quarter of a century. A few additional highlights from this year’s poll include:

The Tooth Fairy continues to bring joy

• More than 1 in 2 parents say the Tooth Fairy gives their child something to be excited about (55% 2022 versus 53% 2021).

• This year, more parents indicate that the Tooth Fairy provides their child with an opportunity to celebrate something fun (55% 2022 versus 48% 2021).

• In fact, 35% of parents express the Tooth Fairy was the perfect way to spread joy in a year when they needed it most (compared to 34% 2021). 

The worth of a lost tooth — cash dominates

Since 1998, Delta Dental has been analyzing the Tooth Fairy's U.S. annual giving trends. The 2022 Original Tooth Fairy Poll® indicates the Tooth Fairy's average cash gift reached $5.36 per tooth, an all-time high in the 24-year history of the poll. This year’s value of a lost tooth has more than quadrupled since the inception of the Original Tooth Fairy Poll® when the value of a lost tooth was $1.30. The 2022 poll’s average gift of $5.36 per tooth is 66 cents (14%) higher than the previous peak of $4.70 set last year and well over $1 (33%) more per tooth in 2020 ($4.03). The 2022 poll also finds that 80% of the time the Tooth Fairy leaves only money rather than some other physical gift.

About the survey 

The Original Tooth Fairy Poll® was conducted between January 19 and January 28, 2022, among a nationally representative sample of 1,000+ parents of children ages 6-12. The survey has a margin of error of +/- 3%.

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

Follow us on Twitter @DeltaDental and Facebook: Delta Dental Plans Association

About Delta Dental Plans Association

Based in Oak Brook, Illinois, Delta Dental Plans Association is the not-for-profit national association of the 39 independent Delta Dental companies. Through these companies, Delta Dental is the nation's largest dental insurance provider, covering more than 83 million Americans and offering the country's largest dental network with approximately 154,000 participating dentists. Over the last decade, Delta Dental companies provided over $1.75 billion in direct and in-kind support to improve the oral health of our communities across the country. Visit deltadental.com for information on individual dental insurance plans and group dental insurance plans.

OAK BROOK, Ill. — February 23, 2022 — Today, Delta Dental released new findings from its 2022 Original Tooth Fairy Poll® that show the Tooth Fairy's average cash gift reached $5.36 per tooth, a record high in the 24-year history of the poll.

Delta Dental has been analyzing the Tooth Fairy's U.S. annual giving trends since 1998. The newly disclosed value of a lost tooth has more than quadrupled since the inception of the Original Tooth Fairy Poll® when the value of a lost tooth was $1.30. This year’s poll illuminates the highest all-time average gift of $5.36 per tooth, which is 66 cents (14%) higher than the previous peak at $4.70 last year and well over $1 (33%) more per tooth since 2020 ($4.03).

“As a welcomed visitor into most homes around the country, the Tooth Fairy continues to bring fun and excitement to kids’ oral health care awareness. In fact, 1 in 5 parents share that the Tooth Fairy was one of their child’s favorite surprises during the pandemic,” said André Richards, Assistant Vice President, Brand Strategy & Management, Delta Dental Plans Association. “With this year’s Delta Dental-sponsored national poll reflecting double-digit growth in Tooth Fairy giving, perhaps the Tooth Fairy is experiencing the effects of inflation along with being very generous.”

The worth of a lost tooth and the economy

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) for 17 of the past 20 years. Last year, a single lost tooth was valued at $4.70, and this year's survey indicates a 14% upward growth to $5.36. Over the same time, the S&P 500 also experienced growth, with a 17.6% increase. 

U.S. regional snapshot

• $7.36 — The Northeast: Continues to lead U.S. regions in highest average monetary gift for a lost tooth, rocketing $2 above the national average and marking a $1.64 gain over the previous year’s results.
• $5.77 — The South: Continues to track most closely to the overall U.S. average and shows a $1.32 increase.
• $4.27 — The Midwest: Although lower than the national average, up 61 cents.
• $4.08 — The West: Represents the only U.S. region with a downward giving trend, with the average monetary gift for a lost tooth plunging by $1.46.

