Parents aren’t the only ones cinching their spending in the face of the rising cost of essentials here in Washington and along the West Coast.
The Tooth Fairy is tightening their belt as well.
According to the newest tooth fairy survey from Delta Denta, the average value of a single lost tooth in our region has dropped from $8.54 to $5.69 over the last year. Each year, the company’s Original Tooth Fairy Poll® checks in on the tooth payouts in Washington, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.
First teeth
That’s the average dollar amount for all teeth. However, 33 percent of parents report their kids find an average of $6.24 under their pillow for a first lost tooth. But that value, too, has dropped 12 percent from last year’s average of $7.09.
Survey authors say the new value is a step back toward the 2021 regional average, which came in at $5.54. That’s still higher than the average of gap-toothed kids nationwide, where the going amount in 2025 is about $5.
A mirror of these economic times
“The annual poll typically mirrors the economy’s overall direction, tracking with the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index (S&P 500) trends,” said a Delta Dental press release. “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 nationally decreased 14%, while the S&P 500 experienced a 26% increase in the same period.”
The poll of 1,000 parents of children ages 6 to 12 was conducted between January 10 and January 23, 2025.
You are not alone if you are scratching your head, remembering a quarter or even a single dollar under your pillow as a child after losing a tooth. Since the poll’s inception in 1998, the average cash gift left by the Tooth Fairy has increased by 285%.
Countrywide comparison
Here’s how Washington and the western region compare to other parts of the country when it comes to Tooth Fairy generosity:
- West ($5.69): A 33 percent drop from 2024
- South ($5.71): Up from $5.51 in 2024
- Northeast ($4.59): A 33 percent drop
- Midwest ($3.46): A second consecutive year at under $4 per tooth.
For more information about the Delta Dental-sponsored survey and oral health tips for infants to pre-teens, visit the Original Tooth Fairy Poll®. Delta Dental of Washington offers free letters from the Tooth Fairy mailed directly to your child.
Recently lost a tooth?
For more information about the Delta Dental-sponsored survey and oral health tips for infants to pre-teens, visit the Original Tooth Fairy Poll. For more on the history of the tooth fairy, you may want to check out “Where did the Tooth Fairy come from? A fun history for kids.”
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