Even little investors have something to smile about this week despite the stock market’s wild ride. If today’s 6-year-olds invest all the money they receive from the Tooth Fairy, they could be sitting on a combined total of roughly $70 billion by the time they reach 67, according to Delta Dental Plans Association—that’s $21,000 per child, if they invest everything they find under their pillow.
According to Delta’s Original Tooth Fairy Poll, the Tooth Fairy visited 81% of the homes in the United States, with 3.35 million gifts for the 4.1 million 6-year-olds out there. (The average age of the first tooth loss is 6 years old.) According to Delta Dental, the average Tooth Fairy gift is $4.36 per tooth. Delta then calculated 6.5% in-mouth inflation (the typical increase for Tooth Fairy gifts from year to year) for each subsequent tooth and a 9.6% return based on historic S&P 500 performance.
Retirement savings vary by region. With an average 2014 Tooth Fairy gift of $4.16, kids in the Northeast will see $20,477. Midwesterners, who get $2.83 per tooth, will tally $13,910. In the South, the $5.16 gift will yield $25,362. Out West, a $4.68 gift will produce $23,004 in earnings.
The 2014 average of $4.36 per tooth is up 24.6% from 2013’s average of $3.50. Also, the Tooth Fairy gave a total of $255 million in 2014. Overall, in 11 of the past 12 years, the trend in average giving has tracked with the S&P 500’s movement too. Around the world, Japanese teeth are good for 525.32 yen. Teeth in Ireland and Spain get 3.87 Euros. English teeth are worth 2.83 pounds each. And in Canada, a tooth will get you $5.78.
Delta releases the results of the Tooth Fairy Poll to help promote good dental hygiene habits that encourage healthy smiles. It surveys more than 1,000 primary caregivers via email interviews with a sample designed to capture a broad spectrum of the U.S. population, not just those with dental insurance.
“We’re happy that, in addition to money, the Tooth Fairy is leaving gifts that help get kids excited to brush and floss their teeth,” said Jennifer Elliott, vice president of marketing at Delta Dental Plans Association. “Delta Dental also encourages parents to introduce the Tooth Fairy as a way to discuss the importance of good oral health habits even before a child loses the first tooth.”
