Why is calcium important for strong bones and teeth?
If you get enough calcium from the foods you eat and drink, your body doesn’t have to take the calcium from your bones and bones can stay strong. In fact, getting enough calcium when you’re young can help prevent osteoporosis, a condition that makes bones weak and more likely to break. Calcium also can help build strong teeth. Both baby teeth and adult teeth need calcium to grow and develop. Calcium can also help protect teeth against tooth decay. Calcium also helps make gums healthy and makes jawbones strong too. How much calcium do kids need? Visit the How much calcium do kids need? section of the Milk Matters web site to see a chart about calcium needs for different age groups. What are good sources of calcium? Calcium is found in a variety of foods. Low-fat and fat-free milk and other dairy products are great sources of calcium because of they have so much of it. Tweens and teens can get most of their daily calcium from 3 cups of low-fat or fat-free milk, but they also need additio
