The Tooth Fairy is on a budget
Average value of a lost tooth in the Northeast drops below $5.00 for the first time since 2020
Boston — Feb. 27, 2025 — Even the Tooth Fairy is sticking to a budget. New findings from the Delta Dental 2025 Original Tooth Fairy Poll® revealed the average value of a single lost tooth in the Northeast fell 33% dropping below $5.00 for the first time in five years. February marks Children’s Dental Health Month and February 28 is National Tooth Fairy Day.
Nationally, the average cost of a lost tooth declined by 14% from $5.84 to $5.01. This marks one of the most significant year-over-year declines in Tooth Fairy giving since the poll’s inception. While 1 in 3 parents (33%) still say the Tooth Fairy spends more on their child’s first tooth, the average value of this milestone has dropped 12% from $7.09 to $6.24 over the past year.
“While you can’t put a price on children’s dental health, the celebration of the Tooth Fairy is an important milestone in encouraging children to develop lifelong oral hygiene habits,” said Dr. Linda Vidone, DMD, VP Clinical Management at Delta Dental of Massachusetts. “We know that oral health is directly linked to overall health and wellness, so emphasizing healthy habits and preventive dental care at an early age, including regular dental visits, is critical.”
Oral health tips for babies and children can be found here.
Despite the decline in monetary giving, since the poll’s inception in 1998, the average cash gift left by the Tooth Fairy has increased 285% from $1.30 to $5.01 per tooth.
U.S. regional ranking for the average value of a lost tooth
- Northeast ($4.59): Dropped by 33% and fell below $5.00 per tooth for the first time since 2020.
- South ($5.71): Overtook the West by a mere two cents to lead the U.S., and the only region to experience a year-over-year increase, up from $5.51 in 2024.
- West ($5.69): Despite surpassing the national average, the region experienced a significant 33% drop for a lost tooth, returning close to its 2021 average of $5.54.
- Midwest ($3.46): Continued to significantly trail the national average for a second consecutive year at under $4.00 per tooth.
The value of a lost tooth and the economy
Historically, the Original Tooth Fairy Poll® has typically mirrored the economy's overall direction, tracking with the trends of Standard & Poor's 500 Index (S&P 500). However, since 2023, the value of a lost tooth has gone in a different direction. Over the past year, the average value of a single lost tooth decreased 14%, while the S&P 500 experienced a 26% increase during the same period.
About the poll
The Original Tooth Fairy Poll® was conducted between Jan. 10, 2025 and Jan. 23, 2025, among 1,000 parents of children ages 6 to 12. The margin of error is +/- 3%.
The January 2024 S&P 500 average was 4,746 and increased to an average of 5,960 for January 2025, consistent with the timing of the Original Tooth Fairy Poll®.
For more information about the Delta Dental-sponsored survey and oral health tips for infants to pre-teen, visit the Original Tooth Fairy Poll®.
About Delta Dental of Massachusetts Delta Dental of Massachusetts (www.deltadentalma.com), the largest provider of dental benefits in the state, is a leader in innovative programs that improve the overall health of members, prevent oral disease and reduce health care costs for employers, groups and individuals. Headquartered in Charlestown, MA, Delta Dental of Massachusetts, a member of the Delta Dental Plans Association (www.deltadental.com), covers more than 2 million people. Follow us on Twitter (@DeltaDentalofMA), Facebook (www.facebook.com/DeltaDentalMA), and Instagram (@deltadentalofma).
About Delta Dental Plans Association
Based in Chicago, Illinois, Delta Dental Plans Association is the not-for-profit national association of the 39 independent Delta Dental companies. Through these companies, Delta Dental is the nation's largest dental benefits provider, covering more than 89 million Americans and offering the country's largest dental network with approximately 152,000 participating dentists. Over the last decade, Delta Dental companies and their
foundations invested over $1.9 billion to improve the oral and overall health of our communities.
Visit deltadental.com for information on individual dental insurance plans and group dental insurance plans.