Question: I am a 27 year old female, smoker. I have been having some weird throat/ tongue symptoms off and on for the last year. I do have gallstones and frequent acid reflux so I initially thought that my symptoms could possibly be because of this. I also have a few cavities and back wisdom teeth coming in and maybe thought I had a slight infection somewhere in the area of my cavity or wisdom teeth but because of the persistence I am thinking it is non related. My tongue never looks pink, and is often covered in a white coating on the back. When my symptoms initially began it felt as if the taste buds on the back of my tongue were swollen which I noticed/ felt when I would swallow. When I would look, at times I could see swollen taste buds at the back of my tongue, and other times they are only slightly raised, but the odd feeling when I swallow is still there. This feeling is back, and will last for weeks. The white coating on the back of my tongue never really goes away. Sometimes when I eat the back of my throat does feel like it burns a little bit. I also today, have a red spot on my uvula which I have never seen before. I have allergies and my throat has been a slight bit irritiated the last week or so, but not sure if its related. Two days ago I did start using mouth wash to see if this would help. In the morning, I feel ok, I can barely feel this odd feeling like the taste buds on the back of my tongue are swollen. As the day progresses, I drink coffee or smoke it gets worse. I have taken a picture to reference in the event something is noticed of concern or that can answer what might be going on. I have no significant medical history. I checked my mouth and tongue for any lesions, as I am a smoker and know the risks for mouth/throat cancer but there is nothing I can see that looks abnormal or causes for concern.