Tooth Fairy Nears Bankruptcy. Tooth Fairy’s Wallet in Crisis as Kids Demand Bonuses
Stock photo. (Getty Images/Mykola Pokhodzhay)
The tooth fairy is back to being a big spender.
The average cash gift left for a lost tooth rose to $5.84 this year, a 17% increase following two years of declines, according to Delta Dental’s latest Original Tooth Fairy Poll of 1,000 parents with children ages 6 to 12. The uptick generally mirrors broader market gains and breathes new life into the long-running “Tooth Fairy Index,” a playful measure that has for decades served as a lighthearted barometer of household confidence, as noted by Axios.
Regionally, the Northeast led the way at $6.45 per tooth, a 41% jump from last year. The West followed at $5.99, while the South averaged $5.89. The Midwest saw the sharpest increase — up 52% to $5.27 — though it still trails the national average.
The first lost tooth continues to command a premium, bringing in $7.17 on average, with 38% of parents reporting they give a bonus for the milestone. Non-cash rewards are also becoming more common: About 32% of children received a gift other than money for a lost tooth, up from 19% a year ago.
Since 1998, the average payout has climbed 349%, rising from $1.30 to today’s $5.84. “After a couple of thrifty years, the tooth fairy decided it was time to give kids a well-deserved raise,” Delta Dental spokesperson Gabriella Ferroni said in a release.
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