Treating Tonsil Stones

Treating tonsil stones almost never requires surgery, but when needed, treatment consists of either removing the tonsils or removing the calculi.

Dr. Greene’s Answer:

The tonsils are sentinels, standing guard at the back of the throat to protect the delicate tissues of our lungs and intestines from foreign invaders. They are part of a ring of defenders, Waldeyer’s Ring (which includes the tonsils, adenoids, and other lymphoid tissue), encircling the back of the throat as an important line of defense. The tonsils and adenoids are largest during childhood; they are front-line guardians while the body’s more sophisticated internal immune system learns and develops.

The situation you describe, Alice, is a very common one. The tonsils usually appear like small, dimpled golf balls set on either side of the back of the throat. Children with large tonsils and deep crypts often do get food particles trapped in there. Because saliva contains digestive enzymes, trapped food begins to break down. Particularly, the starch or carbohydrate part of the food melts away, leaving firmer, harder remains of food in the tonsils. This does not look like the food that went into the mouth.

Treating tonsil stones. A.D.A.M. Illustration.

As you suspect, however, there is more to these hard lumps than just food. The tonsils also trap other mouth debris such as bacteria and old cells from the surface of the mouth’s lining. Some of these cells contain small amounts of keratin, the same substance found in fingernails and rhinoceros horns. Whatever the nature of the debris, it is then attacked by white blood cells. The aftermath of this battle leaves the crevices of the tonsil strewn with hardened remains.

Most people swallow this material without ever noticing it, while it is still tiny. In those whose tonsils are large, however, the particles can lodge in the deep crypts, where they continue to grow. The enlarging lumps are called calculi of the tonsil, or tonsilloliths (tonsil stones). These stones are most common during adolescence.

Microscopic studies of these tonsilloliths have shown them to contain a combination of food particles, bacteria, oral debris, and white blood cells in a concentrically laminated pattern — rather like a pearl. Usually they are small gritty particles found in the center of soft, cheesy flecks. Sometimes, however, they become quite large, appearing as rough, yellow or gray, round stones. At times they reach an extraordinary size. Affected people usually have a history of repeated attacks of tonsillitis in earlier years.

Most people with calculi of the tonsils have no associated symptoms. In that case nothing need be done, except perhaps for brushing or scraping them out, as your daughter does. Gargling, refraining from eating during the 30 minutes before falling asleep, and careful oral hygiene may help minimize their formation.

For some people, however, the calculi can be quite bothersome, causing a constant foreign-body sensation, a chronic low-grade sore throat, recurrent episodes of tonsillitis persisting beyond childhood, or chronic bad breath.

Treating tonsil stones almost never requires surgery, but when needed, treatment consists of either removing the tonsils or removing the calculi. Troublesome large calculi that are not easily dislodged may need an ear, nose, and throat doctor to remove them.

Not too long ago, tonsils were routinely removed for the sole crime of being swollen and inflamed. We didn’t understand, then, that the tonsils purposely accept the infections to prevent the organisms from traveling deeper, and to show the invaders to the developing immune system to train it for the future. The tonsils are selfless protectors. As a child becomes an adult, the tonsils usually begin to shrink; the watchful guardians of childhood are no longer much-needed.

Tonsils are a bit like parents: looming large early in life, diminishing over time, ever-protecting, ever-teaching, but sometimes with rough or hard spots when we let things build up ;^)

Did you find this article helpful? Do you still need more information? Let us know below.

Dr. Greene is a practicing physician, author, national and international TEDx speaker, and global health advocate. He is a graduate of Princeton University and University of California San Francisco.

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  1. Yana

    hi,
    I took a large tonsil stone out with my finger a week ago, and part of it was white and soft, and part of it was hard and black like a piece of charcoal. there was some bleeding when the stone came out. Also, since the stone came out, I have been feeling like there is something stuck or swollen in my throat on that same side. thoughts? I am worried that somethung is wrong

    Added:
    • Hi Yana,

      Yuck. That sounds miserable. Other folks with tonsil stones may weigh-in with more insight, but here are my thoughts:

      • Stones form over time so it’s likely the rock-like portion is just older than the newer portion.
        1. Swelling is likely from the irritation of the removal. Sound like you did some damage getting it out.
      • Bleeding means you opened up a wound when digging it out. The mouth heals very quickly, but an open wound can lead to an infection. So you may want to get that checked out by a doctor or your dentist.

