Brushing your teeth regularly is not the only way of keeping them healthy, and it's certainly not enough. Diet and food choices also play an important role.
Since we were young kids and as we grow up, we've been constantly told by our parents and our kids dentists, general dentist and family dentists that sugary foods are not good for our teeth and we all know they increase tooth decays, both in kids and adults. But what we should eat is definitely as important as what we should not eat. We need enough nutrients during the day to help keep our teeth healthy and our jawbones strong and as pretty much every kids dentist, general dentist and family dentist has told you about 100 times by now, milk is the best source of nutrients that contribute to the health of our teeth.
Almost all mothers know that most of a child's teeth are formed by the time the baby is born. Therefore, it's essential for pregnant mothers to pay more attention to what they eat and what they don't eat to make sure they have enough intake of their required nutrients.  Calcium is probably the most important nutrient needed in forming teeth and jawbones. You can get the enough amount of calcium by drinking milk or taking calcium supplements.
Also, you should not forget that young kids need lots of calcium to support the growth of their jawbones and teeth. As teeth form and mineralize, they need enough calcium and phosphorus to become strong and as this growth takes place over a long period of time, it's essential for kids to have enough calcium intake as they grow and become older.
All kids dentists agree that milk is the best source of calcium and plays an important role in building healthy teeth. Milk also has phosphorus, which helps in building string jawbones. Jawbones hold the teeth in place, and the calcium in the milk gives them enough strength to do so. In addition milk is a good source of vitamins A and D. Vitamin A helps in maintaining the mucous membranes of the mouth and vitamin D increases calcium absorption in the body, therefore, contributes to the growth of teeth and jawbones and keeping them healthy and strong.  

We all have calcium fluoride in our bodies. It is mainly found in bone and teeth and the proper amount of it makes teeth strong by hardening the tooth enamel and preventing initiation of dental caries and tooth decay resulting from acid contained in sugars and the breakdown of carbohydrates. Lack of it, on the other hand, can danger the health of our bones and teeth. For kids under 6 years old, fluoride is essential for development of permanent teeth and that makes it vital for kids between 6 and 16 years old to have enough intake of fluoride in order to have healthy, strong teeth and far less cavities. Topical fluoride -- from toothpastes, mouth rinses, and fluoride treatments -- are important in fighting tooth decays in adults as well.

Fluoride in small amounts can reduce tooth decays. Adding fluoride to tap water has helped reducing the tooth cavities in children by 50 - 60%. These are the amounts of fluoride needed to be taken daily for each age group as recommended by The Food and Nutrition Board at the Institute of Medicine:
Infants

    * 0 - 6 months: 0.01 milligrams mg/day
    * 7 - 12 months: 0.5 mg/day

Children

    * 1 - 3 years: 0.7 mg/day
    * 4 - 8 years: 1.0 mg/day
    * 9 - 13 years: 2.0 mg/day

Adolescents and Adults

    * Males age 14 to 18 years: 3.0 mg/day
    * Males over 18 years: 4.0 mg/day
    * Females over 14 years: 3.0 mg/day

As a family dentist I suggest you meet the required intake of fluoride (and all the other essential minerals and vitamins) by having a balanced diet with variety of foods.
As a kids dentist I suggest using fluoride toothpaste when your kids become preschool-age. Use only a small amount of the toothpaste. Swallowing too much fluoride can leave permanent stains on the teeth (enamel hypermineralization). Your family dentist or your kids dentist can help you determine if you and your child are getting enough fluoride. 

Dental care for kids should start even before their teeth come out. Just because you can't see the teeth doesn't mean that they're not there. Many babies are born with several teeth completely developed in their jaw. Wipe your baby's gums with a soft damp cloth after each feeding. It helps preventing the buildup of bacteria. After the teeth appear, start brushing them with a soft kid's toothbrush twice a day. As a kids dentist I recommend using fluoride toothpastes only when your child is pre-school age. Always use only a small amount of them. Kids usually swallow most of these toothpastes and swallowing too much of them can leave permanent stains on the teeth.
Another one of my concerns as a kids dentist is cavities. Cavities are holes made by bacteria in the teeth and unfortunately are very common in kids. Consuming a lot of sugary foods and drinks increases the risk of cavities. Having your kids teeth regularly checked by one of our dentists at Culver City Dentist, Mar Vista Dentist, West Los Angeles Dentist, Beverly Hills Dentist or any other one of our dental offices helps preventing cavities. Avoid sweets, sticky foods and between-meals snacks and don't forget brushing your kid's teeth.
Baby-bottle tooth decay is another issue for kids. When you put your baby to sleep with a bottle, or your kid just goes around the house with a bottle in his or her mouth, milk or juice in the bottle remain on the teeth and their sugar eats away the enamel, making an ideal environment for the bacteria to gather and grow.
Thumb-sucking is not a danger for your kid's teeth before age 4-6. If your kid still sucks his or her thumb, fingers or pacifier after age 4, ask your kids dentist to watch for signs of any problem. Thumb-sucking could be a problem if it persists by the time permanent front teeth start to appear.
Finally start taking your kids to kids dentist around their first birthday. Regular checkups can help preventing many dental and oral diseases and damage to their teeth. 

