Tooth fairy bitten by credit crunch

Last Modified: 07 Sep 2008
Source: PA News

Children are feeling the true extent of the credit crunch as visits from the tooth fairy prove financially unrewarding, new research has shown.

Figures from milk producer Cravendale reveal that 38% of British children do not get any money from the tooth fairy after losing their milk teeth.

The data, entitled the Pillow Index, asked 1,000 parents in the UK what their children receive after giving their teeth to the tooth fairy.

Children in the Midlands were the worst off. Nearly half (48%) did not get a visit at all, compared with just 29% in the North East and Anglia who were neglected by the fairy.

Just over a quarter (27%) of youngsters in the North West and 19% in London were also not paid a visit at all, while 55% of children with parents under the age of 25 missed out.

Scottish children fared the best of the UK's children. They were paid an average £1.15 per tooth, 45p more than their Welsh counterparts who only received 70p per tooth.

The survey also showed THAT 82% of parents worry about their children's dental health.

Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, said: "The tooth fairy's visits are part and parcel of growing up for most children so it's disappointing to learn that she's not been able to fulfil her duties lately.

"The tooth fairy is an important reminder to children to look after our teeth.

"Hopefully the tooth fairy can weather the current economic climate and we'll see her return to top form soon."

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