      I hope that helps.
      Best, @MsGreene
      Note: I am the co-founder of DrGreene.com, but I am not Dr. Greene and I am not a doctor. Please keep that in mind when reading my comments and replies.

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  2. Matius

    Try taking Braggs Apple cider vinegar (with Mother) every night before bed 1 tabelspoon, mix with water. It might help. I haven’t got this problem ever since taking this Braggs ACV.

    Added:
    • Thanks for the great comment. Please let us know how it’s going.

      Best, @MsGreene
      Note: I am the co-founder of DrGreene.com, but I am not Dr. Greene and I am not a doctor. Please keep that in mind when reading my comments and replies.

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  3. Aaron

    i’m not sure what to do. i started poking my tonsils with a swab because i can tell the stones are there even if i can’t see them because of terrible bad breath and taste and my throat hurts a little, and a bunch of a little stones came out but it also spurted blood. now my tonsil is bleeding quite a lot and hurts and there’s a red thing poking out

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    • Hi Aaron,

      Bleeding is not good. If it continues, it would be wise to call your doctor and see what they think. In the meantime, it can be comforting, and help the healing process, to gargle with warm salt water.

      I hope that helps.
      Best, @MsGreene
      Note: I am the co-founder of DrGreene.com, but I am not Dr. Greene and I am not a doctor. Please keep that in mind when reading my comments and replies.

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  4. Matson

    Hi, I’m an 18 year old girl who has been dealing with this things for years and could really use some advice right now. I happen to have major anxiety and a literal fear of choking/having something stuck in my throat. So all day I’ve had this massive stone that fell out and got caught in the back of my throat and now it’s stuck and won’t come out. I don’t think it helps with the fact that my tonsils are irritated anyway, but the more I focused on it, the more I started and am panicking about the feeling. I’m trying to calm down, but I’m so tired of dealing with these. Should I get my tonsils out??? I just feel stuck.

    Added:
    • Hi Matson,

      This sounds like a terrible situation. I’m so sorry.

      Typically tonsil stones aren’t a good reason to remove tonsils. But in your case, I think it would be smart to talk with your doctor about your overall anxiety around choking and decide together if this might tip the scales in the direction of removal.

      In the meantime, try swishing coconut oil in your mouth (and as far back in your throat as you can) to help relieve the pain and loosen up the tonsil stones.

      I hope that helps.
      Best, @MsGreene
      Note: I am the co-founder of DrGreene.com, but I am not Dr. Greene and I am not a doctor. Please keep that in mind when reading my comments and replies.

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  5. Raini

    Hello. I’ve been feeling like something is in my throat for months now. I feel like I have phlegm in my throat. I’ve also been coughing up white smelly balls. They give me bad breath. I’ve tried to gargle salt water but it hasn’t been working.

    Added:
    • Hi Raini,

      That sounds a lot like tonsil stones. I hope you can follow the tips in this post to get rid of them.

      BTW — some of our readers also recommend “oil pulling” which is pretty simple. Just put a spoon of coconut oil in your mouth and swish for as long as you can. It may coat the throat and help the stone slip out.

      I hope that helps.
      Best, @MsGreene
      Note: I am the co-founder of DrGreene.com, but I am not Dr. Greene and I am not a doctor. Please keep that in mind when reading my comments and replies.

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  6. Jewel

    Hello! I just got a tonsil stone about a day or 2 ago and I’ve been trying to get it out because it’s really bothering. I’ve tried gargling salt water a few times and I tried to get it out with a toothbrush but it doesnt work. It feels like a pretty large one and when I open my mouth I cant see it? It feels like it’s in my throat. How do I fix this! The feeling is very uncomfortable and I can barely sleep sometimes due to it.

    I am 14!

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    • Hi Jewel,

      This sounds really uncomfortable. If the stones don’t come out easily, it might be because the area is swollen, and continuing to try to remove them will just make matters worse. Try gargling with warm salt water several times a day. It may be wise to stop trying to remove them and to give your throat a rest before trying to remove them. After your throat as healed a bit, you might try swishing coconut oil in the mouth for a few minutes to lubricate the area so the stones come out more easily. Have you tried this technique?

