The 2009 Tooth Fairy poll shows a decrease in the average gift Minnesota children receive from the Tooth Fairy for a missing tooth.

The poll is derived from a survey of Delta Dental of Minnesota members and their families.

In Minnesota, children receive an average of $1.62 per tooth, which is down from last year’s $2.10 – a 23 percent decrease,” according to a Delta Dental press release.

“The change in the Tooth Fairy Poll average is consistent with trends exhibited in other more commonplace indices – although I will say the Tooth Fairy’s economic performance beat the stock market,” stated Marty Weiland, operations analyst for Delta Dental of Minnesota, in the release. “The Dow Jones Industrial Average, for example, decreased 32 percent during the same time period.”

Other poll results:

* 86 percent of parents report that their children brush their teeth in the morning

* 94 percent of children brush at night

* 2.5 percent brush at noon.

Delta Dental, based in Eagan provides dental benefits.

For more information, visit www.deltadentalmn.org.