The Blubber

For the second consecutive year, a Delta Dental annual survey revealed that the tooth fairy is leaving less money for lost teeth compared to the previous year.

According to the survey, which included 1,000 parents of children aged 6 to 12, the average payout for a lost tooth fell by 14%, dropping from $5.84 to $5.01. This decline follows a record high of $6.23 per tooth in 2023.

Despite the recent decrease, Delta Dental noted that the average cash gift per tooth has surged by 285% since 1998, when it was just $1.30.

Value of the First Lost Tooth Declines:
The survey also showed that while 33% of parents said the tooth fairy tends to give more for a child's first lost tooth, this amount has also decreased. The current rate for the first lost tooth is $6.24, down 12% from $7.09 in 2024.

Regional Breakdown for 2025:
Lost teeth in the South saw the highest average value at $5.71 — the only region to experience an increase compared to last year. The West followed at $5.69 per tooth, though this was a sharp 33% drop from its 2024 value of $8.54.

In the Northeast, the average value fell to $4.59 from $6.87, marking the first time since 2020 that it dropped below $5. The Midwest had the lowest average payout at $3.46, significantly below the national average.