As far as thick gunk - the thickening secretions are normal and annoying. The salt water baking soda mix helps when used several times a day. Second option is to rinse with zero calorie soda. I used to buy a small 8 pack of Sprite Zero and rinse out my mouth. That gave relief as well.

Age 55 HPV 16+ SCC, BOT 050613 Stage IV
great team at OSU
Tx 6 weeks of rad started June 3
8 weeks of chemo started May 28
RTOG Phase III trial Cetuximab group.
Treatment completed 7/16/2013
PET Scan completed 10/08/13
Results discussed 10/11/13
NED - Free but am I
Next part of the journey?
1year PET 10/24/14 NED
Good reports now 10 years out.