Tonsil stones are a naturally occurring health concern that is much more common than you might think. But unfortunately, people don’t talk about them! If you’ve ever felt like there’s a lump at the back of your throat, you’ve noticed your breath smells bad or you’ve seen something odd in the mirror, it’s possible that you have tonsil stones. How do I know if I have tonsil stones? Read on to find out.
In this article, you will learn:
- What tonsil stones are
- What tonsil stones look like
- What the symptoms of tonsil stones are
- Why we get tonsil stones
- How to get rid of tonsil stones at home
- How to prevent tonsil stones
What exactly are tonsil stones?
Before we get started on how you can tell if you have tonsil stones, it’s important to understand what tonsil stones are and what they are made of.
Tonsil stones are the result of a buildup of debris and bacteria that all naturally occurs in your mouth. They are soft balls of coagulated debris that can include food debris, minerals, bacteria and mucus, to name just a few.
Tonsil stones appear in the pits of your tonsils, and individuals with larger pits are more prone to tonsil stones.
Find out more about what tonsil stones are and how to get rid of them.
What does a tonsil stone look like?
Tonsil stones vary in color. They could be pale yellow, gray or brown, and are usually less than 1 cm in size. If you look in a mirror, they will often appear as small flecks in the back of your mouth around your tonsils.
If you cough them up naturally, they will be small, soft balls that smell bad in any of the above colors.
How do I know if I have tonsilloliths?
What are the symptoms of tonsil stones?
Tonsil stones cause a variety of symptoms, other than just the visible flecks.
Common symptoms include:
- Bad breath or a bad taste that is often either sulfurous or similar to mothballs
- Discomfort swallowing, or feeling like you have a lump in your throat
- Coughing up small, smelly balls
- A persistent cough as if you’re trying to dislodge something from your throat
- Sore or sensitive tonsils
Why do we get them?
The purpose of tonsils is to catch bacteria or pathogens that could be damaging to your health.
Sometimes, the pits and folds of your tonsils can catch debris too.
All of the components of tonsil stones naturally occur within your mouth. In some people, these components build up in the pits of the tonsils, causing tonsil stones.
Tonsil stones can be more common in individuals who have suffered with tonsillitis regularly, as infection can encourage this buildup.
If you have deep pits or folds in your tonsils, you’re much more likely to suffer with tonsil stones simply because it is easier for this debris to build up.
In the same way, tonsil stones are also much more common in people with poor oral hygiene, as excess plaque buildup means you have more debris in your mouth.
Can I get rid of tonsilloliths at home?
In many cases, people find that they either cough tonsil stones up. Sometimes, they might even fall out and you swallow them without knowing about it. Don’t worry if that does happen – it won’t make you sick!
If you have stubborn tonsil stones or just want to get rid of them quickly, there are tools available to help you do this at home. Tonsil stone removal tools feature a scoop that you can use to dislodge any visible stones, and a syringe that you can use to flush any smaller stones or debris that remain.
How can I prevent tonsil stones?
The easiest way to reduce your chances of tonsil stones is to maintain good oral hygiene. By reducing the amount of plaque on your teeth, you will reduce the amount of debris in your mouth.
You can also prevent this buildup by regularly gargling mouthwash or flushing your tonsils with water to remove any debris that is already present.
Regularly scraping your tongue will also help remove any buildup of mucus, plaque and debris in your mouth that could eventually become tonsil stones.
How Oravix can help
How do I get rid of tonsil stones? With the help of Oravix.
Oravix offers tonsil stone removal kits to help you remove those pesky tonsil stones at home. These kits contain everything you need to not only remove existing stones, but they also include a tongue scraper to reduce the chances of tonsil stones forming in the future. If you’re not sure where to start, the kits also contain instructions for how to clean your tonsils that will help you avoid bad breath and other unwelcome side-effects of tonsil stones.
Haleigh, a former Registered Dental Hygienist, made a career shift to the freelance writing field in 2015. Her enthusiasm for connecting with patients and simplifying intricate concepts drives her writing. Haleigh offers her expertise in blogging and website copywriting within the medical and dental sectors.