The tooth fairy's average cash gift for a lost tooth has reached a record high of $5.36, according to Delta Dental's 2022 Original Tooth Fairy Poll.
The poll has been conducted since 1998. This year's poll shows an average payout four times higher than that of the first poll ($1.30), 66% higher compared to last year ($4.70), and more than 33% higher since 2020 ($4.03). The poll is conducted in January and includes more than 1,000 parents of children between the ages of six and 12.
The Northeast U.S. leads the country in lost-tooth payouts, with an average gift of $7.36, while tooth fairies in the West are more fiscally conservative, with average gifts of $4.08.
"With this year's Delta Dental-sponsored national poll reflecting double-digit growth in Tooth Fairy giving, perhaps the Tooth Fairy is experiencing the effects of inflation along with being very generous," said Assistant Vice President of Brand Strategy and Management André Richards in a statement released by Delta.
