This is regarding an issue with the gums in the mouth.

Posted by brack1 @brack1, Apr 14, 2023

Has anyone ever heard of or experienced the gums secreting a salty crystal-like substance from the gums? It has a metallic taste and burns the mouth. I’m desperate to find out information. Dentist and periodontal doctor has no clue. Anyone heard of such. It’s driving my wife crazy.

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Becky, Volunteer Mentor | @becsbuddy | Apr 14, 2023

@brack1 welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Salty crystals in the mouth must be difficult to manage. I added a link, about salivary stones, from JohnsHopkins Uni. You might take it to the dentist and see what he/she says.
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/salivary-stones#:~:text=The%20cause%20is%20not%20known,Smoking
It seems that there are many causes for stones so a visit to your doctor might be a good idea.
Can you give your doctor a call on Monday?

brack1 | @brack1 | Apr 14, 2023

In reply to @becsbuddy "@brack1 welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Salty crystals in the mouth must be difficult to manage...." + (show)

Thank you so much for your info, time and consideration. I’ll pass this on to my wife.
Steve Brackett

Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS

mikaylar | @mikaylar | Apr 15, 2023

Maybe you are lacking a particular vitamin. Ask for a complete blood count, including vitamins

brack1 | @brack1 | Apr 15, 2023

Thank you, I’ll pass this on to my wife. 🤓

parrot53 | @parrot53 | Apr 16, 2023

In reply to @mikaylar "Maybe you are lacking a particular vitamin. Ask for a complete blood count, including vitamins" + (show)

Not sure about the issue but here are a couple of sites with some info that may be helpful. Hoping your wife and her doctors figure it out soon.

https://www.healthline.com/health/dental-and-oral-health/salty-taste-in-mouth#refluxhttps://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17875-oral-lichen-planus

brack1 | @brack1 | Apr 17, 2023

Thank you so much! ❤️

brack1 | @brack1 | May 3, 2023

Thanks for the comments. I have gone to the suggested web sites some you referenced to. So far no definitive answers. She is still crunching these solidified crystals which sounds like chewing ice. I’m searching for an answer for her every day. I’m open for suggestions.

Lori, Volunteer Mentor | @loribmt | May 3, 2023

In reply to @brack1 "Thanks for the comments. I have gone to the suggested web sites some you referenced to...." + (show)

Hi @brack1 I’ve been following your conversation about these odd crystals your wife is dealing with…what a crazy thing to happen. Here’s my two cents worth…

Have these crystals been examined for composition?
If you could gather (scrape and collect) enough of them, it’s possible for a hospital pathology department or local commercial analytical lab to do an elemental analysis such as an infrared scan (FTIR) infrared spectral analysis.

A simple examination under a microscope could be a first place to start to determine the morphology of the crystals which could potentially lead to identification, such as uric acid crystals would be sharp and pointy.
By checking the solubility of the crystals to determine if it’s soluble in acidic, alkaline, polar or non polar solvents can be very telling as to the composition to see if it’s carbon based or mineral.

Once the composition is identified that might help lead to the cause of your wife’s condition.
Has she had blood work done recently to make sure she isn’t dealing with high levels of uric acid, or vitamins, etc?

brack1 | @brack1 | May 3, 2023

In reply to @loribmt "Hi @brack1 I’ve been following your conversation about these odd crystals your wife is dealing with…what..." + (show)

Thank you Lori. Jean nor I can see the crystals, but she tells me she has to scrape the residue off her teeth. She is taking vitamin D3. That’s what the blood work showed her low in this vitamin. The only way for a specimen would be depositing her saliva into a container for sampling. I’ll mention that to her so she can follow this up with her provider.
Thanks again for you following and making suggestions. ❤️

Lori, Volunteer Mentor | @loribmt | May 3, 2023

In reply to @brack1 "Thank you Lori. Jean nor I can see the crystals, but she tells me she has..." + (show)

Hi again, You mentioned this is coming from her teeth? Or gums? If it’s coming from her teeth, that sounds more like a plaque buildup. What kind of toothpaste is your wife using?

I’m not questioning her hygiene. I worked in the dental field for 30+ years and just trying to put on my Sherlock Holmes hat. ☺️ There are certain toothpastes that can leave little particles of the silica it uses to polish the teeth. Just wondering if this might be what she’s experiencing? Is this daily? And if she can scrape these particles off her teeth and put them on a glass slide or the side of a glass to see, that would be a start.