Tooth Fairy Celebrates 25^th Anniversary of Annual Poll with Record Payout and Special Crafts

Does the Tooth Fairy come to your house? If yes, expect a record payout for your kiddos’ gap-toothed smiles in 2023.

The average value of a single lost tooth during the past year rose 16% from $5.36 to $6.23, the highest cash gift ever in 25 years.

Average Value of a Lost Tooth Per Region

Kids here in the South make the most bucks with $6.59 per lost baby tooth, an increase of 14% compared to last year.

Children out west saw the biggest jump of 53%, collecting an average of $6.25 for each lost pearly white.

In the Northeast, the value dropped to $6.14, more than a dollar compared to the previous year when the region led with $7.36, less than the national average.

Trailing the national average was the Midwest with $5.63, even though its 2023 value was 32% higher than last year.

 

Are you keeping up at your house?

What’s Up With the Tooth Fairy Pay Increase?

You could blame the surge on our inflationary times.

But there may be a happier reason: The Tooth Fairy is celebrating the 25^th Anniversary of the Original Tooth Fairy Poll®. And we all like to go big on milestones.

To mark the occasion, the Tooth Fairy has not only upped her average cash gift but also designed special-edition photo frames and door hangers for all the children who lose their baby teeth. You’ll find the entire collection below.

It’s free to download and print. Enjoy.

But let’s explore the Original Tooth Fairy Poll first.

What’s the Original Tooth Fairy Poll?

The Original Tooth Fairy Poll was launched by the Delta Dental Plan Association in 1998 as a fun way to gauge the fairy’s generosity from year to year. The poll tracks the Tooth Fairy’s average giving and compares it to the Standard & Poor 500 Index. This Tooth Fairy Index^TM relates the value of a lost tooth to the U.S. economy.

Comparing the Value of a Lost tooth to the U.S. Economy

Here is an interesting observation for 2023:

Historically, the Tooth Fairy Index has mirrored the economy’s overall direction, tracking with the S&P 500 over the years. However, in 2023, the value of a lost tooth increased by 16%, while the S&P experienced an 11% decline during the same period.

If the upward trend continues, do you think the Tooth Fairy might want to invest in a bigger purse?

The Tooth Fairy Helps Teach Your Children About Oral Health

About 1,000 parents of children ages 6 to 12 participate in the Tooth Fairy Poll over 2 weeks each January.

The findings are helpful for parents, educators and dentists to discuss and promote good oral health care with their children, students and young patients.

For example,

• What does the Tooth Fairy do with all those teeth she collects? 
• Why does the Tooth Fairy prefer healthy teeth?
• How should you and your young child care for baby teeth, so they remain healthy until the Tooth Fairy collects them?
• Why are baby teeth important for permanent teeth?

Do you talk to your children about the Tooth Fairy?

Craft Your Own Tooth Fairy Photo Frames and Door Hangers

The Tooth Fairy has designed special-edition door hangers and photo frames in honor of the Original Tooth Fairy Poll’s 25^th Anniversary.

Download, size and print them, glue them onto craft or cardboard paper and display them in your child’s bedroom. The Tooth Fairy will be thrilled when she stops by to collect a lost tooth next time.

Dental Insurance is the Tooth Fairy’s Best Friend

We can all use a good friend, and the Tooth Fairy is no exception. While she works hard to help teach your children about the importance of daily brushing and flossing and avoiding too much sugar, she doesn’t handle professional cleanings and oral exams. So she partners with Delta Dental of Arkansas to ensure Arkansans can access competitive dental insurance rates and the state’s largest network of dentists.

Check out our various plan options for individual, family and group insurance for small, mid-size and large organizations.