Mouth sores can make chewing and swallowing painful, which can interfere with eating. Here are a few strategies you can try to get the nutrition you need when eating is difficult.
Start With Good Mouth Care
Tierney recommends a baking soda and salt rinse to help cleanse the mouth and reduce soreness to help make eating more comfortable.
To make the rinse, mix one cup of water, a ⅛ teaspoon of salt, and a quarter teaspoon of baking soda. Swish it around your mouth gently several times throughout the day.
Choose Soft, Moist Foods
Try softer textures or liquids that allow you to get enough calories without worsening mouth irritation, says Amy Hughes, DO, a board-certified oncologist at Mission Cancer + Blood, a part of University of Iowa Health Care. Soft, smooth foods that don’t require much chewing are often easier to tolerate when your mouth is sore, says Dr. Hughes. Good options include:
- Applesauce
- Yogurt
- Mashed potatoes
- Soft, cooked vegetables
“Adding broth, soups, sauces, or gravies and pureeing or blending foods as needed can make swallowing much easier,” says Tierney. For soft protein, tofu, creamy nut butters, scrambled eggs, and smooth hummus are often better tolerated, she says.
When solid foods are too painful, smoothies and protein shakes allow you to customize ingredients based on what sounds appealing, says Hughes. Add peanut butter, bananas, berries, Greek yogurt, higher-calorie milk, or even a small scoop of ice cream to increase calories.
Holley adds that smoothies can also be made more nutrient-dense by including spinach or other greens, nuts, nut butters, and seeds like chia or flax.
Experiment With Food Temperature
“Some patients prefer warm foods that soothe the throat, while others find cool foods more comfortable for mouth sores,” says Haskell.
If cooler foods feel better, freeze electrolyte beverages into popsicles or try chilled yogurt and smoothies. If warmth helps instead, soups are a good option and can be boosted with protein using bone broth, chicken, or mashed beans, says Haskell. Choose whatever feels best.
What to Avoid
Foods and drinks that sting or burn can worsen pain when you have mouth sores. Hughes recommends avoiding:
- Acidic foods and drinks: Tomato products, citrus juices, vinegar-based dressings, pickled foods
- Citrus fruits: Oranges, lemons, limes, pineapple
- Spicy foods: Hot sauce, chili peppers, curry
- Crunchy or sharp foods: Chips, crackers, raw vegetables, granola
Read the full article here
