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Books and Facts About The Tooth Fairy

So who is the Tooth Fairy, really

 

Historically, The Tooth Fairy has been known as a fantasy figure from childhood in Western and Western-influenced cultures. The folklore of this mysterious fairy states that when children lose one of their baby teeth, they should place it underneath their pillow or on their bedside table before bedtime. As they sleep, The Tooth Fairy will visit and replace the lost tooth with a small payment. 

 

This loving part of family tradition has endured the test of time, and in honor of that, here are some picture books and Tooth Fairy facts. Enjoy!

 

How to Trick the Tooth Fairy by Erin Danielle Russell and illustrated by Jennifer Hansen Rolli

 

Kaylee is a little girl who loves to pull pranks on people. When she comes face to face with the Tooth Fairy, the ultimate prank-puller of all times, it becomes a challenge to see who will come out on top. As their pranks get crazier and more creative, they must learn to work together and stop trying to outdo one another.

 

Lulu and the Missing Tooth Fairy by S.E. Richey

 

Lulu has lost her first tooth and cannot wait for her first visit from the tooth fairy. Trixie has been training and training and cannot wait to finally become an official tooth fairy. Everything would be perfect… but mishap after mishap prevent Trixie from reaching Lulu’s destination. Will Lulu finally get a visit from the Tooth Fairy? Will Trixie finally become an official Tooth Fairy?

 

Find out in this humorous and heartwarming tale that will encourage your little ones to keep believing in magic and that everything is possible with a lot of willpower. Written in a dual narrative format from the perspective of Lulu and her tooth fairy, the story entertainingly weaves the themes of cause and effect, learning from mistakes, and trusting in oneself. It also introduces children to different tooth collectors and tooth traditions of the world, thus serving as a mirror and a window into other cultures.

 

Flight of the Tooth Fairy by Jaren Ahlmann

 

There’s a magical sound when a tooth wiggles free. . . . But what happens next? In the black, velvet night, a bright spot appears. It zips through the sky and swoops to your home. And there, in a burst of shimmering fairy dust, a magical story unfolds.

Prepare to be whisked away as the Tooth Fairy shares the secrets of her mystical midnight flight. With luscious, atmospheric illustrations from award-winning artist Matt Gaser, and classic rhyming text, Flight of the Tooth Fairy takes readers on an adventurous quest like none they will have read before.

Fairy Facts

Delta Dental has been analyzing the Tooth Fairy’s U.S. annual giving trends since 1998. The newly disclosed value of a lost tooth has more than quadrupled since the inception of the Original Tooth Fairy Poll® when the value of a lost tooth was $1.30. This year’s poll illuminates the highest all-time average gift of $5.36 per tooth, which is 66 cents (14%) higher than the previous peak at $4.70 last year and well over $1 (33%) more per tooth since 2020 ($4.03).

 

“As a welcomed visitor into most homes around the country, the Tooth Fairy continues to bring fun and excitement to kids’ oral health care awareness. 1 in 5 parents share that the Tooth Fairy was one of their child’s favorite surprises during the pandemic,” said André Richards, Assistant Vice President, Brand Strategy & Management, Delta Dental Plans Association. “With this year’s Delta Dental-sponsored national poll reflecting double-digit growth in Tooth Fairy giving, perhaps the Tooth Fairy is experiencing the effects of inflation along with being very generous.”

 

The worth of a lost tooth and the economy


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) for 17 of the past 20 years. Last year, a single lost tooth was valued at $4.70, and this year’s survey indicates a 14% upward growth to $5.36. Over the same time, the S&P 500 also experienced growth, with a 17.6% increase.

 

About the survey


The Original Tooth Fairy Poll® was conducted between January 19 and January 28, 2022, among a nationally representative sample of 1,000+ parents of children ages 6-12. The margin of error is +- 3%.

 

The January 2021 S&P 500 average was 3,750 and increased to an average of 4,410 for January 2022, consistent with the timing of the Original Tooth Fairy Poll®.