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Why You Get Canker Sores When You’re Stressed and How to Heal Them Fast
Ever notice a canker sore pop up right before a big deadline, holiday, or stressful event? You’re not imagining it. Stress doesn’t just affect your mood it can also trigger inflammation throughout your body, including inside your mouth. Those small, painful ulcers on your cheeks, inside of your lip, gums or sometimes on your tongue are your body’s way of signaling it’s under pressure. The good news? Once you understand the connection between stress and canker sores, you can take simple steps to prevent them and heal them fast when they appear.
How Stress Affects Your Mouth
When you’re stressed, your body releases cortisol, a hormone that can weaken your immune system and increase inflammation. This makes it harder for your mouth to fight off minor irritations or bacteria, leading to small but painful ulcers.
- Decreased immunity: Stress lowers your body’s natural defense system.
- Inflammation spike: Cortisol can irritate tissues and slow healing.
- Habit changes: Skipping meals, poor sleep, and teeth clenching make things worse.
Quick fact: Studies show that people under high emotional stress are more likely to experience recurring mouth ulcers.
Foods and Habits That Make Canker Sores Worse
Even after a sore appears, certain foods and habits can delay healing or intensify pain.
- Skip: Citrus fruits, tomatoes, spicy foods, and salty snacks, all can sting and irritate open sores.
- Watch out for: SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate) in toothpaste, it can aggravate ulcers.
- Avoid: Biting your cheek or brushing too aggressively.
- Do: Choose soft, mild foods like yogurt, oatmeal, or smoothies until healing starts.
Fast Relief That Works
When a canker sore strikes, relief can’t come fast enough. Dentemp Canker Cover provides immediate comfort by sealing and soothing the sore with a protective barrier that lasts for hours.
- Adheres gently to cover and protect the sore
- Helps the sore heal faster
- Shields against food, drink, and irritation
- It’s dentist-recommended, easy to use, and available at major retailers like Walmart perfect for those “why now?!” moments.
Simple Stress-Reducing Habits for a Healthier Mouth
The best way to fight stress-related canker sores is to manage the root cause, your stress levels.
Try incorporating:
- Short breathing breaks throughout your day
- Consistent meals (don’t skip lunch on busy days!)
- Adequate sleep and hydration
- Gentle exercise like walking or yoga
- Positive routines journaling, time outdoors, or winding down before bed
Your mouth will thank you, and your whole body will feel better, too.
Canker sores are a pain, literally, but they don’t have to slow you down. If stress has your mouth feeling the effects, reach for Dentemp Canker Cover to soothe and protect while you focus on feeling your best.