Fruits for mouth ulcer contains vitamin C and minerals that would help in reducing the severity of a mouth ulcer. Mouth ulcer is commonly caused by infection from virus or bacteria, trauma or can be caused by food allergies. Sour fruits, such as plums, strawberries, cantaloupe, and oranges may aggravate mouth ulcers. However, sweet fruits like grapes and watermelon can actually help heal it.
Non-Irritating Foods to Eat When You Have Mouth Sores
What You Can Do About Oral Mucositis
The loss of appetite is common when undergoing cancer treatment, particularly if you get a common side effect called oral mucositis which causes mouth sores. To ensure proper nutrition to help you heal, you need to find non-irritating foods that you can eat even if you have mouth sores.
This article explains why mouth sores occur in people undergoing cancer treatment. It also lists the types of food you can and cannot eat—as well as the way to eat—to better cope with treatment-induced oral mucositis.
How Cancer Treatment Causes Mouth Sores
Over 40% of people undergoing certain cancer treatments will develop oral mucositis. It is most commonly associated with chemotherapy but can also occur with radiation therapy to the head or neck.
Oral mucositis is an especially common occurrence when exposed to the chemotherapy drugs 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) or Evomela (melphalan). Other chemotherapy drugs can do the same.2
Treatment-induced oral mucositis is the result of the following processes:
- Whenever cells are damaged by chemotherapy or radiation, they release unstable atoms called free radicals.
- This, in turn, triggers the release of inflammatory chemicals called cytokines and metalloproteinase that break down a structural protein called collagen, causing tissues to thin and form ulcers.
- When this occurs in the mouth, natural bacteria quickly colonize the sores, causing infection, inflammation, and pain.
The sores can often be extremely painful, making it difficult to eat, talk, and swallow. The sores may even extend into the esophagus that carries food from the mouth to the stomach.
Foods to Eat If You Have Mucositis
Generally speaking, you will want to eat foods that are soft, non-acidic, non-spicy, and not overly hot if you have oral mucositis. The less you have the chew, the better.
Among the foods recommended for people struggling with oral mucositis are:
- Scrambled, poached, or boiled eggs
- Canned tuna fish
- Stewed meats
- Soft noodles and pasta
- Well-cooked white rice
- Mashed vegetables, including potatoes sweet potatoes, peas, carrots, etc.
- Creamed spinach or corn
- Creamed or pureed soups
- Baked beans
- Tofu
- Dairy products like milk, yogurt, and cottage cheese
- Soft white bread
- Cooked cereals, such as cream of wheat or thinned oatmeal
- Pancakes
- Applesauce
- Bananas
- Watermelon, cantaloupe, papaya, and honeydew melon
- Soft stone fruits with thin skins, like peaches and nectarines
- Stewed or baked fruits
- Smooth peanut butter
- Custards and puddings
- Gelatin desserts
- Popsicles, ice cream, and frozen yogurt
- Protein shakes, smoothies, and liquid nutritional supplements
- Caffeine-free tea
- Non-acidic juices, like apple juice or fruit nectars
Food to Avoid
There are certain foods that can aggravate mouth sores and make the pain worse. Even before starting cancer treatment, take heed of the types of food you should avoid, including:
- Tough cuts of meat
- Raw or undercooked vegetables
- Tough or chewy bread, like bagels
- Crunchy foods, such as pretzels, crackers, chips, or dry cereal
- Tart or acidic foods, including tomatoes and citrus fruits
- Salty or spicy foods
- Nuts or seeds
- Hard or stringy fruits, like raw apples or mangos
- Fruits with skins, like plums
- Fruits with little seeds, like strawberries, that can get stuck in sores
- Hot foods, including soup and piping-hot beverages
- Caffeinated beverages, including coffee, black tea, and colas
- Alcohol, including beer, wine, and liquor
How to Eat if You Have Oral Mucositis
Oral mucositis can be difficult to avoid when undergoing cancer treatment. Still, there are things you can do to get the nutrition you need without worsening the pain. This not only involves the types of food you eat but also the way that you eat.
