Kids Living in the Western U.S. Receive Largest Year-over-Year Increase from Tooth Fairy
By WHY FOR GOOD on behalf of Delta Dental of Washington | Press Release
The Tooth Fairy’s been generous to kids across the nation, with her average cash gift reaching an all-time high of $4.70 per tooth. Her generosity has been felt by children living in the western region of the U.S., having seen a whopping $1.57 increase in their payout for a total of $5.54 per lost tooth according to the annual Original Tooth Fairy Poll, sponsored by Delta Dental.
The Original Tooth Fairy Poll has typically mirrored the economy’s overall direction, tracking with the trends of Standard & Poor’s 500 Index (S&P 500) for 16 of the past 19 years. Last year, a single lost tooth was valued at $4.03, and this year’s survey shows upward growth to $4.70, a 17-percent increase. Over the same time, the S&P 500 also experienced growth, with a 19-percent increase, reaching its highest average since the inception of the Original Tooth Fairy survey.
Delta Dental has been analyzing the Tooth Fairy’s U.S. annual giving trends since 1998. The newly disclosed value of a lost tooth has more than tripled since its inception when the value of a lost tooth was $1.30. 2020’s historical giving is marked by the highest all-time average gift of $4.70 per tooth, four cents higher than the previous peak in 2017 at $4.66.
The Delta Dental of Washington Tooth Fairy weighed in on this year’s payout increase, “Kids have been doing a great job keeping their smiles healthy – and I love healthy teeth. Keep brushing twice a day for two minutes, and don’t forget to floss!”
Regional Statistics:
- $5.72 – The Northeast: Leads U.S. regions in the highest average monetary gift for a lost tooth.
- $5.54 – The West: With a nearly two-dollar increase over 2019, the West moves from third average gift to second highest this year.
- $4.45 – The South: Tracks most closely to the overall U.S. average.
- $3.66 – The Midwest: Remains lower than the national average for the third year in a row.
For more information from Delta Dental of Washington, visit its blog at www.deltadentalwa.com/blog and learn more about the Delta Dental of Washington Tooth Fairy’s dental education program at www.TheToothFairyExperience.com.
About the Survey
The Original Tooth Fairy Poll was conducted between December 28, 2020, and January 8, 2021, among a nationally representative sample of 1,000+ parents of children ages six to12. The margin of error is +/- 3 percent. The January 2020 S&P 500 average was 3,159 and increased to an average of 3,750 for January 2021. For more information about the Delta Dental-sponsored survey and oral health tips for infants to pre-teen, visit Original Tooth Fairy Poll.
About Delta Dental of Washington
Delta Dental of Washington is the state’s leading dental benefit provider, covering nearly 3 million people in Washington state and nationally. As the only not-for-profit carrier dedicated to improving oral health in Washington, Delta Dental plays a vital role extending access to care for the underserved and vulnerable populations by funding the Arcora Foundation, as well as through corporate philanthropy and oral health advocacy – to ensure all people enjoy good oral health and overall health, with no one left behind. For more information, visit: www.deltadentalwa.com.
Author: Mario Lotmore
