Help! Persistent oily, greasy, waxy feel in mouth!
jshabatu
Posts: 24 Member
Hello!
I am having the strangest feeling in my mouth and heading to the doctor soon if I can't get it resolved. The symptoms are a waxy, greasy feeling in my mouth, mostly on the tip of my tounge and the roof of my mouth.
Anyone have any thoughts? I have not found hardly anyone describing such a thing online---and usually they are on medications or have GERD.
Thanks! I am pretty worried, but I hate to go in for nothing...
Jes
I am having the strangest feeling in my mouth and heading to the doctor soon if I can't get it resolved. The symptoms are a waxy, greasy feeling in my mouth, mostly on the tip of my tounge and the roof of my mouth.
- Sensation started Friday night after eating some sirloin sliders. I have never had them before and I recently started eating beef again after a 27 year break. Last time I ate beef was about 2 weeks ago and this didn't happen.
- I am 40 yo female, 120 lb, who eats healthy but no special diet.
- It seemed worse over the weekend if I ate any fatty food, like cheese.
- Monday morning it is worse. If I eat anything, even just plain oatmeal with no butter or salt, the sensation is so bad that I have to push the food to the back of my tongue--or it feels like I am eating the melty wax of a candle.
- No history of peptic upset (I have a fairly iron stomach)
- No change in saliva rate from usual
- Maybe a very slight metallic/acid taste?
- Also, just to disclose everything-- I went to the dentist the day before the symptoms started and had a filling put in, so some aesthetic and UV light was in my mouth. But my mouth felt totally normal for the rest of Thursday and Friday until the beef.
- I am on no medications except for a 1/3 decongestant tab each night a sleep aid, which I have done for years
- Vitamins: Cal/Magnesium, Vit. D, probiotics, Hyaluronic Acid
Anyone have any thoughts? I have not found hardly anyone describing such a thing online---and usually they are on medications or have GERD.
Thanks! I am pretty worried, but I hate to go in for nothing...
Jes
2
Replies
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Call your dentist right away and describe your symptoms. Maybe an allergic reaction to something.10
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Thanks! I will start there in the morning. I did research that and I can't find any other examples. It seems like if it was an allergy it would have started sooner than a day and half later--but there is no harm in calling them. Thanks for your support!
It may be a little better tonight. Or I'm getting used to it!1 -
A day and a half later is just about right for a new allergic reaction.4
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Thanks! I will start there in the morning. I did research that and I can't find any other examples. It seems like if it was an allergy it would have started sooner than a day and half later--but there is no harm in calling them. Thanks for your support!
It may be a little better tonight. Or I'm getting used to it!
That's actually not unusual timing for a new reaction. I've had reactions to new antibiotics after three days on them. Your body has to be exposed and then decide it doesn't like it.
It could be a food reaction too- my mouth goes numb with celery, and you can even develop an allergy after you've eaten something for years. I only developed the celery reaction a few years ago, but I've had an apple reaction since I was a kid.4 -
UPDATE: This morning (Tuesday) it may be a bit better--or I am starting to get used to the sensation. Front of the tongue also tastes a bit acidic or metallic in addition to greasy.
Called the dentist. He said he had never heard of such a thing but would do more research and he wants to see me over lunch today. He thinks it might be salivary, or dietary. He thinks he would have more insight than a GP, but I am not sure...
I am also still curious about diet. The only thing I changed last week is the beef eating component... I was rather surprised that after eating beef for the first time in 27 years I had no detectable effects. Before that, I was strict lacto-ovo vegetarian (eat milk products and eggs, but no meat or fish). I have had beef on 2 other occasions, once about 2-weeks ago and the first time about 2-months ago.
Another OTC I am on right now is D-mannose for a recurrent UTI. I take around 500mg 2x daily. It really cured the UTI after 3 failed rounds of antibiotics. I did research on this as well and could find no one with these same "ways mouth" symptoms.
