Tooth Fairy inflation: Payouts up in New York State but some parts of the country see a dip

For the first time in five years it looks like the slowing of inflation is taking a bite out of some children’s pockets when they’re visited by the Tooth Fairy. It all depends on where she lands.

Payouts for lost teeth are up in New York and some other areas of the country, but the national average is down, according to a Delta Dental poll released Thursday.

Coming off a record high last year of $6.23, the nationwide average dropped to $5.84.

But at a going rate of $6.87 per tooth, the gift for kids in New York and the rest of the Northeast increased 12% over last year.

Kids in the West surged ahead of the pack to lead U.S. regions with the highest amount  at $8.54 — a whopping 37% increase over last year.

Midwest kids got the worst deal, dropping 36% to $3.63.

And while the loss of a first tooth typically commands a premium, the poll found the Tooth Fairy is cutting back when it comes to this milestone, with average payouts dropping from $7.29 to $7.09.

With inflation slowing, “it is not a surprise to see she tightened her purse strings following last year’s record high,” said Gabriella Ferroni, senior director of strategic communications for Delta Dental Plans Association.  Chicago-based 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,” Ferroni said.

The dental insurance provider's Original Tooth Fairy Poll was conducted between Jan. 3 and Jan. 17 among 1,000 parents of children ages 6 to 12.

The survey has typically mirrored the economy’s overall direction, tracking the performance of the Standard & Poor's 500 Index. 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 6% over the past year, while the S&P 500 experienced a 20% gain during the same period.

Delta Dental Plans Association is the not-for-profit national association of the 39 independent Delta Dental companies, making it the nation's largest dental benefits provider. It covers more than 89 million Americans and offers the country's largest dental network with approximately 152,000 participating dentists.

So where did the Tooth Fairy custom fly in from in the first place?

According to kidshealthyteeth.com and other sources, the origin of the Tooth Fairy dates to 17th century Europe when parents believed that burying their child’s baby tooth under a tree would start the growth of their adult tooth. The first Tooth Fairy is said to be a mythical creature in the form of a tiny mouse that would exchange gifts for lost teeth under the pillow of sleeping children.