Im a 24-year-old male and generally very healthy. I usually brush my teeth regularly, although I occasionally miss a brushing here and there.

I went through a period where I was drinking a lot of alcohol. Shortly after that, I experienced a pretty severe acid reflux episode. Since then, I’ve had trouble swallowing food without triggering reflux symptoms again.

Around the same time, I noticed some changes in my mouth. I’ve developed a few spots on my tongue and some buildup on the surface of my tongue (visible in the upper right area of the first photo). I’m also having difficulty initiating a swallow—it feels like my throat hesitates when I try to swallow food.

I recently had a tonsil stone removed, and the area has been painful. Since this started, I’ve been trying to improve my oral hygiene by switching mouthwash and doing saltwater rinses.

I’m wondering:

	•	What could be causing these tongue spots and buildup?

	•	Could acid reflux be related to these symptoms?

	•	Could anxiety or something mental be affecting my swallowing?

	•	Is there a safe way to properly clean my tongue or reduce the buildup?

Any advice or insight would be greatly appreciated.

Having trouble swallowing