Delta Dental conducts the Original Tooth Fairy Poll each year, to analyze the Tooth Fairy’s U.S. annual giving trends. In 2022 they found that the Tooth Fairy visited 79% of homes across the country with children ages 6-12 who have lost teeth. The poll, which started tracking the data in 1998, is conducted nationally from a sample of more than 1,000 parents of children ages 6-12.
Some of interesting facts learned from this year’s poll are:
- A majority of the children polled were patient, with 61% allowing the loose tooth to fall out naturally, as opposed to the 18% that just couldn’t wait, and pulled it out themselves.
- The average “payment” per tooth this year went up to an average of $5.36 per tooth, an all-time high since the poll began 24 years ago, when the value of a single tooth was a mere $1.30.
- 80% of the time, the Tooth Fairy leaves just money, while sometimes leaving other gifts as well.
- More than half of the parents that participated in the poll agreed that the Tooth Fairy gives something for their child to look forward to, and to be excited about.
- One in three parents agreed that the Tooth Fairy tradition is a good way to encourage good oral health habits in their child.
To make your child’s Tooth Fairy experience extra special, and to access resources for families and kids, and oral health tips for infants to pre-teen, visit the Original Tooth Fairy Poll. And for a fun activity for your small child, feel free to click and download / print this Tooth Fairy Activity Sheet!
You can read more about the Original Tooth Fairy Poll findings HERE.
