Even the Tooth Fairy sticks to a budget. Just in time for National Tooth Fairy Day on February 28, new findings from the Delta Dental of Oklahoma 2025 Original Tooth Fairy Poll® reveal that the southern region, inclusive of Oklahoma, leads the nation in giving at an average of $5.71 per lost tooth. The southern region is also the only region to experience an increase in yearly giving.

However, the national average value of a single lost tooth during the past year declined by 14% from $5.84 to $5.01. This marks one of the most significant year-over-year declines since the poll’s inception.

“It’s great to see Oklahoma and the southern region back on top for Tooth Fairy giving,” said John Gladden, chairman, president and CEO of Delta Dental of Oklahoma. “The Tooth Fairy remains an effective way to encourage and empower our children to take care of their smiles, even though she is being a little more frugal than in years past.”

While 1 in 3 parents (33%) say the Tooth Fairy spends more on their child’s first tooth, she also is pinching pennies in recognition of this milestone, with the average value dropping 12% from $7.09 to $6.24 over the past year. However, her budget-conscious ways could be a good lesson for children, as nearly 1 in 5 parents (19%) say the Tooth Fairy helps teach their child about the value of money.

U.S. regional ranking for the average value of a lost tooth

1. South, inclusive of Oklahoma ($5.71): Overtook the West by two cents to lead the U.S., and the only region to experience a year-over-year increase, up from $5.51 in 2024.
2. West ($5.69): Despite surpassing the national average, the region experienced a significant 33% drop for a lost tooth, returning close to its 2021 average of $5.54.
3. Northeast ($4.59): Dropped by 33% and fell below $5.00 per tooth for the first time since 2020.
4. Midwest ($3.46): Continued to significantly trail the national average for a second consecutive year at under $4.00 per tooth.

Despite the decline in monetary giving, since the poll’s inception in 1998, the average cash gift left by the Tooth Fairy has increased 285% from $1.30 to $5.01 per tooth.

The value of a lost tooth and the economy
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). However, since 2023, the value of a lost tooth has gone in a different direction. Over the past year, the average value of a single lost tooth decreased 14%, while the S&P 500 experienced a 26% increase during the same period.

About the poll
The Original Tooth Fairy Poll® was conducted between Jan. 10, 2025 and Jan. 23, 2025, among 1,000 parents of children ages 6 to 12. The margin of error is +/- 3%.

The January 2024 S&P 500 average was 4,746 and increased to an average of 5,960 for January 2025, consistent with the timing of the Original Tooth Fairy Poll®.

For more information about the Delta Dental-sponsored survey and oral health tips for infants to pre-teen, visit the Original Tooth Fairy Poll®.