timbuck2, I am so sorry you have this. Sounds like you could have had Covid. I had a terrible sinus infection with Covid that lasted a while. I have battled this sticky saliva since last year. Never had anything like this until Covid. I have tried everything, been to 5 doctors including (infectious disease), Dermatologist cultured my mouth and it showed nothing but normal mouth bacteria and I did not have thrush. In my heart I think Covid attacked my salivary glands and mucosa. Salty foods & Dairy tend to make it worse so I try to steer clear from those. I use Peroxyl by Colgate in the a.m. and it makes it foam up and I scrape it off, then brush. Salt water rinses, a water pik, and I chew sugar free gum and drinking more water. The Dermatologist told me to use Listerine to keep bacteria down. Mine is worse in the morning and I get choked on this stuff at night sometimes. I spit all day long some days. Anything that you take to dry out your mouth prescription wise, dries my eyes out terribly. I have been told that i have long covid and have been referred to along Covid clinic. It will take a while to get in. If you find out anything that works for you, please let me know and I will do the same. Bless you....