Posts Tagged ‘tonsillolith’
Knowing What Tonsil Stones Are, Their Symptoms, Causes and Treatment
Tonsil stones are debris of materials resembling small stones found at the back of the throat. These stones can also be found in the area between the tonsils and the wisdom teeth. They tend to develop and grow in time and if they get too big, they can become a source of discomfort and annoyance. In addition, they have an unpleasant smell and taste in the mouth.
Tiny pockets called crypts that exist in the tonsils are where these stones form. These crypts are favorable to the growth of these tonsil stones because they are hollow. This shape encourages the filling up of debris such as mucous, food particles, and bacteria to the area. The debris can become cemented together in time by white blood cells and will later form a hard stone-like structure. These will slowly get bigger and will burst eventually. This will cause tonsil infection which can also increase tonsillolith or tonsil stone formation since infection tends to increase the size of crypts. Although the stones can help prevent infection as they isolate the waste particles, the stones themselves can cause infection especially when left untreated for too long.
Tonsillolith is not really that dangerous, however, it is an indication that your oral hygiene should be improved. They can be prevented from forming in the throat area by regular rinsing of the mouth with the use of salt solution or a mouthwash. These annoying stones can also be removed with the use of different methods. A lot of people try to eliminate them by picking them out with the use of their fingers. However, this is not a safe way especially when your hands are unclean, and besides, it is not a good idea to poke your mouth with the use of your finger.
Another do-it-yourself method of getting rid of tonsil stones is to use a Q-tip or cotton swab. The stones can be squeezed with enough force using the tips in order to dislodge the stones. Aside from Q-tips, you can also use your toothbrush to remove them. An irrigation device like a Waterpik, can be utilized to spray water directly into your tonsils to get rid of them. If you are not lucky with the use of the methods just mentioned, there are still other ways to get rid of the tonsil stones.
It is essential that these stones must be removed from the throat with the use of the methods mentioned above. Otherwise, they may burst and may cause more problems because of infection.