The annual poll provides insight into dental hygiene habits and education for children. The poll was conducted between Jan. 10 and Jan. 23 among 1,000 parents of children ages 6 to 12.
Delta Dental said the poll results usually mirror the overall direction of the economy, including trends from Standard & Poor’s 500 Index. However, the value of a lost tooth has done the opposite since 2023.
The average price for a single lost tooth declined from $6.23 in 2023 to $5.84 in 2024. This year, the price dropped to $5.01, marking one of the largest year-over-year declines since the poll’s inception in 1998. The most recent decline took place while the S&P 500 experienced a 26% increase over the past year, according to a Feb. 25 news release.
The average price for a first lost tooth also declined. After dropping from $7.29 to $7.09 between 2023 and 2024, the price dropped again to $6.24 in 2025.
Despite these declines, the average cash gift left by the Tooth Fairy has increased by 285% since the poll’s inception.