About the survey 

The Original Tooth Fairy Poll® was conducted between January 19 and January 28, 2022, among a nationally representative sample of 1,000+ parents of children ages 6-12. The margin of error is +/- 3%.

The January 2021 S&P 500 average was 3,750 and increased to an average of 4,410 for January 2022, 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®.

Follow us on Twitter @DeltaDental and Facebook: Delta Dental Plans Association 

About Delta Dental Plans Association

Based in Oak Brook, Illinois, Delta Dental Plans Association is the not-for-profit national association of the 39 independent Delta Dental companies. Through these companies, Delta Dental is the nation's largest dental insurance provider, covering more than 83 million Americans, and offering the country's largest dental network with approximately 154,000 participating dentists. Over the last decade, Delta Dental companies provided over $1.75 billion in direct and in-kind support to improve the oral health of our communities across the country. Visit deltadental.com for information on individual dental insurance plans and group dental insurance plans.

OAK BROOK, Ill. — August 20, 2021 — This National Tooth Fairy Day, Delta Dental reminds families and caregivers of the role the Tooth Fairy can play in teaching children about oral health. While 72% of parents surveyed said they struggle with getting their child to brush their teeth, one in three parents agreed that Tooth Fairy visits are a positive way to instill good oral health habits in their children. In addition to helping create good oral health habits, Tooth Fairy visits are special, fun, and exciting. Nearly half of parents welcome the Tooth Fairy into their homes because they want to:    

• Give their child something to be excited about (53%) 
• Make their child feel special (46%)                                                                       
  
• Celebrate something fun (48%) 

“The Tooth Fairy tradition invites oral health conversations into households in an exciting and fun way, which is why Delta Dental continues to create materials centered on the Tooth Fairy for parents, families, and communities to educate children about the importance of good oral health,” said Emily O’Brien, Director of Strategic Communications, Delta Dental Plans Association.  

To learn more about Delta Dental’s Tooth Fairy resources for families and kids, please visit our Original Tooth Fairy Poll website. 

Tooth Fairy payouts reach all-time high 

New findings from Delta Dental’s Original Tooth Fairy Poll® show the Tooth Fairy's average cash gift reached its highest point in the 23-year history of the poll for a total of $4.70 per tooth.

Delta Dental has been analyzing the Tooth Fairy's U.S. annual giving trends since 1998. The newly disclosed value of a lost tooth has more than tripled since its inception when the value of a lost tooth was $1.30. 2020's giving marks the highest all-time average gift of $4.70 per tooth, four-cents higher than the previous peak in 2017 at $4.66.  

The value of lost tooth and the economy 

Delta Dental’s Original Tooth Fairy Poll® has typically mirrored the economy's overall direction, tracking with the trends of the Standard & Poor's 500 Index (S&P 500) for 16 of the past 19 years. In 2019, a single lost tooth was valued at $4.03, and the 2020 survey shows upward growth to $4.70, a 17% increase. Over the same time, the S&P 500 also experienced growth, with a 19% increase, reaching its highest average since its inception. 

Follow us on Twitter @DeltaDental and Facebook: Delta Dental Plans Association 

About the survey

The Original Tooth Fairy Poll was conducted between December 28, 2020, and January 8, 2021, among a nationally representative sample of 1,000+ parents of children ages 6-12. The margin of error is +/- 3%.

The January 2020 S&P 500 average was 3,159 and increased to an average of 3,750 for January 2021.

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

About Delta Dental Plans Association

Based in Oak Brook, Illinois, Delta Dental Plans Association is the not-for-profit national association of the 39 independent Delta Dental companies. Through these companies, Delta Dental is the nation's largest dental insurance provider, covering more than 80 million Americans and offering the country's largest dental network with approximately 153,000 participating dentists. Over the last decade, Delta Dental companies provided over $1.75 billion in direct and in-kind support to improve the oral health of our communities across the country. Visit deltadental.com for information on individual dental insurance plans and group dental insurance plans. 

OAK BROOK, Ill. — February 23, 2021 — Today, Delta Dental released new findings from its Original Tooth Fairy Poll® that show the Tooth Fairy's average cash gift reached its highest point in the 23-year history of the poll for a total of $4.70 per tooth.

