Milk Matters...

That's because milk and other dairy foods (foods made with milk) are very good sources of calcium.

Calcium is a mineral that helps make teeth strong and healthy. Even before baby teeth and adult teeth come in, they need calcium. And after teeth come in, they continue to take in calcium so they can develop fully.
Calcium makes gums healthy. Getting enough calcium as a young adult may help prevent gum disease later in life.
Calcium makes jawbones strong and healthy too. Jawbones need to be strong -- they hold the teeth in place!

Calcium makes bones strong, too.
Bones grow most during the childhood and teenage years. By eating and drinking foods with calcium, children and teens can build up calcium-rich bones for now and for when they are adults. This calcium helps keep bones strong and may prevent them from getting fragile and breaking later in life.

Studies show that most kids don't get the calcium they need. In fact, more than half of teenager boys and girls don't get enough calcium.