Among some of the more helpful tips:
- Eat smaller, more frequent meals: Instead of three squares a day, try five to six snack-sized meals that place less stress on the mouth.
- Take smaller bites: It often helps to cut your food into small pieces before starting to eat.
- Puree your food: If your mouth is too sore to chew, get a blender and puree it.
- Moisten your food: Gravy and broth are not only ideal for softening food but also provide added nutrition. You can also make food more slippery with a splash of olive oil or canola oil.
- Use a straw: Sucking drinks through a straw can help you bypass mouth sores.
Here’s what you can eat to cure mouth ulcers

Mouth ulcers are unpleasant and no matter how much you love eating spicy and tangy foods, you end up skipping your favourite foods during this time. Unfortunately, even the smallest mouth ulcers can make it difficult to swallow food, due to the immense pain and that weird sensation in the mouth.
Those little sores can actually be a major pain, if not treated properly. However, in most cases it doesn’t require any such medication to heal. Mouth ulcers or canker sores often occur in the gums, lips and tongue, which makes it difficult to chew or swallow food. In fact, during this time taking care of what you eat becomes essential.

Here are a few remedies that can help in reliving the pain
Basil
Holy basil also known as tulsi is a miraculous herb, which can work wonders in healing mouth ulcers. You just need to take a few washed leaves, chew them well and drink some water
Tomatoes:
This sweet-tangy fruit can not only amp up the taste of your food, but at the same time can work as a perfect healer for mouth ulcer. You just need to either eat raw tomatoes or gargle with tomato juice this helps curing the sores.
Fenugreek
Fenugreek seeds as well as leaves are a powerhouse of nutrition and can work wonders in treating as well as preventing various ailments. You can boil a few leaves in some water and gargle with that water 3-4 times a day.
Turmeric
Turmeric has been the best pain reliever since ages and can heal anything and everything. Apart from adding it to your food, you can mix a pinch of turmeric with two three drops of clear glycerin and blend well to apply to the sores.
Coconut milk or oil
You can massage some coconut milk or edible coconut oil on the sores, and wash it after sometime. This helps in healing the mouth ulcer easily.
Foods That Cause Mouth Ulcers

Mouth ulcers are common and mostly harmless sores that occur inside the mouth. However, anyone who’s had one knows how unpleasant they are.
There are many things that cause these painful sores. Anxiety, stress, biting the inside of your cheek, and smoking are some typical reasons why you develop canker sores. What you eat is a huge contributor as well.
If you experience frequent mouth sores and they are not going away, this may have to do with your diet. It’s important to visit a dentist that knows how to identify the source of your canker sore problem and offer fast treatment. This way, you can get some professional advice that is also personalized to you.
In the meantime, read on to find out what major foods can cause mouth ulcers.
Acidic fruits
Fruits that are acidic, or particularly citrusy, can cause your mouth to break out in ulcers. Pineapples, oranges, lemons, and limes are some examples of fruits with high acidity. Strawberries, in particular, tend to cause mouth irritation.
These fruits cause mouth tissue stress and can aggravate your gums. This is especially true if you already have a sensitive mouth. Any juices made with these fruits will also have the same effect.
Bananas, watermelon, and apples are good fruits to eat – you will avoid abrasion.
Nuts
As nutritious as nuts are, they are surprisingly bad for your teeth. Nuts such as walnuts, peanuts, cashews, and almonds are dangerous territory for your gnashers. It is the amino acid L-Arginine in these nuts that contributes to canker sores.
Salted nuts are especially bad, as the sodium dries your mouth out and cause the lining to become slightly inflamed.
Chocolate
Deal breaker! Chocolate, unfortunately, is a top food that causes mouth ulcers. This is mainly because of an alkaloid in chocolate called the obromide. The mouth is quite sensitive to this ingredient and it can lead to something similar to an allergic reaction. Some people who have this mild allergy will develop canker sores on their tongue and/or inner cheeks.
You don’t have to cut out chocolate completely, but if it causes you pain in your mouth, then consider cutting down on the cocoa.
Spicy Foods
Spicy foods can disrupt the lining inside your mouth, causing an ulcer. A bit like acidic fruits, spicy foods have high acidity and therefore are more likely to distress the skin.
