Times are tough, even for kids.
What they’re receiving for each tooth they’re putting under their pillows has fallen 14% to $5.01 from $5.84 last year, marking one of the most significant year-over-year declines in Tooth Fairy giving since Delta Dental began its annual “Original Tooth Fairy Poll” 27 years ago.
The Tooth Fairy is also scaling back on additional gifts. Only 1 in 6 children (16%) receive both money and “something else,” down from 21% in 2024.
Kids may not be happy about the drop in how much money they’re getting for each tooth, but their parents still believe the Tooth Fairy helps educate their children about the value of money. The Tooth Fairy’s thriftiness these days shows “even the Tooth Fairy sticks to a budget,” Delta Dental said in a release.
Besides, kids should take heart that the trend for the value of a tooth has generally been up. 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.
Are all teeth created equally?
The first lost tooth is typically the most valuable, the survey of 1,000 parents of children ages 6 to 12 in January showed. One-third of parents say the Tooth Fairy spends more on their child’s first tooth.
However, the Tooth Fairy’s also cut back here, with the average value dropping 12% to $6.24 from $7.09 over the past year.
How busy is the Tooth Fairy?
The Tooth Fairy is busier than ever. She’s visited more than 8 in 10 homes (83%) across the country, up from 78% in 2024.
That’s great news for kids even if their haul per tooth has shrunk, Delta Dental said. Nearly one-quarter of children (23%) consider the Tooth Fairy’s visit one of their favorite surprises of the year, the poll said.
“We’re pleased to see the Tooth Fairy’s wings have been in overdrive this year, as each visit is (also) an opportunity to spark conversations with children about strong oral health care practices,” said Gabriella Ferroni, senior director, strategic communications, for the Delta Dental Plans Association.
Does a drop in tooth value signal bad economic times?
Historically, the Original Tooth Fairy Poll has mirrored the economy’s overall direction, tracking with the trends of the broad Standard & Poor’s 500 Index, Delta Dental said.
However, since 2023, the two have diverged. Over the past year, the average value of a single lost tooth decreased 14%, while the S&P 500 rose 26% during the same period, Delta Dental said.
Do kids everywhere get the same amount per tooth?
Where kids live can make a big difference in how much they get for their teeth, the poll showed.
Southern kids rake it in, receiving $5.71 per tooth, up from $5.51 in 2024, to take the most lucrative spot this year from the West. It was the only region that saw a year-over-year increase.
The West dropped to second place, paying out an average of $5.69 per tooth. That’s 33% lower than 2024 and pushes the region close to its 2021 average of $5.54.
The value of Northeasterners’ teeth also fell 33% to $4.59 each and to below $5.00 per tooth for the first time since 2020.
The Midwest continued to significantly trail the national average for a second consecutive year at under $4 per tooth. Kids in this region are receiving $3.46 per tooth.
Medora Lee is a money, markets, and personal finance reporter at USA TODAY. You can reach her at mjlee@usatoday.com and subscribe to our free Daily Money newsletter for personal finance tips and business news every Monday through Friday morning.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kids face tough times, too, as Tooth Fairy goes on a budget.
