Happy National Tooth Fairy Day! Get out the glitter and find your favorite pair of fairy wings – August 22 is National Tooth Fairy Day! Delta Dental takes this little lady and her business very seriously – so seriously, in fact, that we conduct an annual poll of more than 1,000 caregivers to monitor her spending habits over the past year. Here’s what we found in 2014: The Tooth Fairy increased the average amount she left under pillows by a whopping 86 cents. In 2013, she left just $3.50 per child. Last year, she upped that to $4.36. She tends to leave even more for the first tooth lost – $5.74, a 27 percent increase from 2013. The Tooth Fairy doesn’t always leave cash. Twelve percent of homes she visited reported receiving toys, games, toothbrushes, books, dental floss or stuffed animals instead. Southern kids fared the best, receiving $5.16 per tooth, while children in the Midwest found an average of just $2.83 under their pillows. Kids in the West and Northwest landed somewhere in the middle, getting $4.68 and $4.16, respectively. If your child lost a tooth, there’s a good chance the Tooth Fairy visited your home: She dropped by 81 percent of U.S. homes with children who lost a tooth. In 32 percent of homes visited, dad “assisted” the Tooth Fairy with her rounds. Whether the Tooth Fairy leaves a chunk of change or a new toothbrush at your house, her magical visit is a great opportunity to talk to your kids about the importance of good oral health care. Consider having the Tooth Fairy leave a personal note of encouragement for your child, letting him or her know that she appreciates when kids floss every day or have good brushing skills. A little praise goes a long way toward making children feel proud of their good habits and healthy smiles! For more helpful tips and fun activities from the Tooth Fairy, visit OriginalToothFairyPoll.com.