You’ll want to avoid foods like curries, hot sauce, jalapenos, and spicy chips to save yourself from oral pain. Most of these are a double whammy, as they tend to have high salt content as well.
Hard Foods
This is quite a broad range of foods. Yet, it is foods classified as “hard” that are abrasive, sharp, and sore-forming:
- Raw vegetables
- Toast
- Potato chips
- Pretzels
It’s best to avoid these when you can if you’re prone to canker sores.
Alternatively, eat these in smaller sized mouthfuls. You could also combine the foods with something that takes the dry and hardness away. Applying extra butter to toast, and having raw vegetables or potato chips with dip may help your mouth cope better.
Foods You Are Allergic To
We briefly mentioned chocolate allergies. If there is a certain food that is giving you mouth ulcers time and time again, you may be allergic.
Try and note down what foods trigger your mouth ulcers. Experiment with the foods you eat each week, cutting back on certain items and increasing your dosage of others. This way, you can figure out what ingredients are the most harmful.
If you’re in pain from eating a small quantity of a certain food, then see a doctor for allergy testing.
Dairy
Dairy products such as milk, cheese, and yogurt are all common contributors to canker sores. Some doctors think that there is an ingredient in cow milk proteins that links to mouth ulcers. A flare-up could be due to an adverse immune reaction to cow’s milk.
If your mouth sores are recurring, it is definitely worth cutting out dairy products, especially those containing animal milk. Opt for soy and oat milk-based products and vegan cheese and see if these changes make a difference.
Coffee and Alcohol
There are certain drinks that, if consumed, bring a risk of oral ulcers. Coffee and alcohol (preferably not together!) are both very acidic. These are both drinks we often take in large quantities, and we’re least likely to give these up. It might be necessary to decrease your dose if you’re experience chronic mouth pain as a result.
The Food You’re Not Eating
Now, let’s shift the focus away from the foods you should avoid to foods you should pay attention to!
People get mouth ulcers if they are lacking certain vitamins and minerals in their diet. If your body is low on zinc, iron, B12 and/or folate then there’s a high chance you will get recurring sores.
To boost your levels of these, get more of these foods in your diet:
- Zinc: oysters, whole grains and legumes
- B12: meat, nutritional yeast, and yeast extract, and fortified cereals
- Iron: dried fruit, green vegetables, red meat, beans and lentils
- Folate: bread, rice, chickpeas, beans, and fresh fruit and vegetables
Foods To Cure Mouth Ulcer

Mouth ulcers or stomatitis are red boils which grow inside the mouth. These small erosions in the lining of the oral cavity or the tongue are harmless but really painful. Mouth ulcers or stomatitis can caused due to allergy to a toothpaste, stress, poor digestion, vitamin B and folic acid deficiency, spicy food, smoking or alcohol to name a few. By eating the right food, you can cure as well as prevent the chances of getting mouth ulcers.
5 foods to cure mouth ulcers:
Vitamin B: Deficiency of this vitamin can lead to mouth ulcers, anemia, fatigue, mania, and depression. Include vitamin B rich foods such as oysters, fish eggs, soy milk, meat, eggs and rice milk to cure mouth ulcers.
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Iron rich foods: Iron not only cures mouth ulcer but also strengthens bones and muscles. To stay fit and healthy, always have iron rich foods such as spinach, beef, oysters, chicken liver, turkey, ham, sesame, cereals, pumpkin, potato, broccoli, wheat gram and eggs.
Folic acid: As mouth ulcers or stomatitis are recurring, you prevent them by including folic acid in your diet. Dark green vegetables such as spinach, collard greens, asparagus, lettuce, green peas and turnip greens are rich in folic acid. Also include beans, papaya, pineapple, banana and grapefruit in yor diet to cure mouth ulcers.
Coconut water: This is not a food but has a great healing effect. To cure mouth ulcers easily, drink plenty of coconut water. Coconut water soothes stomatitis inflammation and also prevents the mouth ulcer from recurring.