"Having the Tooth Fairy visit to celebrate the loss of a tooth is a time-honored tradition, and 2020 was no exception," said Emily O’Brien, Director of Strategic Communications, Delta Dental Plans Association. "Many parents welcomed the Tooth Fairy into their homes last year as a way to teach their kids about the importance of oral health and embrace a bit of much needed light-hearted fun along the way."

Delta Dental has been analyzing the Tooth Fairy's U.S. annual giving trends since 1998. The newly disclosed value of a lost tooth has more than tripled since its inception when the value of a lost tooth was $1.30. 2020's historical giving is marked by the highest all-time average gift of $4.70 per tooth, four-cents higher than the previous peak in 2017 at $4.66.

The value of lost tooth and the economy

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) for 16 of the past 19 years. Last year, a single lost tooth was valued at $4.03, and this year's survey shows upward growth to $4.70, a 17% increase. Over the same time, the S&P 500 also experienced growth, with a 19% increase, reaching its highest average since the inception of the Original Tooth Fairy survey.

U.S. regional snapshot

• $5.72 – The Northeast: Leads U.S. regions in the highest average monetary gift for a lost tooth.
• $4.45 – The South: Tracks most closely to the overall U.S. average.
• $5.54 – The West: With a nearly two-dollar increase over 2019, the West moves from third average gift to second highest this year.
• $3.66 – The Midwest: Remains lower than the national average for the third year in a row.

About the survey

The Original Tooth Fairy Poll was conducted between December 28, 2020, and January 8, 2021, among a nationally representative sample of 1,000+ parents of children ages 6-12. The margin of error is +/- 3%.

The January 2020 S&P 500 average was 3,159 and increased to an average of 3,750 for January 2021.

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

About Delta Dental Plans Association

Delta Dental Plans Association, based in Oak Brook, Illinois, is the not-for-profit national association of the 39 independent Delta Dental companies. Through these companies, Delta Dental is the nation's largest dental insurance provider, covering more than 80 million Americans and offering the country's largest dental network with approximately 156,000 participating dentists. In 2019, Delta Dental companies provided $76 million in direct and in-kind community outreach support to improve the oral health of adults, children, and infants in local communities across the country. Visit deltadental.com for additional information on dental plans and more.

Delta Dental celebrates 22 years of tracking the Tooth Fairy’s U.S. annual giving in the Original Tooth Fairy Poll®

OAK BROOK, Ill. — August 20, 2020 — This National Tooth Fairy Day, Delta Dental reminds families of the role the Tooth Fairy can play in teaching children about oral health. While various state and local provisions regarding COVID-19 have changed summer plans, families can still celebrate a lost tooth and learn more about good oral health at home.

A new survey from Delta Dental reveals that 80% of households with children receive visits from the Tooth Fairy, and these visits are motivated by a desire to give children something to be excited about, according to more than half of caregivers polled. In addition, 45% of caregivers report that having the Tooth Fairy visit gives them a reason to celebrate and 42% said it makes their child feel special. 

Beyond celebrating a lost tooth, a visit from the Tooth Fairy instills good oral health habits in a positive way according to one third of respondents. Delta Dental has created a trove of oral health education materials centered on the Tooth Fairy. We encourage families to enjoy the resources, activities, and games together to learn more about oral health.                                                         

Tooth Fairy payouts increase

According to the Original Tooth Fairy Poll®, the Tooth Fairy’s average cash gift increased 30 cents for a lost tooth, for a total of $4.03 per tooth. 

Delta Dental has been analyzing the Tooth Fairy’s U.S. annual giving trends since 1998. The newly disclosed value of a lost tooth has more than tripled since its inception when the value of a lost tooth was $1.30, and now reaches its fourth highest payout in the history of the survey. 

The value of lost tooth and the economy

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) for 15 of the past 18 years. Last year, a single lost tooth was valued at $3.70 and this year’s survey shows upward growth to $4.03, an increase of nearly 9%. Over the same time period, the S&P 500 also experienced growth, with a 22% increase, reaching its highest average since the inception of the Original Tooth Fairy survey. 