      I hope that helps.
      Best, @MsGreene
      Note: I am the co-founder of DrGreene.com, but I am not Dr. Greene and I am not a doctor. Please keep that in mind when reading my comments and replies.

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  7. Cassie

    I’ve been getting headaches and earaches and dizziness associated with these stones. Also when I take the stone out my tonsils bleed. Is this normal? Should I be concerned with the headaches and ear aches?

    Added:
    • Hi Cassie,

      How concerning for you.

      Making your throat bleed is not good. Other commenters here have suggested holding coconut oil in your mouth for several minutes to help loosen the stones. Some say they fall out after using this approach. Others suggest you may still need to apply light pressure next to the stones before they pop out. But digging them out can lead to bleeding is not ideal.

      Some of our readers have commented that their stones are linked to specific foods. Others have indicated that it’s an oral microbiome issue that can be addressed with an open-minded dentist. Certainly, reducing the formation of tonsil stones is preferred to finding better ways to extract them once they’ve formed.

      Have you discussed the headaches and earaches with your doctor and dentist? Are you sure they are related to the tonsil stones? If so, finding ways to deal with the stones may make the headaches and earaches go away.

      I hope that helps.
      Best, @MsGreene
      Note: I am the co-founder of DrGreene.com, but I am not Dr. Greene and I am not a doctor. Please keep that in mind when reading my comments and replies.

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  8. Meghan

    For two days I tried to get my tonsil stoned out, but have not been successful. I started bleeding after trying to get it out with a cotton swap. It’s in such an unfortunate place. Should i worry that it bled?

    Added:
    • Meghan,

      I hope your throat has healed from the bleeding by this point. Of course it’s not ideal to make yourself bleed. Other people have commented that swishing coconut oil in the mouth for a few minutes helps to lubricate the area so the stones come out more easily. Have you tried this technique? Also, if the stones don’t come out easily, it might be because the area is swollen and continuing to try to remove them will just make matters worse. It may be wise in that situation to give your throat a rest before trying further to remove them.

      I hope that helps.
      Best, @MsGreene
      Note: I am the co-founder of DrGreene.com, but I am not Dr. Greene and I am not a doctor. Please keep that in mind when reading my comments and replies.

      Added:
  9. Jeffrey

    I had these for years during elementary school into junior high school. Never did get a proper diagnosis even after providing doctors with the horrible samples id save after popping them out. They never caused me much trouble except the constant feeling of something being stuck back there and of course the horrible smell…i finally used plastic knitting needles to remove them. They are smooth..blunt…easily sterilized…and thin enough that my sensitive gag reflex got used to them quickly. If gently pull them down to pop them out if they were big enough or use a big fat blunt knitting needle to push around the sides to try and pop it out like a pimple sort of. Eventually in my late teens they just went away and never came came back. Still have my tonsils and still have larger pits…i did get more sore throats and strep as a young child and young adult than most people I knew but now that I’m 40 I don’t remember having a sore throat in like 15 or 20 years. Suffer a bit when young to enjoy stronger immunity when old? I dunno…. but as soon as you can see and feel those gross little cheese balls pop em out with a knitting needle lol.

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  10. Steven

    Hello, so I’ve unfortunately been on a very bad energy drink addiction. And I kind of feel like they’re the cause for my tonsil stones. I’m sure even the “sugar free” drinks can still cause them. If this is the reason, it’s even MORE of a reason to end this addiction. I’ve been dealing with them since October. It’s messing with my life! I’ve stopped going to the gym because of my worrying too much. Some days it’s ok, some days I just want to sleep all day so I don’t have to deal with it. So if the energy drinks are the main reason, then it all makes sense.

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  11. Patti

    I’m 56 and still get chronic tonsillitis with constant tonsil stones. My tonsils vare constantly enlarged and inflamed band have nonstop tonsil stones. I’m too old for a tonsillectomy and I have a large valecular cyst that swells up and blocks my airway. No ent will touch me with a ten foot pole due to my age and possible complications.

    I need to be on antibiotics for life but they cause me to have heart spasms and angina.

    How do I keep the swelling down and keep the tonsil stones from forming ?