Most people are not even aware of their bad breath condition, at least until someone tells them about it. Bad breath or Halitosis can be caused by certain foods, tobacco products or a medical condition such as Xerostomia (dry mouth condition).

When some foods such as garlic, onion, cheese, meat products and dairy products (generally high protein products), and drinks such as sodas and orange juice are absorbed into blood stream, they are transferred to lungs and expelled. Brushing and flossing is not of much help in this case and the odor continues until these foods are eliminated by the body.
Also when foods remain in mouth, between teeth, on the tongue or around the gums they can rot and be a cause of bad breath. That is why brushing and flossing several times a day is highly recommended by family dentists and kids dentists at Culver City Dentist.
Xerostomia or dry mouth condition can be caused by some medications, continuously breathing through the mouth or in some cases a problem with salivary gland. In any case the flow of saliva, which is essential for cleaning the mouth and removing food particles in the mouth decreases. Family dentists at Los Angeles Dentist suggest increasing your fluid intake or using sugarless candies and in some cases prescribe artificial saliva to cure dry mouth condition.

Chronic sinusitis, postnasal drip, chronic bronchitis, diabetes, an infection in the respiratory tract, gastrointestinal disturbance and even liver or kidney ailment are some medical conditions that can be causes of Halitosis.
In most cases bad breath is caused by oral bacteria. Sulfur compounds, which have bad odor, are part of wastes of these bacteria and even a very thin layer of plaque provides an ideal environment for the bacteria to live and grow.   

Maintaining oral and dental health is very important in controlling Halitosis. Schedule regular checkups and cleanings with a dentist at our dental office in West Los Angeles to prevent any dental and gum diseases. Brush at least twice and floss at least once a day.

Baby teeth usually become loose and fall out at the age 6-7 to make room for the permanent teeth. In some kids it might happen as soon as age 4 or sometimes it can be as late as age 8. You may want to consult with a kid's dentist if your kid has not lost any teeth by age 7. On the other hand, permanent teeth that erupt late are usually stronger as they had stayed longer in the jaw and are more resistant to cavities. Generally girls lose their baby teeth earlier than boys, but for all the kids it should be over by age 12 or 13. Baby teeth are usually lost in the same order they had erupted; first the two bottom front teeth followed by the two top front teeth, lateral incisors, first molars, canines and finally second molars.
Baby teeth are lost as the roots dissolve and clear the way for the permanent teeth. They usually fall out on their own. When the tooth is quite loose but is still hanging, you or your kid can use a tissue and slowly rotate the tooth until it comes out. If the root is completely dissolved, it should come out easily and there is no need to visit a children's dentist. If there is still some root left, don't force the tooth out, the root might break and become infected.
The newly erupted teeth may look bigger than they should, but will become less noticeable as your kid grows. If you think that the teeth are becoming crowded and are erupting too close to each other, consult with a kid's dentist. If your kid needs orthodontic treatment, it's better to start it as soon as possible.  Sometimes permanent teeth erupt before the baby teeth are gone. In that case two rows of teeth are developed (shark's teeth). The baby teeth are pushed by the permanent teeth and usually fall out in a couple of weeks. If they last more than three months, then it's time to consult with a children's dentist. It's better to have your kid's teeth regularly checked by a kid's dentist to make sure everything is in correct order.