“The Tooth Fairy is one of health care’s most powerful tools for teaching children about their oral health,” said Jennifer Elliott, Chief Marketing Officer, Delta Dental Plans Association. “By celebrating a lost tooth, children begin to learn the importance of their oral health in an engaging and fun way. At Delta Dental, we continue to provide tools for parents, families and communities to educate young Americans about the importance of their oral health and our 22nd year of this survey shows our dedication to keeping the Tooth Fairy an active part of oral health education.”

About the survey

The Original Tooth Fairy Poll was conducted between December 30, 2019, and January 11, 2020, among a nationally representative sample of 1,000 parents of children ages 6-12. The margin of error is +/- 3%.

The S&P 500 stood at 2,596 on January 11, 2019 and increased to an average of 3,159 for January 2020.

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

About Delta Dental Plans Association

Delta Dental Plans Association, based in Oak Brook, Illinois, is the not-for-profit national association of the 39 independent Delta Dental companies. Through these companies, Delta Dental is the nation’s largest provider of dental insurance, covering more than 80 million Americans, and offering the country’s largest dental network with approximately 156,000 participating dentists. In 2019, Delta Dental companies provided approximately $76 million in direct and in-kind community outreach support to improve the oral health of adults, children and infants in local communities across the country. For more information, visit: deltadental.com.

Follow us on Twitter @DeltaDental and Facebook: Delta Dental Plans Association

Delta Dental celebrates 22 years of tracking the Tooth Fairy’s U.S. annual giving

OAK BROOK, Ill. — February 20, 2020 — Today, Delta Dental released new findings from its Original Tooth Fairy Poll® that show a 30-cent increase in the Tooth Fairy’s average cash gift for a total of $4.03 per tooth.

“The Tooth Fairy is one of health care’s most powerful tools for teaching children about their oral health,” said Jennifer Elliott, Chief Marketing Officer, Delta Dental Plans Association. “By celebrating a lost tooth, children begin to learn the importance of their oral health in an engaging and fun way. At Delta Dental, we continue to provide tools for parents, families and communities to educate young Americans about the importance of their oral health and our 22^nd year of this survey shows our dedication to keeping the Tooth Fairy a vibrant and active part of oral health education.”

Delta Dental has been analyzing the Tooth Fairy’s U.S. annual giving trends since 1998. The newly disclosed value of a lost tooth has more than tripled since its inception when the value of a lost tooth was $1.30 as it reaches its fourth highest payout in the history of the survey.

The value of lost tooth and the economy

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) for 15 of the past 18 years. Last year, a single lost tooth was valued at $3.70 and this year’s survey shows upward growth to $4.03, an increase of nearly 9%. Over the same time period, the S&P 500 also experienced growth, with a 22% increase, reaching its highest average since the inception of the Original Tooth Fairy survey.

U.S. regional snapshot

• $4.35 – The Northeast: Leads U.S. regions in highest average monetary gift for a lost tooth, outranking The West, which led the previous two years in a row.
• $4.01 – The South: Tracks most closely to the overall U.S. average.
• $3.97 – The West: Decreased 22 cents, moving from highest regional average last year to third regional average this year.
• $3.71 – The Midwest: Increased 74 cents over last year but remains lower than the national average for the second year in a row.                                                               

About the survey

The Original Tooth Fairy Poll was conducted between December 30, 2019, and January 11, 2020, among a nationally representative sample of 1,000 parents of children ages 6-12. The margin of error is +/- 3%.

The S&P 500 stood at 2,596 on January 11, 2019 and increased to an average of 3,159 for January 2020.

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

About Delta Dental Plans Association

Delta Dental Plans Association, based in Oak Brook, Illinois, is the not-for-profit national association of the 39 independent Delta Dental companies. Through these companies, Delta Dental is the nation’s largest provider of dental insurance, covering more than 80 million Americans, and offering the country’s largest dental network with approximately 156,000 participating dentists. In 2018, Delta Dental companies provided approximately $79 million in direct and in-kind community outreach support to improve the oral health of adults, children and infants in local communities across the country. For more information, visit: deltadental.com.