Anyhow, just tossing it alllll out there so there is a full record of what I am imbibing.
Thanks to everyone for the encouragement! I'll keep you posted!4 -
A metallic taste and oily mouthfeel are signs that your body is in ketosis - as a result of consuming 50g net carbs (or fewer).
Have you been eating mostly meats and veggies? If so, you could be in ketosis. There's nothing wrong with that, it's not harmful. But I know my mouth feels oily when it happens.11 -
A metallic taste and oily mouthfeel are signs that your body is in ketosis - as a result of consuming 50g net carbs (or fewer).
Have you been eating mostly meats and veggies? If so, you could be in ketosis. There's nothing wrong with that, it's not harmful. But I know my mouth feels oily when it happens.
Nope, sorry. I appreciate your thoughts though! I am on no restrictive diet. I ate 2c of oatmeal for breakfast, lasagna last night for dinner and a big bready sandwich today for lunch with 2 pieces of fruit.2 -
Okay! So I am back from the dentist. He asked out on his professional networks and no one has heard of this condition. They did notice that the inside of my lips are dark red, almost like blood has pooled. He said I should do some Benadryl 3x a day in case it is some type of dietary allergy. I've never had any allergy before to food or anything. He was very interested but completely stumped. Saliva looks normal. Tissues (save the inside of the lips) look great.
When I add "red lips" to the google search, I did come up with an article about "burning mouth syndrome" (BMS) which occurs in post-menopausal woman. But I am just 40, and not there yet
But one of the symptoms of BMS is a "slimy" feeling mouth, so maybe I am not crazy. I just don't have GER or a burning sensation in my mouth---which are the other hallmarks.
One more fun fact. The dentist gave me a Xylitol spray for folks with dry mouth. He thought it was an off chance, but had the spray as a sample, so why not. I was feeling extra slimy, waxy, soapy when I got out to the car, so I tried a spritz of this spray into my mouth. BOOM! Totally filled my mouth with soapy, slimy feel. Saliva turned instantly super viscous. It was the most instantaneous reaction yet! It was so strong and so sudden that I started laughing and ran back into the dentist to tell them what happened. And they looked perplexed and said "keep us posted."
Oy. I'll post back if I come to any conclusions.
6 -
Could it be a reaction to Xylitol? Did they use it the first time you went to the dentist?1
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CindyWard2 wrote: »Could it be a reaction to Xylitol? Did they use it the first time you went to the dentist?
Good guess, but I have been using Xylitol for more than 15 years, nearly daily. I even use a Xylitol tooth paste!
1 -
Sometimes allergies happen spontaneously. My dad went from eating a half a jar of peanut butter at one sitting to being in the emergency room with anaphylactic shock. He'd been eating peanuts for years and then, just about overnight, it changed.9
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Feels like little change today
Maybe slightly better, but then I think I am just getting used to the sensation. I have been on the Benadryl for 14hrs and it does not seem to help with the waxy feel, but now my lips are not red at all. My throat seemed a little scratchy last night but this morning it is fine.
I have talked with two dentists, a GP and a pharmacist. And no one has suggestions beyond the Benadryl...
I am going to stop taking all my supplements just to remove them from the equation.
I am trying to look for correlations in what triggers it. Here is a list of foods and how my mouth reacts. And by reacts, I mean that it feels like my mouth fills up with glycerin or flavorless soap. Or fluid candle wax. It's hard to put words on. It feels waxy all the time, but when I eat it intensifies. I would say it certainly affects the taste of food because you can't really taste much when your mouth is filled with "glycerin-wax-slime."
