Tooth Fairy Giving Reaches an All-time High

GLENDALE, Ariz. (February 23, 2021) — Got a fiver for that tooth? According to a new survey¹ from Delta Dental of Arizona, the Tooth Fairy does! Findings from Delta Dental’s Original Tooth Fairy Poll® show that 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. Here in the West, the Tooth Fairy upped her giving by nearly $2 over the last 12 months, leaving an average of $5.54 for a lost tooth.

“Clearly the Western states, like Arizona, are a great place to live if you’re a kid with a wiggly tooth,” said Tiffany Di Giacinto, director of marketing and communications at Delta Dental of Arizona. “Having the Tooth Fairy visit to celebrate the loss of a tooth is a time-honored tradition, and 2020 was no exception. 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 some much-needed, light-hearted fun along the way.”

The average value of a lost tooth has more than tripled since Delta Dental began analyzing the Tooth Fairy’s annual giving trends in 1998, when the value of a lost tooth was $1.30. The current value of a lost tooth—$4.70—is the highest payout in the history of the survey, four-cents higher than the previous peak in 2017 at $4.66.

The Original Tooth Fairy Poll typically mirrors the economy’s overall direction, tracking with the movement of Standard & Poor’s 500 Index (S&P 500) for 16 of the past 19 years. Over the last year, the average Tooth Fairy payout increased 17%, from $4.03 to $4.70. Over the same time period, the S&P 500 also experienced growth, with a 19% increase², reaching its highest average since the inception of the Original Tooth Fairy Poll. 

Other Tooth Fairy stats:

• The Tooth Fairy visits 78% of the nation’s homes with children ages 6-12.
• Around half of parents welcome the Tooth Fairy into their homes to give their child something to be excited about (53%) and to celebrate something fun (48%).
• Almost half of children (49%) are receiving at least $5 for each tooth they lose.
• The value of a first tooth is $5.87 on average—over a dollar more than what a typical tooth receives.
• Over one in four parents (28%) say the Tooth Fairy was one of their child’s favorite surprises during the pandemic.

For tips on talking to your child about good oral health habits or for ideas on making the first Tooth Fairy visit extra-special, visit the Delta Dental of Arizona Blog at www.deltadentalazblog.com. 

About Delta Dental of Arizona
Delta Dental of Arizona is the leading dental benefits provider in Arizona, serving more than 1.2 million enrollees and more than 3,500 contracted dentists across the state. Passionate about oral health and its importance to generations of families, Delta Dental of Arizona has worked for nearly 50 years to improve oral health by emphasizing preventive care and making dental coverage accessible to a wide variety of employers, groups and individuals. Since 2010, Delta Dental of Arizona, through its Foundation, gave $12 million to support oral health education and disease prevention programs for underserved and uninsured communities across the state. For more information about Delta Dental of Arizona, visit www.deltadentalaz.com.