They’re painful, irritating, and seem to pop up out of nowhere – the mouth ulcer, or canker sore. We all get them from time to time. These pesky lesions make eating, drinking, and even talking pretty uncomfortable. Some people develop mouth ulcers more often than others, particularly women and people under the age of 40.
Mouth ulcers have been linked to several causes like biting your cheek or brushing your gums too hard. But did you know that eating certain foods can actually increase your risk?
Here are some foods to avoid if you want to prevent mouth ulcers
1. Chocolates
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Canker sores may be due to food allergies. And chocolate can cause allergies. If you eat a lot of chocolate and develop a lot of mouth ulcers, chocolate could be the culprit. Difficult to accept, but you may want to reduce your chocolate intake.
2. Coffee
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Do you have a cup of coffee every morning to get your day going? Suffer a lot of mouth ulcers? Could be due to the acidity in coffee. Try a low-acidic brewing method like cold brew. This should reduce the level of acidity in your morning cup.
3. Nuts
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Nuts like peanuts, walnuts, almonds, and cashews may be triggering your mouth ulcers. Nuts, particularly English walnuts, are high in the amino acid L-Arginine, which can lead to canker sores.
4. Strawberries
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Lots of people have strawberry allergies and they don’t even realize it! Try switching the strawberries in your diet for a fruit like watermelon instead.
5. Citrus Fruits
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Do you love oranges, pineapples, lemons, mandarins, and limes? These fruits are really high in citric acid which could be aggravating your gums and leaving behind mouth ulcers. Try cutting your intake and replacing them with fruits like apples and bananas instead.
Other Prevention Techniques
Aside from avoiding the foods listed above, also try to reduce the intake of salty and spicy foods, which can also irritate your mouth. Make sure to eat a well-balanced diet, high in whole grains and alkaline rich foods. Try to keep your stress in check by meditating and practicing other ways to stay calm. Brush your teeth with a soft toothbrush to avoid damaging your gums and cheeks. If you think your mouth ulcers might be because of a dietary deficiency, contact your doctor to establish a personalized nutrition plan.