Waxy Reaction Amount:- Plain thick rolled oatmeal: Huge
- Xylitol "moisture spray": Huge
- Cheese pizza: large
- Sirloin sliders (beef, caramelized onions, cream cheese, pepper jelly, bun): large
- Fruit (pear, plum, apple): large
- Toast with butter: medium
- Peanut butter: small
- Pancakes (whole wheat + added oatmeal) with butter: small
- Coffee with skim milk and stevia: small
- Lettuce: small
- Amy's bean and cheese burrito: small
- Raw almonds: small
- White wine: small:
- Carbonated water: none (helps)
- Sugar-free Halls citrus cough-drops: none (helps)
- Plain water: none
Thanks for your help everyone!4 -
Could it be bacterial?3
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Nerve damage?3
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Feels like little change today
Maybe slightly better, but then I think I am just getting used to the sensation. I have been on the Benadryl for 14hrs and it does not seem to help with the waxy feel, but now my lips are not red at all. My throat seemed a little scratchy last night but this morning it is fine.
I have talked with two dentists, a GP and a pharmacist. And no one has suggestions beyond the Benadryl...
I am going to stop taking all my supplements just to remove them from the equation.
I am trying to look for correlations in what triggers it. Here is a list of foods and how my mouth reacts. And by reacts, I mean that it feels like my mouth fills up with glycerin or flavorless soap. Or fluid candle wax. It's hard to put words on. It feels waxy all the time, but when I eat it intensifies. I would say it certainly affects the taste of food because you can't really taste much when your mouth is filled with "glycerin-wax-slime."
Waxy Reaction Amount:- Plain thick rolled oatmeal: Huge
- Xylitol "moisture spray": Huge
- Cheese pizza: large
- Sirloin sliders (beef, caramelized onions, cream cheese, pepper jelly, bun): large
- Fruit (pear, plum, apple): large
- Toast with butter: medium
- Peanut butter: small
- Pancakes (whole wheat + added oatmeal) with butter: small
- Coffee with skim milk and stevia: small
- Lettuce: small
- Amy's bean and cheese burrito: small
- Raw almonds: small
- White wine: small:
- Carbonated water: none (helps)
- Sugar-free Halls citrus cough-drops: none (helps)
- Plain water: none
Thanks for your help everyone!
What supplements do you take?
Have you added anything new lately? Even a different brand?2 -
When I've had fried foods at some fast food (or fast sit-down) restaurants in the past, sometimes I've gotten get a weird greasy sensation on my tongue as well. I think there is some sort of chemical that they put in the frying grease, so that it wont absorb the taste of the food. Did you eat anything that could have been deep fried? Or, there could have been some chemical added to the beef.
In the past I have also had some mouth problems, following some dental work, that were resolved by taking high doses of B-complex vitamins. Could be similar to scurvy. You may want to consider taking B-complex and maybe L-lysine. I'm not a doctor so of course consult your physician or dentist first. My dentist was able to compare pictures in one of his textbooks to what my mouth looked like...I hope you feel better soon!0 -
Do you drink enough water? It might be dehydration.3
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My dad, a veteran of several chronic conditions, tells me that all pills come with the symptom of "dry mouth".1
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Have you eaten pine nuts recently? There's a wierd condition where some crops of pine nuts cause wierd taste/mouthfeel after eating....
6 -
This might sound ridiculous, but I had something similar last month. Everything I ate tasted like dish soap. Everything. Google said potassium, fluoride -- all sorts of things. What was it? Dish soap.
I changed the soap I was using in the dishwasher to one without any scent (7th Generation) and same with the dish liquid I use to hand wash dishes. Problem solved.
Maybe the waxy grease is just waxy grease, especially from meat that you're not used to.7 -
Maybe the sirloins were mixed with liver. What you describe is the feeling in my mouth eating liver. Blech.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
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Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
3 -
You can develop an allergy to anything at any time -- even something you've been using for 15 years. Thank goodness it's not an anaphylaxis reaction!
I hope you figure out the cause soon.4 -
TenaciousGymKitten wrote: »Those symptoms can be caused by an iron and/or vitamin deficiency.
I have a similar sensation (waxy mouth) after eating high-iron foods, especially raw spinach.0 -
Wow! Thanks everyone for chiming in!