Follow us on Twitter @DeltaDental and Facebook: Delta Dental Plans Association

Delta Dental celebrates 20+ years of tracking the Tooth Fairy's U.S. annual giving in the Original Tooth Fairy Poll®

OAK BROOK, Ill. — August 19, 2019 — Rewarding children for lost teeth is an age-old tradition ... and a little more complex of a job than the Tooth Fairy lets on. The Original Tooth Fairy Poll^®, sponsored by Delta Dental, indicates that several circumstances may determine the amount the Tooth Fairy gifts. The No. 1 guiding factor is how much spare cash the Tooth Fairy has on hand (46%).

So, what other key considerations may influence the Tooth Fairy's generosity?

• No. 2: Children's ages (31%) set the value of a lost tooth.


• No. 3: The Tooth Fairy remembers historical payouts and then determines comparable amounts to what children's parents received when they were young (29%).


• No. 4: Santa isn't the only one keeping a list! The Tooth Fairy is mindful of kids' recent behaviors indicates 1 in 5 parents (20%).


• No. 5: The Tooth Fairy is keeping a tally of lost teeth. How many teeth children have already lost (18%) is a top factor in deciding monetary rewards.

Tooth Fairy payouts slide for second year in a row

According to the Original Tooth Fairy Poll, the Tooth Fairy's average cash gift declined to $3.70 for a lost tooth, which is down by 43 cents from a year ago.

Not all parents say the Tooth Fairy is following the national average. In homes that the Tooth Fairy visits, close to 2 in 5 parents (37%) share that their children receive at least $5.00 or more. Also, a first lost tooth continues to impress. The Tooth Fairy appears to recognize that this is a monumental tooth as indicated by kids' receiving an average gift of $4.96, representing $1.26 above the $3.70 average for subsequent lost teeth.

Delta Dental has been gauging the Tooth Fairy's U.S. annual giving trends for more than two decades. The disclosed value of a lost tooth may be slipping but is significantly greater than the 1998 national average of $1.30, which equates to about $2.00 today with inflation.

Value of lost tooth and economy

The Original Tooth Fairy Poll has typically served as a good indicator of the economy's overall direction, tracking with the movement of Standard & Poor's 500 Index (S&P 500) for 14 of the past 17 years. A year ago, a single lost tooth was valued at $4.13 and dropped to $3.70 in this year's survey, down 10%. Over the same time period, the S&P 500 also saw a decline and decreased by 3%.

"Most parents say that the Tooth Fairy is bringing excitement and joy to their children, with more than one-third of caregivers sharing that the Tooth Fairy instills good oral health habits," said Jennifer Elliott, chief marketing officer for Delta Dental Plans Association. "With the Tooth Fairy tradition, oral health conversations are being regularly initiated in households across America with a spark of fun."

About the survey

The Original Tooth Fairy Poll was conducted between December 31, 2018, and January 13, 2019, among a nationally representative sample of 1,058 parents of children ages 6-12. The margin of error is +/- 3%.

The S&P 500 stood at 2,687 on December 28, 2017, and decreased to 2,596 by January 11, 2019, down 3%.

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

Follow us on Twitter @DeltaDental and Facebook: Delta Dental Plans Association

About Delta Dental Plans Association

Delta Dental Plans Association, based in Oak Brook, Illinois, is the not-for-profit national association of the 39 independent Delta Dental companies. Through these companies, Delta Dental is the nation's largest provider of dental insurance, covering more than 80 million Americans, and offering the country's largest dental network with approximately 156,000 participating dentists. In 2017, Delta Dental companies provided more than $61 million in direct and in-kind community outreach support to improve the oral health of adults, children and infants in local communities across the country. For more information, visit: deltadental.com.

Delta Dental celebrates 20+ years of tracking the Tooth Fairy’s U.S. annual giving 

OAK BROOK, Ill. — February 21, 2019 — Parents, do not be surprised if a savvy kid holds on to a lost tooth until market conditions improve. The Tooth Fairy’s purse strings appear to be tighter than a year ago with the average monetary payout down by 43 cents. According to the just-released Original Tooth Fairy Poll®, sponsored by Delta Dental, the Tooth Fairy’s average cash gift declined to $3.70 for a lost tooth.

