Delta Dental poll finds Tooth Fairy welcomed into most U.S. homes

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

BOSTON — Aug. 22, 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.
 
"Every child looks forward to a visit from the Tooth Fairy, a great role model for creating lasting oral hygiene habits," said Dr. Linda Vidone, Vice President Clinical Management at Delta Dental of Massachusetts. "This year's poll shows just how valuable a healthy smile is. We hope that this tradition encourages parents to remind their children to keep their teeth healthy for each and every visit from the Tooth Fairy."
 
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.

• 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.