Teaching your kids about the importance of dental health now sets them up for a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums. In addition to emphasizing the necessity of twice-daily brushing, daily flossing, and routine visits to the pediatric dentist, you must provide a teeth-healthy diet that includes plenty of calcium. The mineral is essential to strong, healthy teeth, and people require different amounts depending on their life stage.

Learn more about the correct calcium intake for kids, below:

Calcium Amounts By Age

Children require 200 milligrams of calcium from the time they are born until they reach six months of age. They only require an extra 60 milligrams of the mineral from six months to one year, after which the amount increases dramatically. Little ones need 700 milligrams of calcium from ages one to three, 1,000 milligrams from ages four to eight, and 1,300 milligrams from ages nine to 18. The number stays at 1,000 from age 19 through 50.

Recommended Foods & Drinks

Breast milk contains approximately 275.5 milligrams of calcium per cup and more than suffices for babies’ calcium needs. Other outstanding sources of the mineral include whole and reduced fat cow’s milk, which contains 291 and 297 milligrams per eight fluid ounces. Additional dairy sources of calcium include plain, low-fat yogurt, 300 milligrams in 8 ounces; cottage cheese, 276 milligrams per 2 cups; and part skim mozzarella, 275 milligrams per 1 ½ ounce. The mineral is also found in numerous vegetables, including kale, bok choy, and broccoli. Much smaller amounts of calcium are in bread, such as 20 milligrams per whole wheat slice.

Calcium-Enriched Toothpastes

Calcium-enriched toothpastes are another way to help your children receive what they need to build strong teeth. While such toothpastes are not a substitute for calcium-rich diets, they provide the extra boost children need to enjoy healthy, strong teeth for life. Enriched toothpastes are available through your pediatric dentists, any of whom will be happy to review options with you.

Pedodontic Associates features locations in Honolulu, Aiea, and Kahului, HI, to help Hawaiian residents enjoy accessible dental care. The pediatric dentists have served Oahu and Maui for over 20 years and is accredited by the ADA, HAD, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, and Better Business Bureau®. Emergency dental care is available at all three locations. Call (808) 735-1733 for Honolulu, (808) 487-7933 to reach Aiea, or Kahului at (808) 877-0066 to schedule your kids’ next appointment. You can also visit the website for more information. Like the pediatric dentists on Twitter for a stream of helpful tips.