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  12. Wolf

    Fun fact. Most people who have their tonsils removed don’t regret it. But MANY adults who never got the opportunity wishes they were removed as kids. Trapping rotting food in my throat is NOT good for my health. And most people’s minor health issues need get cleared up without tonsils. They may have been key to the immune system one day but not anymore. I’m 28 and never had issues with my tonsils but now out of nowhere I’ve been getting tonsils toned constantly. Noticing that my throat is sore (and often has been) and randomly can get my gag reflex triggered at times. It’s like there’s a gaping hole in the back of my throat but the stones are too far down to be able to scrape out. I’m gonna set an appointment for an ENT doctor and basically beg them if there’s any way to get these suckers removed (the tonsils themselves). I literally can’t even eat without stuff getting stuck in there.

    Added:
    • Wolf,

      That sounds horrible. I hope you find a successful treatment!

      Best, @MsGreene
      Note: I am the co-founder of DrGreene.com, but I am not Dr. Greene and I am not a doctor. Please keep that in mind when reading my comments and replies.

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  13. Tiffany

    Dear Fellow Tonsil Pearl Bearers,
    Thank you all SO much for your courageous sharing. I have had these little white things since I was 16; now I am 54. I am so “OCD” about getting them out, they’ve never given me a sickness. However, I have been fearful of having bad breath my whole life. As others have stated, I feel my problem has caused me fear of intimacy.
    All of you, with your kindness and support, have made me feel Not Alone! That is a very valuable feeling.
    My crypts are way back behind my tonsils. They are hard to keep clean, but I try to “irrigate” them every morning and every night, right after I brush and floss my teeth. Your ideas have been very helpful and I am planning to buy an irrigation syringe and one of those “scooping” tools. Best of luck to us ALL!
    Tiffany :)

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    • Carol Stoddard

      I’m 57 and going through the same problem! The ENT hasn’t offered to take them out but I’m scared to death!

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  14. FM

    I’ve been getting tonsil stones on and off for about a couple of years now and usually they are small and “fall” out on their own, but these last couple days I have had a massive one that refuses to come out. It looks as if it’s lodged directly into my tonsil! It is slightly irritating and I cannot get it to budge before my gag reflex will kick in. It’s now starting to turn a grayish tint in one spot and my breath is just absolutely terrible!! Should I consult a doctor at this point? Desperate for answers and help.

    Added:
    • AC

      For years I thought and even numerous dentists thought, I had TMD on the left side of my jaw. My left ear would hurt on and off, and it occasionally felt clogged. I even had a “supposed cavity” which was only looked at by a dentist (no X-ray) in the very back upper left molar filled. It was my first and only cavity. When the filling didn’t help with the pain, I was given instructions on how to manage TMD and told of other options. Anyway, one night I was eating on my right side and had a terrible stabbing pain occur on that right side. I felt something in the way in the back of my throat. When I looked back at the right tonsil, I saw an obvious white looking deposit on it. So I researched info online on how to work it out, and I was able to release numerous tonsil stones on that right side. Once I was done, I had a huge WHAT IF moment about my left side and my never ending jaw pain. Sure enough, after poking at my left tonsil, many tonsil stones came to the surface and relieved my ear/jaw pain almost immediately!

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      • Susan

        I have the same issues. My ent dr wants to remove my tonsils but I’m 65 yrs old and they say it’s very painful. First I had the bad breath and thought it was coming from my implants. Two yrs later it’s tonsil stones. I got magic swizzle drug liquid to swish and spit out for sore throat pain. They say if you have dry mouth that’s a factor and dairy should be limited and use a water pick at night.

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  15. Eric

    This is amazing! I don’t feel so alone after reading these comments. I have had these little guys as long as I can remember, but never realized what they were until about 2 years ago when after a cold I developed a cough that continues to this day. It seems especially bad after I’ve had a cold but I’ll have these little cheesy chunks just work their way loose. It feels awful, like I have a sore through or like I swallowed something that stuck in the back of my throat and then I know that one has gotten particularly large until it comes out. I just had one cough its way out today. I also notice that it’s gotten much worse and much more persistent now that I need to wear a night guard to sleep to protect me from my teeth grinding. I have tried q-tips, my fingers, and the little rubber tooth claw you get with the drug store tooth scaler kits, as well as my water pic, but they are all so unpleasant, and I have yet to be successful in dislodging one. Usually I just give up and wait for it to get coughed up, but I’m sure there are more back there growing in the darkness. Drinking A LOT of water seems to help, but I haven’t tried all the vinegar potions you guys have mentioned. Maybe I’ll try that next. Anyone have success with any normal mouthwashes? Thanks everyone!

