White film on back of tongue and swollen taste buds

[sTeaLth 234]

I was at a movie two nights ago and felt something on the back of my tongue.  I kind of got it with my teeth and spit it out.  Then noticed that there was more, so I reached back with my finger and was able to scrape away a lot of white junk.  After the movie, I went to the bathroom and was able to scrape more away.  It was only really on the back of my tongue near my throat.  The taste buds under the white junk were slightly swollen, nothing major but definitely a few bigger ones.  The next day the taste buds were still slightly swollen and sore.  Today, they SEEM smaller and the white junk has not returned.  From what I have read, this is almost never anything serious and just a bacteria in the mouth that needs to be resolved with brushing more, drinking lots of water, and gargling salt water.  I did finish Antibiotics about two weeks ago and that is what is the things that can cause it to happen due to the imbalance of bacteria in the body after using them.  I assume that is all it is?  I am just checking if anyone else has seen this before?  I am not sure if this has happened before and I just didn't have anxiety at the time or not.  Thanks guys!

[Ironman 178]

It was probably due to the antibiotics.  It was likely tonsil stones.  It's not all that serious.  

[sTeaLth 234]

I’ve had the tonsils stones. This was a white film coating the back of my tongue. It was different and a little strange. 

[Ironman 178]

That could be dried spit.  It's probably from the antibiotics.

[sTeaLth 234]

That part is gone now and not really bothering me.  The back of my tongue has several swollen taste buds that are slightly sore.  Not sure if I have had this specifically before or not.  It could have been caused by me scraping my tongue when I noticed the white film a few days ago.  It's hard to say.

[Ironman 178]

Did you stretch your tongue out too far?

[sTeaLth 234]

I mean, more than I normally would but I’ve done that before and never seen these this close to the top. It’s not super concerning as I’m almost positive they are shrinking. I am getting a crown early tomorrow morning and plan to ask the dentist to take a look to see if it’s anything I should go to my doctor for or if the warm salt water gargle I’ve been doing a few times a day is enough to kill and heal it. Dentists know what is concerning in the mouth. 👍🏻

[Ironman 178]

40 minutes ago, sTeaLth said:

I mean, more than I normally would but I’ve done that before and never seen these this close to the top. It’s not super concerning as I’m almost positive they are shrinking. I am getting a crown early tomorrow morning and plan to ask the dentist to take a look to see if it’s anything I should go to my doctor for or if the warm salt water gargle I’ve been doing a few times a day is enough to kill and heal it. Dentists know what is concerning in the mouth. 👍🏻

You are probably doing the right thing.  Dentists have tools to check, too.  Good luck with the crown.  I have one that was made too large and broke teeth around it.  I started wearing a mouthguard.  The hygienist washes it as she does my cleaning.

[sTeaLth 234]

Dentist took a good look after I explained everything and said, “It all looks good.” Then he did my crown. I’ll let it go for now. 👍🏻

[Ironman 178]

2 hours ago, sTeaLth said:

Dentist took a good look after I explained everything and said, “It all looks good.” Then he did my crown. I’ll let it go for now. 👍🏻

I thought you were fine when the tonsil stones were gone.  It had to have been the antibiotic disinfecting.

Good work - I can use the encouragement!

[sTeaLth 234]

Yea. It was not tonsil stones. I get those from time to time. The dentist said it was likely a light thrush from the meds. He didn’t think the taste buds or anything looked bad. I got some peace before he started drilling so I was happy. Ha. 

[Ironman 178]

3 hours ago, sTeaLth said:

Yea. It was not tonsil stones. I get those from time to time. The dentist said it was likely a light thrush from the meds. He didn’t think the taste buds or anything looked bad. I got some peace before he started drilling so I was happy. Ha. 

Well, it was something from the meds lol.  Yeah - with antibiotics, I could break out in ACNE...blech!

[sTeaLth 234]

All those issues mostly have let up and left.  My tongue still has several swollen taste buds on the very back where you can barely see them.  Not super red or crazy scary looking, just lots of them.  They may have always been that way and I am just now noticing.  I have a persistent feeling of something being stuck on the back of my tongue.  Which is annoying and I am sure is related.  I have found that anxiety sufferers have had this exact thing before and after tons of tests coming back negative just started going away on its own.  I am thinking this is my issue.  I have been so focused on my tongue for like a month now that it is probably 95% my mind doing this crap.  Just let let it go, mate!

[Ironman 178]

55 minutes ago, sTeaLth said:

All those issues mostly have let up and left.  My tongue still has several swollen taste buds on the very back where you can barely see them.  Not super red or crazy scary looking, just lots of them.  They may have always been that way and I am just now noticing.  I have a persistent feeling of something being stuck on the back of my tongue.  Which is annoying and I am sure is related.  I have found that anxiety sufferers have had this exact thing before and after tons of tests coming back negative just started going away on its own.  I am thinking this is my issue.  I have been so focused on my tongue for like a month now that it is probably 95% my mind doing this crap.  Just let let it go, mate!

I had a semi-long term issue come up this week - stress from work is triggering everything.  Add to that a reduction of my meds from 30mg to 20mg a day, and I knew I'd be tested.

Yesterday was my birthday and I got a surprise card that became a huge reality check in my anxious thinking that practically ended the entire anxious-mind catastrophizing spell cold lol.

[sTeaLth 234]

Yea, I am trying to believe my mind is creating this one... yet again... and relax it away.  We shall see.  May eventually go to a quick care just to be told it is nothing and gargle salt water I'm sure.  😕

[Ironman 178]

On 6/21/2023 at 6:22 PM, sTeaLth said:

Yea, I am trying to believe my mind is creating this one... yet again... and relax it away.  We shall see.  May eventually go to a quick care just to be told it is nothing and gargle salt water I'm sure.  😕

Actually, salt water isn't bad - neither is watered-down hydrogen peroxide.

[sTeaLth 234]

I did an MD Live to help my fears and the doctor said it could be thrush so she gave me anti fungal mouth rinse stuff. It seems to help a little but my main concern is the swollen taste bud on the back of my tongue that I can’t really see. I’m at Quick Care now to have a doctor actually look over my tongue and give me a final Anxiety break. Or so I hope at least. I’ll update after. 

[Ironman 178]

12 minutes ago, sTeaLth said:

I did an MD Live to help my fears and the doctor said it could be thrush so she gave me anti fungal mouth rinse stuff. It seems to help a little but my main concern is the swollen taste bud on the back of my tongue that I can’t really see. I’m at Quick Care now to have a doctor actually look over my tongue and give me a final Anxiety break. Or so I hope at least. I’ll update after. 

I'd have to look that up - hope fully it will clear up.

[sTeaLth 234]

Doctor did. Good solid look at my tongue and no concerns. Everything looks normal. Said to finish the mouse rinse out and it should go away. Likely some inflammation just made a few taste buds way back swell a bit. Which feels massive in my mouth. I’m resting easy tonight. 

[Ironman 178]

4 hours ago, sTeaLth said:

Doctor did. Good solid look at my tongue and no concerns. Everything looks normal. Said to finish the mouse rinse out and it should go away. Likely some inflammation just made a few taste buds way back swell a bit. Which feels massive in my mouth. I’m resting easy tonight. 

'it didn't sound like it was serious, especially after they saw it the first time.

[Ihadcancer 320]

My tongue is white pretty much all the time.  I don't think it's thrush (was on antibiotics for UTI) because it's not thick and I can't wipe it off.  Now using a tongue scraper and Listerine twice a day.  White tongue can be caused by dry mouth.  I take 2 HBP meds that cause dry mouth and my anxiety med causes dry mouth.  

My taste buds are different sizes.