What’s the Connection Between Healthy Fats and Healthy Teeth?

Information may not be reliable

We’ll unpack common misconceptions about fats and we’ll find out the difference between “healthy” and “unhealthy” fats. 

Fats and minerals

Fat consumption helps us receive the minerals that are essential for our dental health. This means, eating foods with fats provides us with fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K2). These vitamins play a key role in absorbing other nutrients. For example, vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium from the foods you eat.  If your body lacks vitamin D, you won’t be able to absorb calcium from calcium-rich foods like dairy, kale, sardines, broccoli, and almonds. If your body lacks vitamin K2, it won’t be able to transport the calcium into the areas where it’s most needed, like decayed areas in our teeth.

Healthy fats

All-natural fats have their place in a healthy diet, however, some of them are more helpful than others. Specialists recommend avoiding unnatural fats also called trans fats. These fats fry our arteries, just like they fry french fries. 

Types of fats

The vast majority of the population eats too many inflammatory fats - polyunsaturated fats and omega 6. At the same time, most people don’t consume enough anti-inflammatory fats - saturated fat and omega 3. Such fats like Canola, Corn, Safflower, Sunflower, Cottonseed, and Soy provoke inflammation. And anti-inflammatory fats include pastured animal fats, avocado, coconut, pastured eggs, pastured dairy, and wild fish.

By decreasing seed oil consumption and increasing our consumption of anti-inflammatory fats, we’ll significantly improve our diets.

Is there a connection between a high-fat diet and heart disease?

The media has done a great job of misinforming people about the connection between high-fat diets and health problems like heart disease and obesity.

The media campaign against saturated fats began in the 1950s and the consumption of saturated fats has decreased, but heart disease rates have actually increased. Moreover, the consumption of seed oils, especially hydrogenated oils, has increased the number of cases of heart disease. 

What to eat to get more high-quality fats?

If you don’t have lactose intolerance or sensitivity, eat more butter.  Butter from grass-fed animals is best, and the deeper the natural yellow color the more nutrients butter contains. You can also get high-quality fats from olives, avocados, coconut, and oils derived from them.  Consume plenty of different animal products, like fish (salmon, tuna, mackerel, etc.), eggs, pastured animal meats, and their organs (especially liver). Eating these foods daily and regular visits to your family dentist will strengthen your teeth and will help you keep optimal overall health. 

Non-animal sources of fats

If you don’t eat meat, consume more avocados, coconuts, and olives. But remember, steer clear of the highly processed, fake foods (especially hydrogenated oils). They are very dangerous. Also, consider eating dark chocolate, nuts (especially almonds, cashews, and walnuts), and chia seeds.