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    • Sean

      I use a stainless steel blackhead removal tool to dislodge my tonsil stones. I’ve had the stones forever. I have been self treating for about a year with this method I started with Qtips and worked on controlling my gag reflex to the point I was comfortable putting a piece of metal into my tonsil crevasses without gagging. You need to just check once a day when you floss and I find sticking my tongue out and using a flashlight helps me see deeper into the crevasse.

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    • FM

      I agree! Used to believe I was the only one and I would be so embarrassed. I also normally get them when I will have a cold or very runny/stuffed up nose. Some people try to massage their throat and then purposely hack to try to loosen it up, but recently I’ve been struggling to remove a large one! Nothing seems to work.

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      • Naovelo

        I find that the back of a spoon (ie the handle) is perfect for this task. It is round and smooth, I hold onto the “bowl” of the spoon so can easily maneuver it and it is working well for me. Good size, easy to clean, gets the job done. Good luck!

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    • Joan

      Try taking vitamin B for the teeth grinding. It helped me.

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  16. Mouse

    This has been an ongoing problem for me for the last 4 or 5 years. I’m just now finding out what it was after multiple trips to the doctors office. WTF. I finally decided to scrape one out with my finger nail and that’s how I realized it was some white chunk chillin in my tonsil. I have no idea why I get these. I have amazing oral hygiene. BUT the guy who mentioned soda popped a question in my head. I don’t drink soda but I do drink red bull on a daily basis. The carbonation actually tends to relieve the pressure from the stones, or when I have a soar throat in general. Could energy drinks be a thing as to why?

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    • Crikit

      They could contribute. The sugar gives bacteria fuel, which in turn means that there are more to colonize on any particulate matter faster. It wouldn’t be the sole reason, but it could definitely contribute. Also, do I know you?

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  17. Martynphipps21@yahoo.com

    Would dilute lemon juice dropped on the stone help?

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  18. Dan

    About a week ago I was removing a tonsil stone that was quite deep, and I had to repeatedly press hard, and my tonsil bled a bit. I’m noticing now that that side of tonsil now sticks out more (I can see the crevices where before I couldn’t). My throat feels fine, I don’t have a fever, and I’m not in any pain. Do you think I did permanent damage?

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    • Ovret

      Did you get an answer to your question? I have the same issue

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    • coffee

      I had this happen to me as well, my tonsils are fine now though, I think you just caused swelling by adding too much pressure. Kind of like when you drop something on your foot. It’s your body’s natural defense mechanism. Swelling occurs because your body thinks it needs to protect itself. Has your tonsil returned to normal?

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  19. John Doe

    Wanted to share my experience with tonsil stones in case it might help someone else.

    I’ve had them off and on since I was in my early teens. At first I had no idea how to remove them or what caused them to form. I’ve found the best method to be washing my hands, and then reaching a pinky back there to massage the tonsil until the stone comes loose. I’ll open my mouth wide and use my phones LED flashlight to monitor my progress. When I see it coming free of the pocket, I can usually hock it up and spit it out. It took about a year to overcome my gag reflex. Two decades have past since I first started getting them and I’m now about 90% successful in removing them when I try, sometimes they’re just too small or sticky.

    I’ve also discovered the primary cause of my tonsil stones, but I can’t say this will be the same for everyone. Throughout my twenties, I began to consume less and less soda. And over time, I noticed that there is a strong correlation between soda consumption and tonsil stone formation. Through experimentation, I’ve found that one soda per month was okay. But if I consume soda on consecutive days, I’d likely develop a tonsil stone. I’m at a point now that I only have one can of soda every other month or so. And the frequency of tonsil stone formation has been reduced to one every 6 to 12 months.

    So it may be worth analyzing and considering changes in your diet if you’re plagued with tonsil stones. It has helped me a lot.

