The Tooth Fairy has been working overtime this year

Further, approximately one-third of parents say that welcoming the Tooth Fairy into their home fosters their child's imagination or sense of wonder (35 percent), and the visit was the perfect way to spread joy (30 perfect).

"We're pleased to see the Tooth Fairy's wings have been in overdrive this year, as each visit is an opportunity to spark conversations with children about strong oral health care practices," said Gabriella Ferroni, senior director, strategic communications, Delta Dental Plans Association. "Since 1998, Delta Dental has tracked Tooth Fairy giving as a timely reminder for families that good oral health is an essential part of a child's overall well-being."

Additional key findings from the 2025 poll include:

• The Tooth Fairy instills an array of positive habits. Almost one in three parents (30 percent) believe the Tooth Fairy is a positive way to instill good oral health habits. Nearly one in five (19 percent) say the Tooth Fairy helps educate their children about the value of money.
• The Tooth Fairy is on a budget. The average value of a single lost tooth during the past year declined by 14 percent from $5.84 to $5.01 — marking one of the most significant year-over-year declines in Tooth Fairy giving since the poll's inception. Further, the Tooth Fairy is scaling back on additional gifts, with just one in six children (16 percent) receiving both money and something else compared to 21 percent in 2024.

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. 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 percent, while the S&P 500 experienced a 26 percent 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 percent.

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 at www.deltadental.com/us/en/tooth-fairy.html.

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