Some help with tonsil stones please?
Monday, September 6th, 2010 at
2:42 pm
So I am pretty sure this lump on my tonsil is a tonsil stone. I know they are not harmful and I do get them sometimes. When researching them I read that they are most prevalent in people with tonsillitis or people who’s tonsils swell often. Is that true? Or does everyone get them because I haven’t had a problem with my tonsils since I was 9 or 10 and now I am 19.
Filed under: Tonsil Stones
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I think everyone gets them to some extent, but people who have problems with their tonsils (swelling or itis) are more likely to develop big nasty stones.
Tonsil stones aka tonsiliths are pretty common.
They are more likely to occur in people who have had frequent infections as these leave pits, or crypts, which allow debris to form, which when harden become what we call tonsil stones.
The debris that causes them is not food (although food particles do contribute) they are mainly dead cells, and mucous secretions.
Not everyone has crypts deep enough to allow the stones to form. Generally you get more pits and have them deeper, with recurrent bouts of infection.
They are harmless, but not pleasant. If they grow large enough they can cause soreness, and you can see them as white ’spots’ protruding form the tonsil. If you cough one up and crush it you will find that it smells awful. Do not try to pick them out, as you can cause injury and infection.
Gargling with salt water can help. And you may find that your breath smells.
The only way to cure them permanently is a tonsillectomy. However if you do have one make sure they remove all tonsil matter, including the buds, not just the capsule. I had my tonsils removed at ten, and as they didn’t remove the bud part, I still get them (I was worried as to what these cauliflower looking white lumps that stunk, that came from tonsil area were).