The Tooth Fairy is paying out more than last year, survey finds
Wisconsin principal writes letter to Tooth Fairy vouching for student
When a student lost his tooth somewhere on the playground, his principal stepped up and wrote a letter to the Tooth Fairy to make sure he would still be fairly compensated.
Losing a tooth is paying off this year, according to a new survey.
The findings were conducted in January and revealed last month in the Delta Dental 2026 Original Tooth Fairy Poll.
Tooth Fairy paying more in 2026
By the numbers:
New findings from the poll revealed the average value of a single lost tooth during the past year increased by 17% from $5.01 to $5.84.
This marks the first year-over-year increase in Tooth Fairy giving since 2023, ending a two-year decline.
New findings from the poll revealed the average value of a single lost tooth during the past year increased by 17%. (Credit: Getty)
Since the poll’s inception in 1998, the average cash gift left by the Tooth Fairy has surged 349% from $1.30 to $5.84 per tooth.
U.S. regional ranking for the average value of a lost tooth
By the numbers:
By region, the Northeast led the pack with a 41% year-over-year jump to ($6.45).
Meanwhile, the West held steady in second place with a 5% increase from last year at ($5.99).
The South dropped from the top spot in 2025, despite a 3% increase in giving at ($5.89).
Despite the Midwest having the smallest average value at $5.27, it still made the biggest leap with a 52% year-over-year gain, narrowing the gap with the rest of the country.
First tooth worth more
Dig deeper:
The loss of a first tooth is also being rewarded more generously – worth 23% more than the average lost tooth. On average, a first tooth is now valued at $7.17, up from $6.24 in 2025.
More than 1 in 3 parents (38%) said the Tooth Fairy leaves extra for their child’s first tooth compared with future teeth.
More kids waking up to gifts beyond cash
Dig deeper:
The survey also found that more kids are waking up to gifts beyond cash, as non-monetary presents from the Tooth Fairy are on the rise.
Nearly 1 in 3 children (32%) received a physical gift this year, up from 19% in 2025.
What they're saying:
"After a couple of thrifty years, the Tooth Fairy decided it was time to give kids a well-deserved raise," Gabriella Ferroni, the senior director of Strategic Communications at Delta Dental Plans Association, said in a statement. "For the past 28 years, Delta Dental has tracked Tooth Fairy giving trends to help teach children about caring for their oral health through a trusted partner—the Tooth Fairy. The beloved tradition gives kids a reason to celebrate their healthy smiles."
The value of a lost tooth and the economy
Big picture view:
Historically, 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).
In recent years, however, the value of a lost tooth diverged from this pattern.
LAST YEAR: The tooth fairy is getting stingier, annual survey reveals
For the first time since 2022, the poll has realigned with market trends.
Over the past year, the average value of a single lost tooth increased 17%, in line with a similar 16% increase in the S&P 500 during the same period.
The Source: The Original Tooth Fairy Poll was conducted between Jan. 5, 2026 and Jan. 15, 2026, among 1,000 parents of children ages 6 to 12. This story was reported from Los Angeles.