Not all parents say the Tooth Fairy is following the national average. In homes that the Tooth Fairy visits, close to 2 in 5 parents (37 percent) share they give their child at least $5.00 or more. Also, a first lost tooth continues to impress. Parents recognize this monumental tooth with an average of $4.96, representing $1.26 above the $3.70 average for subsequent teeth lost.

Delta Dental has been gauging the Tooth Fairy’s U.S. annual giving trends for more than two decades. The newly disclosed value of a lost tooth may be slipping but is significantly greater than the 1998 national average of $1.30, which equates to about $2.00 today with inflation.

Value of lost tooth and economy

The Original Tooth Fairy Poll has typically served as a good indicator of the economy’s overall direction, tracking with the movement of Standard & Poor’s 500 Index (S&P 500) for 14 of the past 17 years. A year ago, a single lost tooth was valued at $4.13 and dropped to $3.70 in this year’s survey, down 10 percent. Over the same time period, the S&P 500 also saw a decline and decreased by 3 percent.                                                                                           

U.S. regional snapshot

The Northeast region ($3.75) appears closest aligned with the national average ($3.70) for the Tooth Fairy’s tracked gift giving. Delta Dental’s latest annual poll identifies a $1.28 difference between the highest U.S. regional average to the lowest. The Tooth Fairy’s stingy streak looks to transcend all regions, with each experiencing a decline in the average payout amount. Additional regional highlights include:

• $4.19 — The West: Continues to lead U.S. regions in highest average monetary gifts for a lost tooth but dropped 66 cents compared to a year ago ($4.85)
• $3.91 — The South: Replaces the Northeast for second-highest regional average but slid by 21 cents when looking back a year ($4.12)
• $3.75 — The Northeast: Closely follows the South in average Tooth Fairy payout but tumbled 60 cents from the previous poll ($4.35)
• $2.97 — The Midwest: Represents an average of 73 cents less than the national average (3.70) and 47 cents lower than a year ago ($3.44)

Other stats from homes visited by the Tooth Fairy

• Joy: The Tooth Fairy gives kids something to be excited about, according to more than half of parents (56 percent).
• Bedtime: Children go to bed early when leaving out a tooth say 30 percent of parents.
• Savers: Children choose to save their Tooth Fairy earnings say nearly half of parents (48 percent).
• Oral health: More than one-third of parents (34 percent) believe the Tooth Fairy instills good oral health habits.

“While our Original Tooth Fairy Poll is rooted in fun, it is also interesting to see how parents are using visits from the Tooth Fairy as a learning tool in their home,” said Jennifer Elliott, chief marketing officer for Delta Dental Plans Association. “Parents share that the Tooth Fairy is delivering so much more than a tangible gift for a lost tooth, such as teaching our next generation about proper oral health habits and personal financial responsibility in a memorable way.”                                                             

About the survey

The Original Tooth Fairy Poll was conducted between December 31, 2018, and January 13, 2019, among a nationally representative sample of 1,058 parents of children ages 6-12. The margin of error is +/- 3 percent.

The S&P 500 stood at 2,687 on December 28, 2017, and decreased to 2,596 by January 11, 2019, down 3 percent.

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

Average under-the-pillow gifts take a dip by 11%

OAK BROOK, Ill. — February 26, 2018 — Looks like the Tooth Fairy tightened her money bag after an all-time high payout in 2016. According to the Original Tooth Fairy Poll®, sponsored by Delta Dental, the Tooth Fairy's cash gifts dropped to an average of $4.13.

The Original Tooth Fairy Poll has typically served as a good indicator of the economy's overall direction, tracking with the movement of Standard & Poor's 500 index (S&P 500) for 12 of the past 14 years. The December 2017 poll shows the Tooth Fairy hasn't quite been able to keep up with the market's hot pace—with an 11 percent cash payout decrease from 2016, while the S&P 500 saw a total return in 2017 of almost 18 percent.

