We’ve all heard talks of inflation, and it’s hit us in our pockets every time we pay for anything, but now it’s officially hitting where it hurts: under our kid’s pillows.
The Tooth Fairy is reducing her payments to those who lost teeth this year, and it’s all due to inflation.
Delta Dental tracks trends of tooth fairy giving and reports that 2024 is the first year in a long while where parents give less to their children when they lose teeth.
2024 Original Tooth Fairy Poll
New Delta Dental findings from its 2024 Original Tooth Fairy Poll revealed the average value of a single lost tooth during the past year declined by 6% from $6.23 to $5.84. This represents the first year-over-year decline in Tooth Fairy giving in five years.
While the loss of a first tooth typically commands a premium, the poll also found the Tooth Fairy is minding her pennies in celebration of this milestone, with the average value dropping from $7.29 to $7.09 over the past year.
“Delta Dental has tracked U.S. Tooth Fairy giving trends for 26 years as a timely way to spotlight the importance of children’s oral health,” said Gabriella Ferroni, Senior Director of Strategic Communications, Delta Dental Plans Association. “It is not a surprise to see she tightened her purse strings following last year’s record high. Despite the more economical reward, Tooth Fairy giving is a fun conversation starter to encourage good oral hygiene habits at an early age.”
The Worth of a Lost Tooth and the Economy
Historically, the Original Tooth Fairy Poll® has typically mirrored the economy’s overall direction, tracking with the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index (S&P 500) trends. However, in 2023, the value of a lost tooth went in a different direction, and it continues in 2024.
The average value of a single lost tooth decreased by 6% over the past year, while the S&P 500 experienced a 20% increase during the same period.
Average Value of a Lost Tooth
- West ($8.54): Surged ahead of the pack to lead U.S. regions with the highest monetary gift for a lost tooth, marking a 37% increase since last year’s results.
- Northeast ($6.87): Increased 12% and surpassed the national average by more than $1.00.
- South ($5.51): Dropped below the national average, after leading last year with $6.59 for a lost tooth.
- Midwest ($3.63): Significantly trailed the national average with a 36% drop, returning close to its 2021 average of $3.66.