A Guide on Removing Tonsil Stones
When speaking about ‘stones’ as part of a physical medical condition, most people think of kidney stones. However, did you know this is not the only organ that can suffer from stones? In fact, one of the more common areas that can experience ‘stones’ is in the tonsils with tonsil stones, or throat stones as they’re sometimes known.
Tonsil stones sound painful, but they rarely lead to more severe health complications – mainly it is a case of discomfort and inflammation. Most people actually don’t even realise they have them until they cough them up.
Which, even then, is not all that likely. Unless their oral health is severely poor, the tonsil stones will not grew big enough in size to be felt and end up getting swallowed.
This article will provide information on what tonsil stones are and how to remove them for good.
What Are Tonsil Stones?
First off, tonsils are soft, fleshy structures located at the back of the throat and formed from a specific tissue known as lymphocytes. The tonsil is a highly important organ in an individual’s body because it stimulates the immune system to prevent and fight bacteria.
Which is why most people try to avoid removal of their tonsils. However this belief is not shared by everyone. Most people’s concern instead is with the pain they will experience after the surgery. Which should not be overlooked, it is really painful!
If the tonsils perform their functions well, they will protect the body from viruses or bacteria; however, if they do not then tonsil stones may develop.
A tonsil stone is formed from materials that calcify and become hard in the crypts of the tonsils. These materials can include saliva, mucus, dead cells, and food fragments that are not cleaned away properly (caused by poor oral hygiene).
Bacteria and fungi then feed on these material and their leftovers/waste calcifies over time to form a tonsil stone.
What Are The Different Symptoms Of Tonsil Stones?
As I said above, most sufferers don’t notice they have tonsil stones. Unfortunately, those that do experience larger tonsil stones will have to deal with some stressful symptoms.
The primary symptom of tonsil stones is bad breath. This is often the first thing people notice when the realise they have tonsil stones. The smell can get really strong so it can sometimes be picked up by other people.
Which as you can imagine, can be extremely demoralising. I recommend gargling with a mouthwash that is high in Chlorine Dioxide and Zinc Compounds to treat this. They help fight the sulfur producing bacteria that causes this smell so you will see some relief for a few hours – maintain really good oral health and you’ll see permanent relief!
Another common sign of tonsil stones is a painful throat. When the stones are large or located in an uncomfortable position, they can irritate the throat resulting in infection and pain. Often causing trouble during swallowing.
Ear pain is another symptom, albeit a rarer one. Because the throat and ears chare similar nerve pathways, pain experienced in the throat can often also be felt in the ears.
The best thing to do for treating both of these symptoms is to reduce the inflammation around your tonsils. To do this you could try drinking chamomile tea. The chamomile has anti-inflammatory properties and the hot water will help sooth your gum tissue.
How Can Tonsil Stones Be Removed?
- The suction method
The suction method involves the use of a curved medicine dropper to suck out the tonsil stones. This only really works if you can actually the stones but if you’re sensitive to gagging, then it’s the ideal method.
Of course, if the stones are buried deep enough then you won’t be able to take this approach. You’ll either have to wait until the stones poke their ugly little head of the tonsil or take advantage of another method.
- The irrigation technique
If the stones are lodged deep within your tonsils then this method is much more appropriate.
By using the dropper to instead squirt water at the stones to push them out of place, you can reach much deeper into the tonsils crypts. This way you can also get the stones located underneath and behind your tonsils. The bent tip of the dropper makes this very easy
Now that you know what to be aware of when dealing with a tonsil stone infection, I hope that they don’t cause you as many problems as they do some people. They may seem quite insignificant but they can make everyday life extremely difficult and embarrassing (the bad breath).
Just make sure you follow the tips I’ve shared in this post, maintain good oral health (brush/floss 3x daily and gargle mouthwash) and you’ll be all good.