Even though the average price of a tooth dropped, the Tooth Fairy still paid out a healthy $271 million for lost teeth across the nation. Those looking under their pillow for their first lost-tooth payout took far less of a hit, receiving an average $5.70 per tooth, only a minor drop from 2016 which saw a $5.72 payout.

"No matter how generous the Tooth Fairy decides to be, a visit from the Tooth Fairy is a great way to teach children good oral health habits at an early age," said Jennifer Elliott, chief marketing officer for Delta Dental Plans Association. "What better time to reinforce oral health messages than during the anticipation of a visit from the Tooth Fairy?"

Other Tooth Fairy stats:

Regional statistics:

About the Survey: The Original Tooth Fairy Poll was conducted between December 13 and December 28, 2017 among a nationally representative sample of 1,007 parents of children ages 6-12. The margin of error is +/- 3.1 percent.

Average monetary payouts soar by nearly 20% — marking all-time high

OAK BROOK, Ill. — February 23, 2017 — An unlikely but accurate economic indicator, Tooth Fairy payouts are soaring, posting record gains in 2016 and early 2017. According to the Original Tooth Fairy Poll®, sponsored by Delta Dental, the Tooth Fairy's cash payouts have jumped to an all-time high over the past year, up to an average of $4.66 compared to $3.91 in 2015.

That could spell even better things to come for the economy. The Original Tooth Fairy Poll has typically served as a good indicator of the economy's overall direction, tracking with the movement of Standard & Poor's 500 index (S&P 500) for 12 of the past 13 years. This year's poll shows Tooth Fairy payouts are nearly right on target—within a few percentage points—with a 19.18 percent increase in cash payouts amount as the S&P 500 saw an increase of 19.61 percent compared to the same time last year.

In 2016, the Tooth Fairy paid an estimated $290.6 million for lost teeth, up 13.5 percent from the prior year. Cash payouts for a child's first lost tooth, typically higher than average, are also up nearly 10 percent at $5.72.

"In addition to the excitement a visit from the Tooth Fairy brings, she also delivers lessons in finance and good oral health," said Jennifer Elliott, vice president of marketing for Delta Dental Plans Association. "Having conversations with children about good oral health habits, from an early age, can help establish strong habits for a lifetime, and the Tooth Fairy can be a great way to help spark those conversations."

According to the poll, the Tooth Fairy visits 85 percent of the nation's households with children; and in 89 percent of those homes, leaves money. But, 56 percent of parents say the Tooth Fairy can be a little forgetful, neglecting to pick up the tooth on the first night.

By region, Tooth Fairy payouts are highest in the West: $5.96 ($6.89 for the first tooth); followed by the Northeast at $5.08 ($6.31); the South at $4.57 ($4.88); and the Midwest at $4.04 ($5.70).

An even split of children save (48 percent) and spend (48 percent) Tooth Fairy cash; however, 3 percent actually donate the money, and a savvy one percent even loan the cash out.

In addition to money, the Tooth Fairy often leaves gifts that strengthen children's oral health habits, leaving toothbrushes (38 percent), dental floss (21 percent) and toothpaste (22 percent).

About the Survey: The Original Tooth Fairy Poll was conducted between January 24th and January 31st, 2017 among a nationally representative sample of 1,588 parents of children ages 6-12. The margin of error is +/- 2.5 percent.

Average monetary gifts sink by 10.32%

OAK BROOK, Ill. — February 24, 2016 — Amidst tumultuous times on Wall Street, Tooth Fairy giving has taken a nosedive. According to the Original Tooth Fairy Poll® sponsored by Delta Dental, the Tooth Fairy's cash gifts have dipped to $3.91, down 10.32% compared to $4.36 in 2014.

The Original Tooth Fairy Poll has typically served as a good indicator of the economy's overall direction, tracking with the movement of Standard & Poor's 500 index (S&P 500) for 11 of the past 12 years. This year, however, the Tooth Fairy must have been using predictive analytics as the market continues to take losses beyond the 8.2% drop during the time the survey was conducted compared to 2014.

