Even The Tooth Fairy Can’t Escape Inflation

Delta Dental Original Tooth Fairy Poll Finds Value of Single Lost Tooth Increased 16%

PARSIPPANY, NJ – February 23, 2023 – According to a new report circulated by Delta Dental of New Jersey and Connecticut, the average value of a single lost tooth during the past year increased 16% from $5.36 to $6.23. The new value, reported in the Delta Dental 2023 Original Tooth Fairy Poll^®, not only has children beaming with gap-toothed smiles but also represents 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. 

"Delta Dental has been analyzing the Tooth Fairy's U.S. annual giving trends for a quarter century, highlighting the role good oral health care habits play in children’s overall health and wellness," stated Dennis G. Wilson, President and CEO of Delta Dental of New Jersey & Connecticut. "It’s encouraging to see that parents continue this time-honored tradition, which is a fun way to teach children about the importance of maintaining a healthy smile. Of course, given the trends determined by this study, children may be learning about some financial benefits as well.”

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, while the average value of a single lost tooth increased 16% over the past year, the S&P 500 experienced an 11% decline during the same period.

U.S. regional ranking for the average value of a lost tooth

1. South ($6.59): Led U.S. regions with the highest monetary gift for a lost tooth, marking a 14% increase since last year's results.
2. West ($6.25): Increased 53%, despite being only two cents higher than the national average.
3. Northeast ($6.14): Dropped below the national average, after leading last year with $7.36 for a lost tooth.
4. Midwest ($5.63): While still trailing the national average, it went up $1.36 (32%).

About the survey
The Original Tooth Fairy Poll® was conducted between Jan. 6, 2023 and Jan. 19, 2023, among 1,000 parents of children ages 6 to 12. The margin of error is +/- 3%. The January 2022 S&P 500 average was 4,410 and decreased to an average of 3,942 for January 2023, consistent with the timing of the Original Tooth Fairy Poll®.

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About Delta Dental
Delta Dental of New Jersey, Inc. is New Jersey's leading dental benefits company, providing or administering coverage to more than 1.9 million people through contracts with groups and individuals in New Jersey and Connecticut. In Connecticut, Delta Dental of Connecticut, Inc. is a licensed insurer that writes dental and vision coverage on an insured basis, and Delta Dental of New Jersey administers self-funded dental benefit programs.

Offering dental benefits since 1969, Delta Dental of New Jersey's mission is to promote oral health to the greatest number of people by providing accessible dental benefit programs of the highest quality, service, and value. We are a not-for-profit service corporation and, as a member of Delta Dental Plans Association, we're part of a network that provides national dental coverage to more than 85 million people. For more information, visit DeltaDentalNJ.com.