Yesterday afternoon it shifted a bit for the better. Yesterday (Wednesday) I got in my car to drive someplace around noon, and I was like "Hey, my mouth doesn't feel as slimy." This is the first shift towards normalcy in 5 days. When I awoke this morning it was about this same level of "less."
Here are my responses to your helpful posts:- Q: Did you eat (greasy, fried, liver, spinach, etc.) because I have had that happen to me...
- A: Yes, I have had a waxy feeling after eating homemade ice cream, but this is different because it is PERSISTENT. It never goes away. The front of my tongue and roof of my mouth feel like they are covered in wax. In glycerin. Day and night. Day after day. It gets worse when I eat or drink nearly anything, but some foods make it way worse. And that's why I made the food list above (and new one below).
- Q: Did you change supplements/anything in your diet?
- A: That is what I am racking my brain on! The only major change was not eating any meat for 27 years, but that change started months ago. I first noticed the reaction when I ate sirloin, and this was my 4th time eating beef. I have stopped all of my other supplements until this gets solved.
- Q: Could it be nerve damage?
- A: Thanks! I had that thought because of the dental work I had done, so last night I carefully took a tiny pick and gently touched all over my mouth in the most affected areas, and I have no loss of sensation. Also, the dentists are completely stumped... so if it was a reaction I think someone else would have had a similar reaction?
- Q: What about anemia (iron deficiency)?
- A: I cook exclusively in cast iron and eat a ton of soy, greens, whole wheat, raisins, seeds, nuts, and eggs. It also seems odd that this would fluctuate dramatically with different foods if it was a deficiency... but I can't rule this out without blood work. I will certainly evaluate this if it is not way better soon.
- Q: Could it be soap?
- A: Nope. it has a soap "feel" as I am struggling to describe the sensation. But no taste. Fatty would be the best description, but you can't brush it away... It never stops.
- Q: Could it be low carbs?
- A: Nope. I eat a ton of carbs. Never been on a low carb diet. I am an athlete (road bike) and need to eat lots of calories and carbs.
- Q: Maybe a new food allergy?
- A: Jury still out... I don't have a rash, itch, sneeze or restriction in breathing. Mainly I am skeptical that this it is an allergy because you can't "google" anyone having this response (unless they are on a medication or have GER). So this alone gives me hope that it is not an allergic reaction. That and the sensation never abates. It is always there. It simply gets worse when I eat almost anything--but it has never gone away in 5-days. I am also taking 3x daily Benadryl antihistamine, and it has no impact. If it was a histamine response, you would think this would shift it?
Here is a list of foods I ate yesterday and the response (additional fatty-waxy feel):- Tahini - huge
- Tomato paste - huge
- Balsamic vinegar - large
- Cherry tomatoes - large
- Fresh spinach salad - low
- Fried breaded shitake mushrooms- low
- Risotto - low
- Red wine - low
- Pita bread - low
- non-fat milk - none
- Scope mouthwash - none
Thanks so much Myfitnesspal community! I feel like I am not walking alone!!!3 -
You haven't eaten with pine nuts in it have you? I once got pine mouth from that and it was horrible. Wasn't a waxy feel though - just a bitter taste.
Hope it goes soon!0 -
Have you eaten pine nuts recently? There's a wierd condition where some crops of pine nuts cause wierd taste/mouthfeel after eating....
I was just going to say that! It happened to us once- it turned out to be imported ones from china. It lasted about ten days and was truly dreadful. Can't bear to have them any more - even make our own pesto now, sans pine nuts!1 -
Go to a GP and get a full bloodwork done.
Then get referred to an allergist and get a set of the pin-prick tests done.
Meanwhile, only eat the foods that give you the least reactions. You might also switch to bottled water in case it is something in the water.