In 2015, the Tooth Fairy gave a total of $256 million for lost teeth, up just .6% from the prior year in spite of 5% more parents saying she left money for their children this year. Cash gifts for a child's first lost tooth, typically higher than average, are also down by 9.23%.

"The Tooth Fairy can deliver a powerful lesson about finances from an early age and be a great way to make losing teeth less scary for kids," said Jennifer Elliott, vice president of marketing for Delta Dental Plans Association. "Discussing the importance of good oral health habits with children is crucial, even before the loss of the first tooth, introducing the Tooth Fairy can be a great way to start those conversations."

Delta Dental found the Tooth Fairy visits 86% of homes with children in the nation; in 93% of those homes she gives money. As it turns out, the Tooth Fairy may also factor in the cost of living, varying the rate per region: Northeasterners ($5.27), Westerners ($4.25), Southerners ($3.63), and Midwesterners ($3.11).

The Tooth Fairy can be absent-minded too, forgetting to pick up a tooth in more than a third (35%) of homes at least once. And region matters - the Tooth Fairy is more likely to forget a tooth pick up in the Midwest (46%) than in the West (36%), South (34%) or Northeast (23%).

Some other findings from the survey:

76% of the time, moms are the parents enlisted to help the Tooth Fairy, up from 61% a year ago.

The Tooth Fairy is most likely to visit homes between 10 pm and midnight (68% of the time).

Oral health related gifts from the Tooth Fairy are on the rise: toothbrushes (40%, up from 33%), toothpaste (33%, up from 27%) and floss (27%, up from 14%).

"We're glad to see that, in addition to money, the Tooth Fairy is leaving gifts that help drive home the critical importance of good oral health from the youngest of ages," added Elliott.

About the Survey: The Children's Tooth Fairy Survey was conducted between December 16th, 2015 and January 14th, 2016 among a nationally representative sample of 1,307 parents of children ages 6-12. The margin of error is +/- 2.7 percent.

Like S&P 500, average gift posts double-digit gains for third consecutive year

OAK BROOK, Ill. — February 24, 2015 — Kids are benefiting from the recovering U.S. economy, with the average gift from the Tooth Fairy reaching a new high of $4.36 last year, up from $3.50 in 2013, according to Delta Dental's The Original Tooth Fairy Poll®. In 2014, the Tooth Fairy left a staggering $255 million for lost teeth based on Delta Dental estimates.

The Original Tooth Fairy Poll has generally been a good indicator of the economy's overall direction. In fact, the trend in Tooth Fairy giving has tracked with the movement of the Standard & Poor's 500 index (S&P 500) in 11 of the past 12 years. In 2014, both the average Tooth Fairy gift and the S&P 500 posted double-digit gains for the third year in a row, with 24.6 percent and 11.4 percent increases respectively.

"As leaders in the dental benefits industry, we keep our eye on all kinds of economic indicators, and the Tooth Fairy's record giving tracks with big gains in the major stock indexes in 2014." said Jennifer Elliott, vice president of marketing at Delta Dental Plans Association.

The Tooth Fairy Leaves More than Money

Delta Dental's survey found that in 88 percent of the homes she visited, the Tooth Fairy left cash for kids, either by itself or in combination with other gifts. Kids who got a gift in addition to or instead of cash most often received a toy, game, toothbrush, toothpaste, book, doll, stuffed animal or dental floss.

Other findings from The Original Tooth Fairy Poll, which surveyed more than 1,000 parents nationwide, include:

Encouraging healthy habits

The Original Tooth Fairy Poll helps promote good dental hygiene habits that encourage healthy smiles across America. "We're happy that, in addition to money, the Tooth Fairy is leaving gifts that help get kids excited to brush and floss their teeth. Delta Dental also encourages parents to introduce the Tooth Fairy as a way to discuss the importance of good oral health habits even before a child loses the first tooth," Elliott said.

For more information about The Original Tooth Fairy Poll, visit originaltoothfairypoll.com.

1 Kelton, a leading global insights firm, conducted The Original Tooth Fairy Poll® on behalf of Delta Dental with 1,003 parents of children ages 6 to 12 across the United States.