Average Tooth Fairy Gift Surpasses $4 in 2014 

Kids received $255 million for lost teeth 
 

Glendale, Ariz. - February 23, 2015 - The days of getting a quarter for a lost baby tooth are long gone. The average gift from the Tooth Fairy reached a new high of $4.36 last year, up 86 cents from $3.50 in 2013, according to the The Original Tooth Fairy Poll® sponsored by Delta Dental.¹ In 2014, the Tooth Fairy left a staggering $255 million for lost teeth based on Delta Dental estimates. 

According to the poll, the Tooth Fairy was even more generous with first-time tooth losers, leaving more money for the first tooth in 40 percent of homes. On average, the amount given for the first tooth was $5.74, a 27 percent increase from 2013. 

“Tooth Fairy visits are an exciting event in a child’s life. Children start losing baby tooth around age 6, but parents can start instilling great dental hygiene habits as soon as the first tooth comes in,” said Sandi Perez, Ph.D., Delta Dental of Arizona’s vice president of communications and community benefit. 

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: 

• Nearly two in three parents (64 percent) of 6- to 12-year-olds report their children believe in the Tooth Fairy. That is about the same amount (66 percent) as those who say their kids believe in Santa Claus.
• The Tooth Fairy has forgotten to visit nearly one in three homes (32 percent) at some point in the past. 

“It can be hard for young kids to understand the importance of oral health, but the Tooth Fairy is doing a great job of helping them get more excited about taking care of their teeth by leaving gifts that promote brushing and flossing,” Perez said. 

For more information about The Original Tooth Fairy Poll and ways to make your child’s Tooth Fairy experience extra special, visit www.theoriginaltoothfairypoll.com. 

About Delta Dental of Arizona 
Delta Dental of Arizona is the leading dental benefits provider in Arizona, serving more than 917,000 enrollees and more than 3,200 contracted dentists across the state. Passionate about oral health and its importance to generations of families, Delta Dental of Arizona has worked for more than 40 years to improve oral health by emphasizing preventive care and making dental coverage accessible to a wide variety of employers, groups and individuals. For more information about Delta Dental of Arizona, visit www.deltadentalaz.com.