SURVEY: TOOTH FAIRY STARTING TO CHEAP OUT

Securian Dental plans are available in 46 states, and they’d probably like to expand to an even 50, so they, too, have a new poll out, but this one looks at how much money “The Tooth Fairy” leaves under kids’ pillows. We were all set to pass on it, but then we looked at the numbers. Crikey! According to Securian, “The average ‘gift’ children received was $1.71 per tooth in 2007, compared to $2 in 2006—a decrease of 29 cents or 14.5%.” Wait, it gets better: “According to the poll, Tooth Fairy gift amounts ranged from a low of 25 cents to a high of $25 per tooth.” (Italics added) And we can’t wait to get home tonight and wave those numbers (especially that 25 cents part) in front of a certain son’s face. Seems “someone” was in a pouty mood for weeks a few years ago when the The Tooth Fairy (Uhhh, that would be us) accidentally forgot to leave a buck under the pillow in exchange for one bicuspid. Like it was intentional! Sheesh.