waveymauled

Ever hear of tonsil stones?

Recently, a friend asked me about tonsil stones. He has sore throats several times a year, which are instantly relieved by gargling to remove them.

What are tonsil stones?

Tonsil stones (medical term: tonsilloliths) are small white or yellow deposits on the tonsils. They develop when bacteria, saliva, food particles, and debris from cells lining the mouth get trapped in tiny indentations called crypts. They vary considerably between people, including: Size. They may be so small that you can’t see them with the naked eye. Or they may grow to the size of gravel or, rarely, much larger.

What are the symptoms of tonsil stones?

Often people have no symptoms. In fact, if tonsil stones are small enough, you may not even know you have them. When tonsil stones do cause symptoms, the most common ones are: sore throat, or an irritation that feels as though something is stuck in the throat bad breath cough discomfort with swallowing throat infections.

Who gets tonsil stones?

Anyone who has tonsils can get them. However, some people are more likely than others to form tonsil stones, including those who have tonsils with lots of indentations and irregular surfaces rather than a smooth surface smoke drink lots of sugary beverages have poor oral hygiene have a family history of tonsil stones.

How are tonsil stones treated?

That depends on whether you have symptoms and how severe the symptoms are. If you have no symptoms, tonsil stones may require no treatment. If you do have symptoms, gargling with salt water or removing tonsil stones with a cotton swab or a water flosser usually helps. Avoid trying to remove them with sharp, firm objects like a toothpick or a pen, as that can damage your throat or tonsils.