Many people had that white, slimy, and gooey substance inside the walls of their mouths at least once. For many, this problem occurs every morning/day and doesn't go away so easily. Many who have this problem also don't know what causes it.
I have noticed I've been getting some stuff that's coming out of my mouth like skin is kind of nasty and I'm wondering what it can be I don't know but it's just started happening?
People reported in the discussion to have this stringy thing on the bottom of their mouths behind their teeth. It was described as if a piece of floss is stuck between teeth. I had the same stringy stuff and discovered that I cannot use gel toothpaste. Some participants told that they experienced this every morning while having their coffee. Others also reported that drinking hot beverages, especially after using antiseptic mouthwash causes the thin layer of skin that lines the mouth to peel like a sunburn, so they get slime in their mouth. For many, the dentist concluded that it was epidermia (skin) peeling off from their gums.
Many who participated in this discussion noticed that a peeling of the oral mucosa usually happens when they use certain toothpastes and mouthwash, especially those that have more aggressive chemicals as their ingredients, leading to dry mouth which somehow contributes to the formation of these strings. Dry mouth may be prominent in mouth breathers.
If the white tongue is present besides white strings, that can be indicative of thrush (yeast), leukoplakia (which is normally harmless), or lichen planus, which should be observed because it can indicate an increased risk of oral cancer, however not necessarily.
Few participants also noticed blood, however, this could rarely be attributed to white strings, but rather other oral conditions.
Many blamed whitening toothpastes, claiming that they notice the problem after using one of these. However, dry mouth is more likely a culprit for white strings, as one member noticed:
I’m 56 years old and before the “whitening” toothpaste was put on the market, I have had the white stringy stuff, and a very dry mouth.
Another participant also pointed that dry mouth should be considered a main cause for white strings and a culprit behind possible complications.
The dry mouth is the issue I would be most concerned about--dry mouth lends itself to increased bacterial activity and damage to teeth.
Other participants mentioned calcium carbonate, aka Tums Rolaids, like baking soda produces that they cause excessively dry mouth, which causes the white stringy film in mouth known as cotton mouth. Many managed to get rid of the white strings after brushing their teeth for 5 minutes while foaming all over. However, white strings would usually return.
While white strings in the mouth are nothing to worry about, they may also indicate serious condition that requires medical treatment, such as fungal or yeast overgrowth, or some sort of infection.
One participant reported having this problem for years until the rheumatologist discovered he had Sjögren's Syndrome with dry mouth, dry eyes, and swollen lymph nodes.
What do experts say?
Dry mouth (clinically termed xerostomia) is a most common cause of forming a white stringy plaque in mouth. Xerostomia occurs when salivary glands can no longer produce normal saliva flow due to mouth breathing while sleeping, age, dehydration, illnesses, medications, use of CPAP machines for sleep apnea, cancer treatment, and more.
Saliva production is a vital bodily function as it helps protect the mouth from infection by controlling bacteria, keeping the mouth moist and clean from dead mouth lining cells and food particles that have accumulated on the tongue, gums and teeth, and neutralizing the acids produced by dental plaque. Saliva also helps with digestion by making it possible to chew, taste, and swallow food.
Dry mouth is a very common condition that affects about 20% of all people in the world and is more prevalent in women than men.
Dry mouth is often seen as a side effect of various types of medications or as a symptom of a disease, such as diabetes, Sjögren's syndrome, scleroderma, or Alzheimer’s disease.
Signs and symptoms of dry mouth
People suffering from dry mouth may experience some of the following signs and symptoms:
- Tooth decay
- White film on the tongue (also known as oral thrush) that happens due to excessive growth of a normal yeast fungus which sometimes flourishes in a dry mouth
- Rough dry tongue
- Metallic taste in mouth
- Bad breath (halitosis)
- A burning or tingling sensation in the mouth
- Thick or stringy saliva
- Difficulty swallowing and chewing
- Mouth sourness or ulcers
- Dry, sore, and cracked lips in the corners of the mouth
Dry mouth can lead to further problems, including tooth decay, disturbed sleep, a constant burning sensation in the throat, difficulty speaking or swallowing, dry nasal passages, gum disease, and oral infections, such yeast infections that attack the tongue.
Treatment of dry mouth
The treatment of dry mouth depends on what's causing it. People may try to do some things to relieve dry mouth, however, only temporarily. To treat it successfully and long-term, you need to address its cause.
People can try following to relieve the dry mouth:
- Chewing gum or suck on hard candies to stimulate the flow of saliva (opt for sugar-free options)
- Limiting your caffeine intake because caffeine can make the mouth drier
- Avoiding sugary or acidic foods and drinks
- Avoiding mouthwashes that contain alcohol because they can also cause or worsen dry mouth
- Quitting smoking or chewing tobacco
- Drinking plenty of water to stay hydrated
- Breathing through nose
- Avoiding over-the-counter antihistamines and decongestants because they can make the symptoms worse
- Brushing with a fluoride toothpaste
- Visiting your dentist at least twice yearly to detect and treat tooth decay or other oral and dental problems.
If these steps don't help, you need to address your dry mouth problem to your doctor or dentist, because the cause could be more serious, such as another condition.
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Discussion highlights
What symptoms have been reported?
- I had the same stringy stuff and discovered that I cannot use gel toothpaste.
- I experience this every morning while having my coffee at work.
- For me, drinking hot beverages after using antiseptic mouthwash causes the thin layer of skin that lines the mouth to peel like a sunburn, so you get slime.
- at first I thought it was coming out of my one tooth but after two visits to the dentist, he concluded that it was epidermia (skin) peeling off from my gums.
- I'm a mouth breather and believe dryness somehow contributes to the formation of these strings.
What could be causing the problem?
- My symptoms started when I began using a Waterpik, which lends credence to reports of this being gum tissue that is somehow loosened and rolled up.
- I'm a mouth breather and believe dryness somehow contributes to the formation of these strings.
- I have an autoimmune disorder, and have a serious infection.
- I get it when I've used whitening toothpastes and Colgate Pro Relief, tis horrible!
- I used to smoke for 3 years and drink also.
What treatments and remedies have been suggested?
- I'm will stop using toothpaste unless I can find Pronamel, begin using Biotene products, and rinse with sesame oil.
- From the beginning, I brushed my teeth, followed by a good brushing with salt, and finally using grape juice as a mouthwash.
- Oil pulling is done by rinsing with a teaspoon of coconut or sesame oil for 15 min.
- Try gargling with salt water instead.
- Now I am convinced the mucus in the mouth is due to dehydration and in future I will be drinking much more water and aim for 6 cups a day.
- need an anti fungal mouth rinse or if it is systemic you will need an anti fungal such as diflucan and i recommend in the future not eating sugar or high fructose corn syrup as it promotes fungal growth and infection.
- Sometimes my doctor gives me a med for yeast infection and that works.
- We are both taking Zithromax, Diflucan, a probiotic, Ivermectin every three weeks, and I take Plaquinel.
- I have tried Repepsa tablet and Anesthetic antiacid syrup.
In conclusion
White stringy thing in mouth is usually nothing to worry about. It is most likely skin that peels off usually because of the dry mouth (xerostomia). However, it is recommended to check any changes in mouth with doctor or dentist because they can be sign of more serious condition.