Causes of Tonsil Stones: Our tonsils are gland like structures at the back part of the throat. The tonsils help catch bacteria and viruses that are present in the mouth and therefore prevent them from causing any infection. On the surface of these tonsils we have divots or small pockets known as tonsil crypts. The soft tissue lining of thes tonsil crypts mix with saliva. Since saliva contains digestive enzymes, trapped food in the tonsil crypts begins to break down. The starch or carbohydrates part of the food melts away combining with mucus and bacteria. This then becomes concrentrated, hardens and calcify to form a tonsil stone. Another term used for this condition is cryptic tonsils, as these stones take root in tonsil crypts. Tonsil stones are usually small in size but may even be large in size. They are also seen as white spots on tonsils at the back of throat and roof of the mouth if one were to use a flashlight to look closely. This white debris at the back of throat gives the feeling of something being stuck there.
Tonsil stones or tonsiliths are therefore any combination of the following:
- oral bacteria
- hyperactive salivary glands
- mucus deposits
- Trapped food
Bad breathe: Now tonsil stones is a major factor for your bad breathe, but if you have bad breathe that doesn’t necessarily mean you have tonsil stones. Even after brushing our teeth after mealsl and using mouthwash, the bad rotten egg odour tends to come back to our mouth after an hour or so. This is because the tonsil stone that continues to develop strengthens the odour of your breath.
Symptoms of Tonsil Stones:
Smaller stones may bring no effect to your life, larger tonsil stones will bring a certain level of negativity to your life, the more known symptoms of tonsil stones that you can do a self-check on are listed below:
- Foul Smell: Larger tonsil stones are prone to emiting foul smell and this eventually causes bad breathe (techncally referred to as Halitosis). Thefoul breath could be a sign that a person is affected with tonsil stones . In general if suphur compunds are present in the individual’s breath it could be a good indication that the person has tonsil stones. However( asstated earlier) bad breath alone can not be attributed to tonsiliths/tonsil stones but it can be one of the reasons.
- Yellowish-white spots/lumps seen at back of throat
- Usually comes with tonsil infection
- Sore throat which could be accompanied with swallowing difficulties
- Really bad taste at the back of throat or roof of mouth
- Swollen Tonsils or buldged tonsils due to inflammation
- Ear pain or itch: These stones may also cause ear ache due to the connected nerveways .