Tooth cavities in very young kids is one of my biggest concerns as a kids dentist these days. It seems that many kids start to have cavities in their baby teeth between age 2 and 5. Cavities are decayed parts of the teeth that turn into holes or openings in the teeth. A combination of factors cause tooth decays. Some of them are snacking frequently, consuming sugary drinks and of course, not cleaning your teeth properly. Also foods that stay on the teeth for a long time, like raisins, dried fruit, milk, ice cream, honey, sugar, cake, cookies, hard candy, cereal, chips and soda can cause cavities. Milk, juice, formula or other sugar-containing drinks stay on teeth for a long time and cause erosion which eventually leads to cavities (that's where baby bottle tooth decay comes from). That is the obvious reason why kids dentists observe so many tooth cavities and decays in kids. Snacking is quite a habit for kids, they love sugary drinks and sweet foods and they are not that obsessive with brushing and taking care of their teeth.

If your kid complains about tooth ache, tooth sensitivity, pain when drinking or eating hot, cold or sweet things, pain when biting down or if you can see holes or pits in their teeth or pus around them, it could be a sign of cavities and you need to consult with a kids dentist. The process of decaying is reversible before a cavity completely forms, but once it's complete the lost structure in the tooth cannot be regenerated. If the childrens dentist detects the cavity in its early stages the tooth can be saved. There are ways to repair a tooth. Composite fillings, also called white fillings, is a treatment I perform practically every day as a childrens dentist at our dental office, United Dental Care. They are the same color as natural tooth and are mostly used on the teeth that are easily seen in the mouth. Although they are quite durable, they don't last forever and eventually have to be replaced. Nothing can replace a natural tooth. 

Oral thrush happens when a kind of fungus (Candida albicans) accumulates on the lining of the mouth. It causes creamy white lesions on tongue or inner cheeks that can be painful and bleed when being scraped. These lesions can spread to the roof of the mouth, gums, or even back of the throat. Cottage cheese-like lesions, cracking at the corners of the mouth, cottony feeling in the mouth, pain and loss of taste are other symptoms of oral thrush. Although it occurs in people who wear dentures as well, kids dentists report Oral thrush in babies more than any other group. Oral thrush usually happens in people with weakened immune system caused by diseases or some drugs and in people whose natural balance of microorganisms is disturbed by antibiotics. People who have HIV/AIDS, cancer or diabetes are more susceptible to oral thrush because of their weakened immune system and in case of uncontrolled diabetes, because of the excess amount of sugar in their saliva. Oral thrush has been seen in people who smoke and people who have dry mouth conditions as well. Candida fungus naturally exists in healthy people. If the immune system is weakened, these bacteria overgrow and cause infection. Kids dentist report oral thrush in a large group of infants, probably because their immune system is not fully developed yet. If you have oral thrush and it's because of wearing dentures, consult with your dentist. Remember to remove your dentures and thoroughly clean them at bed time. Your dentist might recommend an antimicrobial mouth rinse to use as disinfectant for your dentures. As a kids dentist and family dentist, I recommend practicing proper oral hygiene as the best prevention for oral thrush and other oral diseases. Regular dental visits are also very important, especially if you wear dentures. Dentures need to be adjusted every once in a while and your dentist can check for signs of fungus infection. Based on your age and severity of your symptoms your dentist will suggest a specific course of dental treatment to cure oral thrush.  

I think it was almost a month ago. A nine year old girl came in with her mother, crying hysterically. Apparently she had been at the playground with some of her friends when a swing had hit her and knocked one of her teeth out of her mouth. Fortunately her mother had the presence of mind to find the tooth and put it in some milk. That is the best way to keep the tooth until you get to a dentist; in a container full of milk or saline, and make sure you hold it by the crown, not the root, when you pick it up. If you manage to get to a dentist within half an hour, there is a good chance the tooth can be put back in its place.

Anyways, they had come straight to us and we gave them top priority. The girl, Alicia, wouldn't calm down. She was scared of losing her tooth, and on top of it, she was scared of going to dentists.  It was a tough situation, as we were running out of time to save the tooth. It took our experienced dental assistants some time to calm her down. When she was ready, I did an emergency exam and when I was satisfied that the root was intact and no root canal was needed, I used local anesthetic to make sure she didn't feel any pain and was comfortable while watching her favorite movie on the screen. We managed to save Alicia's tooth and smile. She was excited and happy to have her tooth back and her mother was satisfied that her young girl didn't have to wear dentures for the rest of her life.  

They came back last week for a general check up. The previous good experience at United Dental Care had convinced Alicia to come back. She told me she wasn't scared of going to dentists anymore, and that made my day.