    Added:
    • JD,

      That’s so interesting. Does other sugared food and drink cause tonsil stones for you? Do non-sweetened carbonated drinks, like sparkling water, cause them?

      Inquiring minds want to know!

      @MsGreene

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  20. Lily

    I don’t understand how we can send a man to the moon, tuck tummy’s in to make them flat, even add hair plugs for people with thin hair but we can’t find a fix for this disgusting problem!! It’s so frustrating because it doesn’t have anything to do with good oral hygiene. I have healthy gums and teeth, I floss and gargle twice a day and I still have this issue. Any ENT’S out there reading this thread, PLEASE find a cure for tonsilloliths, tonsil stones, nasty smelly objects, or whatever you want to call them. There has to be a way get rid of them through medication or even surgery that isn’t so painful and requires 3 weeks off from work! I volunteer to be your guinea pig!

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    • Laura M Casey

      Gluten free diet has eliminated mine! If I accidentally ingest gluten, I’ll get a tonsil stone the next day. Worth a try!

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      • Carol Stoddard

        I’m trying gluten free and the stones have decreased in size but every couple of days I still get them.

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      • Deanne

        This is unlikely as it takes days and days to form a tonsil stone.

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    • Kathy

      Start taking Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar. 1 tablespoon 2X’s a day, not strait! Add to either a mix of natural hunny and filtered water or i use 1/4 cup cranrasberry juice, add 1 tablespoon Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar drink fast and rince your mouth. Don’t use cheep store apple cider vinegar, you have to use the one with “whole mother”

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      • L Dlg

        Thank you Kathy,
        I purchased the ACV – Hope it works, thank you!
        ——————————————–

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    • Juliette

      It doesn’t take 3 weeks off from work. I got the operation done in my late teens because I was sick of being a victim and took the plunge. It took a few hours, I barfed after because during the operation you’re lying down and tend to swallow considerable amounts of blood (nice). But after that it was a breeze. It wasn’t even as bad as getting my wisdom teeth removed. Just did some salt water gargles and refrained from eating hot soup. Trust me, I am an adult now and I can’t imagine having to go through life with this disgusting problem. When I told my partner I used to have these he freaked out and is really glad I don’t anymore.

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      • L Dlg

        Thank Juliette,
        This makes me feel a little better about looking into the procedure. I can’t live like this , its awful!

        ——————————————–

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  21. Missy

    I too suffered with tonsil stones I would flush them out with a plastic syringe with a curve on the end. I would push them out with my finger. I had a waterpik and would use that, but that has a powerful stream and hurts and makes them bleed. My mom also had the exact same issue. We both had tonsillectomy’s. That was over 10 years ago and neither one of us have had a problem since. Not only did I have tonsil stones in my tonsils but they were in my adenoids also. The recovery wasn’t pleasant for me, my moms wasn’t as bad and she was in her 50’s. It took care of a big problem, I’d do it again if I had too.

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    • Rebecca

      Did you find green stones in your adenoids? I just did and I’m a bit more disgusted and worried than usual

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  22. Syed munawar

    I am 21 years old i have tonsil stones since last 3,4years..how can i get rid of from tonsil stones .. please tell the perfect treatment to cure tonsil stones.. please

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    • Destiny

      A really good, good way to get rid of tonsil stones would be to take really, good care of your teeth, floss, and brush at least two times a day for two-three minutes. If you do this, then gargle with salt water or regular water and make sure it reaches the back of your throat. Also, you could do this after you eat because tonsils stone are also food that has been collecting back there.

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      • Chris jr

        Instead of water is mouth wash acceptable cause I have also had tonsil stones for several years and I’ve allready been to a ent but they weren’t much help

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      • Carol

        I’m having the same problem and now after removing many stones on the left side the tonsil becomes sore and burns frequently! I’m supposed to schedule surgery but I’m afraid!! I’m 57 years old and I read it’s worst with age.

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  23. Cady

    I think I have tonsil stones but my mom thinks I’m just overreacting. My ears constantly pop, my throat is itchy, and I get fairly big stones that come out of my throat. Sometimes when I cough one just comes up and out of my throat. What do I do?

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    • Lori Rustin

      Have you shown your mom the stones that come out of your mouth? It’s hard to deny when you see and smell one!

