Breakfast in Tuscany

For those people who suffer the problem of tonsillolith or tonsil stones know how difficult it is to ignore a seemingly non-harmful oral problem. There are a lot of misguided ideas about this issue, so it’s particularly confusing on which advice to trust and act on. Here is the list of things you need to know about your issue:

1.      Not all tonsil stones will result in overly-large calcified matter.

tonsil stones are barely noticeable. The stones are small, the tonsil crypts not too deep, so the stones fall out on their own or as the result of a cough. But for others, tonsil stones may cause extreme discomfort. In addition to chronic bad breath, failure to remove tonsilloliths may result in the feeling that there’s an object lodged in the back of the throat. It could also cause a persistent sore throat as well as frequent bouts of tonsillitis.

2.      Many people remove tonsilloliths by poking at them and scraping them out with a fingernail. There are drawbacks to using this method. For one thing, it’s not very hygienic plus you could scratch your tonsil. If you insist on using this method, please wash your hands thoroughly with an anti-bacterial soap first.

3.      use a cotton swab to squeeze your tonsil until any stones come out. If you decide to try this, I recommend that you moisten the swab with water first. This will help prevent cotton strands from sticking to your tonsil.

4.      consider using your toothbrush instead. Although this method is more likely to make you gag, it’s also more effective, more sanitary, and safer than the first two. When using this method, be sure to use a soft toothbrush. Gently brush the part of the tonsil where you believe the stone is.

5.      Do you have an irrigating device such as a Waterpik Irrigator? If you do, you can use the tongue attachment to direct a spray into the crypt containing the tonsil stones. It’s important to use the device on its lowest pressure setting. Be aware that for some people, even the lowest setting is too strong. A spray that’s too strong is capable of tearing through tonsil tissue. If this is the case, you can modify the tongue attachment by using a small hobby drill to enlarge the tip slightly.

If you can’t get rid of them yourself, and they’re still driving you nuts, it’s time to see an Ear, Nose, and Throat specialist, or ENT. Your dentist or doctor can refer you to a good ENT. There are a number of techniques available to an ENT, including surgical excision of the stones.

6.      There is one more way to remove tonsilloliths that’s far more effective than any of the others, and that’s to have your tonsils taken out. I can’t recommend this method if you’re having it done just to eliminate tonsil stones. This surgery is risky enough for a child. For adults, the risk is higher and the pain following the surgery is guaranteed to be more intense. If your ENT recommends the procedure be done for other reasons, then it makes sense to consider it. Your ENT will discuss the benefits and risks with you to help you make the informed decision that’s best for you.