Tonsil Stones Archives | Sterling Heights Dentist, Dr. Farhat of Dental 1 Care

Everything You Need to Know About Tonsil Stones

A tonsil stone is a hard mass that is yellowish or white. It can vary in size from very small to very large. These stones are a combination of food debris, bacteria, dead cells, as well as other substances trapped in the cavities in your tonsils. Read on and learn everything that you need to know about these hard masses.

What Are Tonsils?

Dr. Fadi Farhat, a dentist in Sterling Heights MI, explains that tonsils are two small mounds of tissue that lie at the back of your throat. Each side of your throat has one tonsil. Their role is to help in fending off the infections that enter the body through the throat. The tonsils do this by trapping foreign bodies, such as fungi, bacteria, and viruses, and then “training” the immune system to deal with the infection-causing agents.

Causes of Tonsil Stones

As already mentioned, tonsil stones are the masses that form when bacteria and other debris are trapped and hardens within the tonsils. In the past, surgery to remove the tonsils used to be common, but this is no longer the case since surgery is now regarded as a last-resort remedy for tonsil stones.

Dr. Ben Kacos, a dentist in Shreveport, LA, points out that since more people now retain their tonsils, the occurrence of tonsil stones is also relatively high due to the large population that could develop these relatively harmless masses.

Symptoms of Tonsil Stones

The oral health professionals at Dental One Care assert that many of the individuals who have tonsil stones don’t exhibit any symptoms. If you develop symptoms, they may include the following:

An unpleasant smell due to the sulfides produced by the anaerobic bacteria harbored in the tonsil cavities and in the tonsil stones.
A feeling that something is stuck inside the back of your throat or in your mouth.
Pain or pressure in your ears.

Tonsil stones can grow so large that they may be visible jutting out of your tonsils. Others remain hidden within the tonsils.

Can Tonsil Stones Cause Complications?

While tonsil stones may cause some discomfort, they are usually harmless. However, Dr. Fadi Farhat explains that the presence of tonsil stones may indicate that something is missing in your oral care routine. This is because the people who don’t floss or brush properly are more susceptible to the development of tonsil stones, and the bacteria found in tonsil stones are often the same species involved in the onset of tooth decay, oral infections, and gum disease.

Treatment for Tonsil Stones

In most cases, tonsils stones may not require you to take a trip to Dental One Care or to your doctor since you may be able to remove them at home. For example, vigorous gargling is, in most cases, enough to dislodge the tonsil stones from inside your tonsils.

You can also use a cotton swab to push against the tissues around the tonsils. Dr. Farhat recommends that you push the tonsil stone towards the opening or front of your mouth and not towards the back of your throat, so you don’t cause additional problems, like a blocked airway.

If the tonsil stones make it hard for you to swallow or you feel some pain, then gargling with salty water may help.

Consult Dr. Fadi Farhat or your GP if:

You experience the symptoms of tonsil stones, but you are unable to see those stones.
You’re unable to remove the tonsil stones or only a portion of the tonsil stones comes out.
Your tonsils become swollen, red, or painful.
You experience pain while removing the tonsil stones at home.

Your doctor or dentist in Sterling Heights, MI may treat those tonsil stones by using a technique called laser resurfacing. The tonsils may also be reshaped so that there are fewer cavities in which tonsil stones can form. Even after this procedure has been performed, you can still regrow tonsil stones.

Tonsil Removal

The only way to avoid ever having to deal with tonsil stones is by having your tonsils removed through a surgical process. This surgery is called a tonsillectomy. However, there is a slim chance that your tonsils can grow back.

The procedure is safe, but Dr. Fadi Farhat cautions that you are likely to experience some pain in the throat for a few days after the surgery.

Also, since it is a surgical procedure, some risks also exist, as is the case with any surgery. These include the risk of infection, bleeding, swelling, or even adverse reactions to anesthesia.

You need not conclude that you have tonsil stones if you experience the symptoms mentioned above because several other conditions, such as periodontal disease, tonsillitis, and strep throat, may all cause those symptoms. It is therefore helpful to talk to a professional at Dental One Care if you live in Sterling Heights, MI, and you will be properly diagnosed and given the next steps to take. Call and make an appointment today!

Tonsil stones, or tonsilloliths, are hard white or yellow lumps or formations that are located on or within the tonsils. They look like and are sometimes called “acne of the tonsils”. These lumps develop when bacteria, dead cells, food, mucus, and other debris gather in the tonsils.

Your Sterling Heights dentist Dr. Farhat, shares the common signs and symptoms of tonsil stones:

White or yellow lumps or flecks on the back, sides, or within the tonsils
Sore throat
Swollen tonsils
Bad breath
Trouble swallowing
Ear pain

Tonsil Stone Treatment and Prevention

Conventional treatment of tonsil stones will depend on the size and severity of the symptoms. The most popular treatment options are:

Antibiotics
Surgical removal
Laser resurfacing
Coblation cryptolysis (the use of radio waves to transform a salt solution into charged ions to cut through the stones)
Tonsillectomy (removal of tonsils)

How To Treat Tonsil Stones Naturally

Garlic

There are also non-invasive ways to treat tonsil stones. If you want to know how to treat tonsil stones and prevent their occurrence naturally, Chewing Raw garlic is one of the most recommended methods.

Garlic contains allicin which has powerful antimicrobial abilities. Chewing on some raw garlic can help kill the bacteria within a tonsil stone. It can hamper the growth and spread of bacteria and eliminate other unwanted symptoms, including bad breath.

Gargling with apple cider vinegar

Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is a natural remedy for various ailments. To get rid of tonsil stones and prevent their reoccurrence, add one tablespoon of ACV to eight ounces of warm water and gargle one to three times a day. The solution can break down the stone and even dislodge the stones from your tonsils.

Oil pulling

Oil pulling is a popular oral detoxification method. Simply swish a tablespoon of coconut, olive, or sesame oil in your mouth for 10 to 20 minutes and spit it out. Do this every day. This daily practice helps loosen the stones and prevent them from returning since the oil gets rid of bacteria in your mouth.

Gargling with salt water

Add a half teaspoon of salt to eight ounces of warm water and gargle at least once daily. Gargling with this solution detoxifies your mouth and gets rid of debris that could end up forming a tonsil stone. When you gargle vigorously, you can also loosen the stones stuck in your tonsils.

Adding probiotics to your daily diet

Increasing your intake of probiotics in food and supplement form every day can help kill off the bad bacteria of tonsil stones. Start by adding goat’s milk yogurt, coconut kefir, and kimchi to your daily diet.
Lastly, to avoid tonsil stones, you need to maintain good oral hygiene all the time. Since bacteria, leftover food particles and debris cause tonsil stones, you need to keep your mouth thoroughly clean. This means brushing properly at least twice a day and flossing once daily. By ensuring you do not let bacteria and food debris remain in your mouth for a long time, you will reduce the available material that leads to tonsil stone formation.