Oh, and get checked for pregnancy.5 -
Thanks everyone! This is now day 8. No change since Thursday. Still same intensity of "waxy" feel. No change in saliva output. Mouth feels totally normal, just roof of mouth feels like it's covered in wax. But only when I touch it with my tongue. If I touch my pallet with my finger it feels normal... so maybe it's my tongue?
Feeling great otherwise. I am scheduled to go back to the dentist Tuesday and I guess I will get a referral to an "Ear, nose, throat"specialist at that time. I will ask about allergy, but golly, it is honestly totally persesitant and and only gets worse when I eat nearly anything.
I am starting to get used to it though! ;P
1. Nope, I have eaten no pine nuts. Good thought! Weird your "odd taste" lasted a week?!
This has very little taste associated with it.
2. Will visit GP next week too.
3. On my cycle now, so not pregnant
I did find a few more ppl out there on forums reporting "plastic, waxy, slick" mouth feel...but all of the threads die out after one post. So I am hopeful it will go away soon. I am dedicating to keeping this thread alive until I get some resolution. I want to help the next person! It is freaky to have something so substantial happening to my body that no one else has reported as a symptom.
I'm a total footy, so this condition is a game changer for me. Trying not to feel depressed.
Thanks again for your support!
J4 -
Perhaps the tip of your tongue got burnt from hot/spicy/acidic food?Thanks everyone! This is now day 8. No change since Thursday. Still same intensity of "waxy" feel. No change in saliva output. Mouth feels totally normal, just roof of mouth feels like it's covered in wax. But only when I touch it with my tongue. If I touch my pallet with my finger it feels normal... so maybe it's my tongue?
Feeling great otherwise. I am scheduled to go back to the dentist Tuesday and I guess I will get a referral to an "Ear, nose, throat"specialist at that time. I will ask about allergy, but golly, it is honestly totally persesitant and and only gets worse when I eat nearly anything.
I am starting to get used to it though! ;P
1. Nope, I have eaten no pine nuts. Good thought! Weird your "odd taste" lasted a week?!
This has very little taste associated with it.
2. Will visit GP next week too.
3. On my cycle now, so not pregnant
I did find a few more ppl out there on forums reporting "plastic, waxy, slick" mouth feel...but all of the threads die out after one post. So I am hopeful it will go away soon. I am dedicating to keeping this thread alive until I get some resolution. I want to help the next person! It is freaky to have something so substantial happening to my body that no one else has reported as a symptom.
I'm a total footy, so this condition is a game changer for me. Trying not to feel depressed.
Thanks again for your support!
J
4 -
cerise_noir wrote: »
Perhaps the tip of your tongue got burnt from hot/spicy/acidic food?Thanks everyone! This is now day 8. No change since Thursday. Still same intensity of "waxy" feel. No change in saliva output. Mouth feels totally normal, just roof of mouth feels like it's covered in wax. But only when I touch it with my tongue. If I touch my pallet with my finger it feels normal... so maybe it's my tongue?
Feeling great otherwise. I am scheduled to go back to the dentist Tuesday and I guess I will get a referral to an "Ear, nose, throat"specialist at that time. I will ask about allergy, but golly, it is honestly totally persesitant and and only gets worse when I eat nearly anything.
I am starting to get used to it though! ;P
1. Nope, I have eaten no pine nuts. Good thought! Weird your "odd taste" lasted a week?!
This has very little taste associated with it.
2. Will visit GP next week too.
3. On my cycle now, so not pregnant
I did find a few more ppl out there on forums reporting "plastic, waxy, slick" mouth feel...but all of the threads die out after one post. So I am hopeful it will go away soon. I am dedicating to keeping this thread alive until I get some resolution. I want to help the next person! It is freaky to have something so substantial happening to my body that no one else has reported as a symptom.
I'm a total footy, so this condition is a game changer for me. Trying not to feel depressed.
Thanks again for your support!
J
That was what I was thinking. Sometimes I get a similar feeling if I eat pizza or drink coffee that is way too hot.5
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