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Fruits: Citrus fruits, pineapple and bananas are healthy foods to cure mouth ulcers. These fruits help as they improve digestion, are anti-inflammatory and rich in vitamin C.
When you have mouth ulcers or stomatitis, have these foods to cure them. These foods have other health benefits so include them in your diet.
12 Natural Remedies To Cure Mouth Ulcers

People who have experienced mouth ulcers know the discomfort and pain that this condition can cause. Eating becomes next to impossible and whatever little you try to ingest goes down very painfully. Stress has a big role to play in these ulcers appearing inside the mouth along with malnutrition. The exact causes of mouth ulcers vary from person to person. Some of the common causes of mouth ulcers include:
- The lack of essential vitamins and minerals in the body (B12, zinc, iron and folate).
- As a response to bacteria in the mouth.
- Sensitivity to food containing acids like lemon, pineapple, strawberries or any other acidic food.
- Intolerance to gluten can trigger the formation of mouth ulcers.
- Toothpaste or mouthwash containing sodium lauryl sulphate can cause ulcer formations.
Here’s a quick guide on the different types of ulcers
There are several drugs and medications available in the market that can provide temporary relief from the condition. However, none of these conventional remedies offers a permanent cure for mouth ulcers. Simple home remedies work best in this regard. Here is a list of 12 home remedies for mouth ulcers that can act as a cure and also aid in preventing the disease altogether.
1. Honey
Honey has many beneficial properties. However, you may be unaware of the fact that it can also be an effective cure for mouth ulcers. Apply honey on the ulcers and let it remain. Since the ulcers are inside the mouth, you can accidentally ingest the applied honey along with your saliva. However, it is essential that you keep applying honey to the ulcer spots after every few hours.
Honey has antimicrobial properties and can aid in repairing any open wound quickly. Aside from reducing the ulcer, the honey also protects the area from infections.
2. Baking Soda Paste
Take equal amounts of baking soda and water. Mix them to create a thick paste. Apply this paste to the mouth ulcer and let it dry out. Once the mixture has dried, rinse your mouth with water and gargle as well. This should be done three times a day.
Baking soda is actually a chemical compound named sodium bicarbonate. This compound is used in many home-cleaning solutions. It also acts as one of the best mouth ulcer cures, as it can reduce the pain significantly. The baking soda neutralizes the acid formed by the ulcer, which eventually treats the condition.
3. Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is used in a wide variety of activities across most of India. However, very few people are aware of its healing properties when it comes to mouth ulcers. Simply apply a bit of coconut oil to the surface of the ulcer and let it stay on. You can also apply it while going to sleep at night. Similar to honey, coconut oil includes antimicrobial properties that help to reduce ulcers naturally. The same compound also acts as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic treatment for your mouth ulcers. Applying the oil can reduce the pain caused due to mouth ulcers.
4. Saltwater
Mix a tablespoon of salt in a glass of lukewarm water. Now gargle thoroughly using this liquid. Once you are done, you can gargle with plain water to remove the salty taste from your mouth. Using this procedure, you can soothe some of the pain and discomfort that you experience during the mouth ulcer. The antiseptic properties of salt are well known.
5. Toothpaste
Who knew that simple toothpaste can help against mouth ulcers as well? However, any good toothpaste contains antimicrobial properties that can reduce the swelling and pain of mouth ulcers.
Apply the toothpaste using a Q-tip. Ensure that you cover the entire ulcer region with toothpaste. Leave the paste on for a few minutes before rinsing it off. You can keep applying the toothpaste each day until you see the whiteness disappear from the ulcer. However, applying toothpaste to the ulcer can be quite painful. This pain can be offset by applying aloe vera gel on the spot.
6. Orange Juice
Orange is a great source of Vitamin C, which can prevent and aid mouth ulcers. However, consuming a whole orange may be difficult when you are suffering from these ulcers. A great cure for mouth ulcers is to drink two glasses of freshly squeezed orange juice every day.
Research has shown that Vitamin C deficiency can lead to mouth ulcers. Apart from this, Vitamin C is known to boost the immunity of a person, allowing their body to fight against all kinds of infections and diseases.