Our tonsils are among the first lines of defense against illness. They work like skimmers or nets, trapping bacteria and viruses as they pass through the throat. But they don’t always work the way they’re supposed to. On occasion bacteria, dead cells and mucous can become trapped in the crevices of the tonsils, gathering and hardening into small white or yellowish stones called tonsil stones.
Tonsiliths are simply “garbage” that gathers around the tonsils, like postnasal drip, bacteria, and even food. They harden into small, yellow-colored stones that can look like small white spots at the back of the throat. They may also be caused by salivary glands that are overactive, or as a reaction to dairy products.
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.
But how do you know if you have tonsiliths? The symptoms are unpleasant and can be extremely embarrassing. The most common is the feeling of having something stuck in the back of your throat or a feeling of your throat tightening up. You might have a metallic aftertaste you can’t get rid of and of course, foul breath.
You can treat tonsil stones, though, and in many cases you can do it from home. Gargle thoroughly and establish a good oral hygiene routine, which can help take care of them. You can reach the back of your throat with your finger, a Q-tip, or the back of your toothbrush, and gently scrape them away. You can squeeze them out by brushing gently upwards with your brush, finger, etc., pressing gently as you do so. There are other methods you can get rid of them with, too, and you can find them by Googling, “tonsil stones,” or “tonsiliths” on the Internet.
In some particularly severe cases, surgery may be recommended. Cryptolysis is a surgical procedure whereby a surgeon removes the tonsil stones with a laser, and then smoothes the surface of the tonsil so as to prevent regrowth of the tonsiliths. Even though that may seem like a good idea, remember that smoothing the surface of the tonsils may in fact negate some of the positive effects of those rough surfaces, because those rough surfaces do catch bacteria before they can do significant damage.
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.
There are other ways to help fight tonsil stones, among them diet and good oral hygiene. Cut back on your dairy intake and don’t eat for half an hour before bed to keep food from accumulating. Brush your teeth after you eat and before bed to keep bacteria from gathering, gargle and drink water. Not only will following these tips be good for your mouth and your breath, but good for your body, as well.
