Tonsil Stones: Causes and Symptoms of Tonsil Stones
Causes of Tonsil stones: Our tonsils are gland like structures at the back part of the throat. They help catch bacteria and viruses that are present in our mouth and therefore prevent them from causing any infection. On the surface of these tonsils we have tonsil crypts. The soft tissue lining of these crypts mix with saliva. Since saliva contains digestive enzymes, trapped food in the tonsil crypts begins to break down. The carbohydrates part of the food melts away combining with mucus and bacteria. This then becomes concentrated, hardens and calcifies to form tonsil stones. Another term used for this condition is cryptic tonsils, as these tonsil stones take root in tonsil crypts. Cryptic tonsil stones are usually small in size but may even be large in size. They are also seen as tonsil stones at the back of throat if one were to use a flashlight to look closely.
This white debris 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 cryptic tonsils. Even after brushing our teeth after meals 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 stones that continues to develop strengthens the odour of your breath.
Symptoms of Tonsil stones: Smaller tonsil 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 below:
- Foul Smell: Larger tonsil stones are prone to emitting foul smell and this eventually causes bad breathe (technically referred to as Halitosis). The foul breath could be a sign that a person is affected with cryptic tonsils. In general if sulphur compounds are present in the individual’s breath it could be a good indication that the person has tonsil stones. However (as mentioned earlier) bad breath alone can not be attributed to tonsiliths/tonsil stones but it can be one of the reasons.
- White-yellowish spots/lumps seen at back of throat
- Usually comes with tonsil infection
- Sore throat which could be accompanied with swallowing difficulties
- Ear pain or itch: These stones may also cause ear ache due to the connected nerve ways.
Whilst the mention of bad breathe due to white spots on tonsils or tonsil stones is an embarrassing one, people generally do not want to talk about it only wallowing in silence thinking they are the only ones with this problem. I hope the rather detailed causes and symptoms I have outlined will help clarify this rather not talked about phenomena despite being quite common. For more information please click the link below:
I personally suffered from tonsil stones since I was a kid and bad breathe was the bane of my life! I however managed to get natural home remedy that eliminated my tonsil stones for good. I welcomed fresh breathe! You too can eliminate bad breathe and say goodbye for good to these smelly stuck throat buggers from haunting your personal life. In order to see how you can get rid of your tonsil stones forever and win the bad breathe fight (like I did), click here now:
My name is Milton Kunaka and my touching personal experiences from having tonsils stones since I was a kid and how I managed to get rid of them permanently without having to undergo surgery is a story that gives those in the same predicament today a shoulder to cry on. Again do not wallow in silence, I am living proof that you can overcome tonsil stones.