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    • Destiny

      You need to show her pictures of them and then tell her too look in the back of your throat. Fairly big stones are actually dangerous! They can clog up you throat and stop you from breathing. You need to tell her to schedule a doctors appointment.

      Added:
  24. Look what you made me do.

    TONSIL TERD or Tonsil Trash let’s not be pc or med correct. Let’s call theses little vile filthy nasty things what they are. I have had this problem mildly my whole life due to tonsillitis 7 and being a mouth breather. At that time a dentist told my mom to have removed in 1987 but she said no. FAST FAORWARD & the last FOR FOUR years I have had an awful taste in my mouth. I don’t have someone who loves me enough( like some of you, luckys, do) that would tell me my breath stink but I knew it stank! So for four year I tried one thing after another : mouthwashes, flossing with fidelity, brush, tongue scrapers, oil pulling( gargling), salt /baking soda water gargling, netti pot, essential oils, water pic, guided breathing mediations, strictly nosing breathing, lypatic face & neck messages, saline…These last 4 year I have spent alot time pregnant 2 babies here and one in heaven… My body has had alot changes , my health took a back seat and I allowed myself to eat mainstream, while I learned to care for babies… BUT LAST NIGHT AFTER I PUT THE BABIES TO BED, I had enough… 4 years of using a flash light to look and gently brush the back my mouth with a tooth brush, scraping with tongue scraper, and or a dental mirror tool to gently lossen the tonsil terds, when I saw them on the surface ever so often…. Back up for 3 weeks I have had a sore throat and cough. Than last week stomach virus… just laying the ground work to say all this poking, prodding, gaggging, coughing, vomiting, pain, sickness had made this sleep deprived momma pretty battle tough….so back to last night. I was so tired of this and it has been a physical / spiritual issue for me, too. I got my flash light and looked in my mouth trying to see where the spot that hurt is and where I felt as if something was stuck in the back of my throat. This is where I have a hard time sometimes JUST CORRECTLY locating the pain or the area where something feels “stuck”.I really only have one tonsil left on the back right side. I shinned the light on that FREDDY KROUGGER looking tonsil that has haunted me for years, try to press on it with the opposite side of the cheap plastic dental mirror and something kinda emerged from one of the craters but went back in after I let the pressure up. AFTER BEING TOLD TO KEEP MY HANDS OUT MY MOUTH MY WHOLE LIFE I SNAPPED. I poked my (clean) finger and flash light in my mouth I pushed on the tonsil and it came out…I was gagging, my nose was running, my eyes were crying… I WAS ALL IN AND IT WAS ON! NO GOING BACK..I started pressing on everything in the back my mouth. I was feeling around, I found the where my tongue attaches to my throat and under my tongue, I found where my sinus and inner ear holes have an opening by my tonsils, I found the back side of my tonsil, I found the darkside of the moon, I feel down the rabbit hole, I squeezed on the dangly thing on the roof of my mouth, I found a hole behind that dangly thing, I did not stop there, I moved on to the left side, I was gagging,, heaving, spitting, in pain but then I touched the top right side my mouth above the sinus opening and TONSIL TERDS came out, I did on the other side and more came out. I pressed all over my tonsil and more came out!!! I was cringing, crying, bleeding, coughing, vomiting, screaming: LOOK WHAT YOU MADE ME DO (in my head of course cause I did not want to wake the babies) At that point I just felt like I had a face cave/hole for 37 YEARS BUT that I was exploring for the first time and I CLEANED HOUSE. AND THAT FOLKS IS HOW YOU GET RID OF”EM. but you gotta be sick and tired of being sick and tired until your finally willing to do this. And then you go google ” I pressed on my tonsil” and find this thread. I hope I helped you and I will post what comes next.

    Added:
    • Wow! Beware the power of one sick and tired mama!

      Please let us know how it goes from here!!!

