What Are Tonsil Stones?

What Are Tonsil Stones?

If you have ever heard someone mention tonsil stones, you might be wondering just exactly what they are talking about. Everybody knows kidney stones, but tonsil stones? Is this some sort of disease? Are tonsil stones contagious? Just what are tonsil stones?

Tonsil stones, otherwise known as tonsilloliths, are small white balls of material that are sometimes visible in the back of the throat when you open your mouth wide. Although they can be mistaken for a throat infection, they are not actually something that you can catch from someone else. So if they aren’t an infection, just what are tonsil stones?

These unpleasant balls of material are composed of various different things. For example

• Food particles
• Calcium
• Micro-organisms living in the mouth
• Mucous

This list isn’t exhaustive, but it does give you some idea. They form when one of these particles becomes trapped in the tonsil crypts. These crypts are small pockets that act like a filter to stop infection moving further down the respiratory system into the lungs for example. Over time, these particles can increase in size and harden or calcify. This is when you can often see them sticking out.

The stones rarely get to be big enough to be a real problem. Generally, they tend to be about as big as a pea. If they do get much larger, they can be removed either by using one of several techniques at home or even through surgery if that should prove necessary.

So far, the answer to “what are tonsil stones” doesn’t seem very nice at all! However, this isn’t a serious condition. Lots of people either cough up or swallow these tonsilloliths without realizing. There is one thing that can make getting rid of them a priority and that is the revolting tonsil stone smell.

The micro-organisms present in the stones combine with anaerobic bacteria that are under the surface of the tongue. The result is the production of various sulphur-producing compounds and a serious case of halitosis. In fact, this nasty smell is often the first clue that you are suffering from tonsil stones. In fact, if you ever have the opportunity (or the inclination!) to examine one of these white blobs that you have coughed up, cutting it open will let you know just how strong this smell really is!

Fortunately, there are ways of both preventing the formation of stones and also options for treatment should you be suffering. These vary from something as simple as making sure that your mouth is clean and hygienic, to using a Q-tip or other object to dislodge any balls that may already have formed. There are even mechanical methods of removal that can be used at home.

How do you get tonsil stones? As you can see, they aren’t the result of an infection or illness. What are tonsil stones? Although the might look like puss, that are actually small balls of calciferous material. And whilst they are not generally a risk for your health, the halitosis they cause can certainly be a problem for your social life!