What not to do if you have a cold sore?

Avoid sharing drinks, utensils, lip products, toothpaste, towels, or any items that might touch the mouth, especially when a sore is present. Avoid skin-to-skin contact with others when cold sores are present. This includes kissing, sexual contact, and contact sports.

What can make cold sores worse?

When cold sores scab and reopen, eating acidic foods can aggravate the sore. Some foods to avoid are: citrus fruits, tomatoes, fruit juices, wine, soda, pickles, and vinegar-based salad dressings. Hot and spicy foods can also have a tendency to break cold sores.

What should you not eat when you have a cold sore?

Be careful about foods with L-arginine. Arginine is an essential amino acids that helps your body build protein. Foods with arginine include certain types of meat, whole grains, beans and dairy products. According to research, too much arginine may potentially trigger the herpes virus and cause cold sores.