Common Causes And Risk Factors For Canker Sores

Food Sensitivities

Some fruits and vegetables may or may not cause canker sores, but for individuals who already have them or suffer from them frequently, highly acidic citrus fruits, spicy foods, coffee, and chocolate can trigger or make the sores worse. The open lesion inside of a canker sore can also leave your mouth extremely sensitive to any acidic foods you eat. Foods such as strawberries, tomatoes, and apples should also be avoided when you have canker sores. Some auto-immune conditions, such as celiac disease, can cause canker sores too. Food allergies can sometimes lead to canker sores and are another food sensitivity issue to be aware of when trying to determine the cause.

Keep reading to learn how stress can cause canker sores.

Stress

If you have been suffering from a lot of stress, know it can also cause canker sores. Not only do stressed individuals often experience sharp changes in their diet, but the stress also leads to negative behaviors in the mouth such as teeth clenching and grinding, which may injure the cheeks and lips. Those injuries then lead to sores inside the mouth.

Feeling stressed can also weaken the body's immune system and lowered immune responses have been shown to either cause or worsen canker sores. Hormonal changes, especially those experienced in adolescence, can lead to stresses throughout the body and have been linked to causing canker sores.

Continue reading to learn about when diet might result in canker sores.