What Are Tonsil Stones And Why Do I have Them?
Tonsils can get inflamed and can cause significant problems, but the fact is, these so-called “useless” tonsils that were once removed as a matter of course are in fact not useless at all. In fact, they help protect us from illness, because they are among the first lines of defense that help protect our bodies from bacterial and viral onslaughts. In fact, they trap viruses and bacteria before they can go further. However, they’re not entirely without problems, and they don’t always work like they should. In some cases, mucous, bacteria, dead cells, or other debris can get caught in tonsil crevices, thus causing so-called tonsil stonestonsil stones or tonsiliths, which are small white or yellow colored stones.
Why do they occur? Simply, they come because “garbage” gathers around your tonsils, and when that garbage (things like postnasal drip, food particles, and bacteria) gets caught in tonsil crevices, it hardens into small yellow colored stones that can look like white spots at the back of the throat. Overactive salivary glands and a reaction to dairy products can also cause tonsiliths.
Not long ago, people simply thought these tonsiliths were bits of food or bits of plaque that got caught in the back of the throat — and indeed, they are very small, such that normal physical examinations may not catch them; in some cases, they won’t be seen until a more refined test is used, like a CT scan.
Do you have tonsiliths? That depends; symptoms can be embarrassing and unpleasant indeed. If you have tonsil stones, you can feel as though something is stuck in the back of your throat or that your throat is somehow “tightening.” You may have a metallic taste in your mouth, and you’ll almost always have chronic bad breath.
However, the good news is, there are ways to treat tonsil stones. A thorough gargling and/or brushing routine can help take care of them, as can reaching back with your finger or the back of your toothbrush, for example, to gently scrape them off. You can get rid of them by squeezing them out and brushing upwards gently from the bottom of the tonsil up, pressing gently as you go. Cotton swabs can also be substituted for the toothbrush if you so wish. There are other methods out there; simply Google, “tonsiliths,” or “tonsil stones,” and you’ll come up with a variety of ways to get rid of these nasty but usually relatively innocuous occurrences.
There are also surgical treatments. One option is to undergo cryptolysis, where a surgeon will use a laser to remove the stones and smooth away the surface of the tonsil to prevent the further growth of tonsiliths. But remember, these imperfections in the surface of the tonsil are used to help catch bacteria.
The most drastic procedure is to have your tonsils completely removed. While this will stop the formation of tonsil stones, it won’t cure the bad breath left behind, it won’t remove the bacteria and it won’t completely stop the gathering of stones. All it will do, to be honest, is remove your tonsils. Surgical treatments are also expensive and can take up to a month to fully recover from.
Beyond that, it may simply be better to manage tonsiliths by practicing good oral hygiene and following a healthy diet. Cut down on your dairy intake if you have to and make sure you brush regularly, especially after meals and before bed. This will help keep food from accumulating in your throat such that tonsiliths could form. Gargling as part of oral hygiene is also a good way to keep tonsil stones at bay, as is drinking plenty of water. And all of these tips, of course, are good for your health in general — not just as preventatives for tonsiliths.
Tags: tonsil stones, tonsilloliths