      Added:
    • Miah

      Well thank you …
      I have reached the
      ” Go Google”
      part of your post….
      With basically everything you wrote with the exception of the being a mommy part ( as I am a male) my situation is identical…
      I now can stop worrying that it’s some form of cancer or w.e. and get ready for battle…

      Added:
    • Sue

      I have been dealing with this issue for many years. I have been poking them out for so long and there just seemed to be a never ending supply of these little suckers. I came across a video recently on youtube of a guy using a plastic syringe with a hook tip on it. I’m not sure if your local chemist may sell these. But I found a pack of 4 selling on ebay for a couple of dollars. Anyways I done as the man had done on the video. Flushed my tonsil out with the water and I had so much gunky bits flow out. I was disgusted with myself. I gag a lot as the last thing I want to do is swallow these suckers. I done the process again tonight and had 1 small one flush out.

      Added:
    • Indiana Jones

      Hi! I am sorry to read about the agony your are going through. I have had stones for 56 years but didn’t know what they were until about 8 months ago. I recently found two very promising natural remedies that I want to share with you all.

      The first remedy I’ve been using for about a week now and it has drawn tonsil stones out, naturally. I dilute apple cider vinegar with warm water, and with a water pic, I put that solution into the pockets of the tonsils. This solution dissolved the softer stones as well as flushes more solid ones out. As with you, I too have a “Freddy Kruger” looking tonsil that I have mangled from poking with the water pic.

      The second remedy I’ve just used the first time tonight. It is called “oil pulling”, and it is a multi-century old solution. Look it up for directions but I’m excited that I found this.

      Lastly, I was scheduled for a tonsillectomy in Feb but will call the doctor tomorrow to cancel. If these remedies work like they indicate, I will save lots of money, time, and headache. The doctor told me it would be a week to recover, but the more I read over the weekend, I realized they were not very truthful. And, since i was leaving for two back to back vacations in late Feb and March, I didn’t want to be stuck not eating native foods. So do your homework, but first check out the vinegar and coconut oil.

      I also drink vinegar tea two to three times a day. This helps with diluting the thick phlym in the back of my throat. I make a very diluted concoction of vinegar and water with honey and drink sip on it while it’s hot.

      I wish you all luck and I hope we all can find more natural remedies.

      Added:
      • Destiny

        Is it normal to get holes on your tonsil when the stones fall out?

        Added:
        • Amber

          It is if you’ve had big stones. I pushed one out around six months ago and it hasn’t grown all the way back and I have to check it almost every day becuae food gets in there.

          Added:
      • Carol

        Thanks for sharing, I’m 57 and I’m sitting here afraid to all and schedule my surgery!

        Added:
    • Chrissy

      Thank you!!!!!!!!

      Added:
      • Chrissy

        I’ve had them for years also. After battling a sore throat I spit out a whole lot of the this morning. They are gross!!!! I garbled and I have been drinking apple cider vinegar lately. Don’t know if that helped.

        Added:
    • Viola

      Omg! Dying laughing here just because it sounds like we are in the same boat. I’ll have to check near sinuses though later. But coughing, spitting, drooling, gagging, yep! That was me. Lol! Thanks for making light of this crappy situation and making me laugh:)

      Added:
    • Susan

      For me excluding certain foods has made all the difference in the world. It took me many years to figure out what was causing this. Doctors were of no help including ENT’s, general practitioners, and allergists. I even had ear surgery when a surgeon convinced me my hearing loss was caused by otosclerosis. It was not! I collected the stones in a bottle to convince my doctor this was real. He said, “that’s disgusting, don’t show me that!” And, offered no help. Needless to say, that was the last time I went to him. I then went on an elimination diet just as determined and savage as your “house cleaning.” What I found was that not eating cashews, macadamia nuts, pistachios, and anything with wheat (gluten) prevented the stones from forming. The difficult thing is that the reaction to these foods generally occurs a day or two, or three ….. after consumption, not immediately. But, now that I know what they are, it is an absolutely consistent response.
      I hope that my experience can be of help to others desperately searching for answers to this horrible problem. Of course, it is almost certain that others are responding to different triggers.

      Added:
      • Karrie

        @Susan has your hearing loss improved or been restored? I am in the same position. Considering otosclerosis surgery to help improve my hearing loss…. after reading your comments hear I will hold off. I had no idea these 2 issues could be related.

        Added:
        • Susan Clifford

          Hello Karrie,
          I had surgery for otosclerosis but did not have this illness. It was an unfortunate misdiagnosis. Both my hearing loss and my tonsil stones were caused by food sensitivities. If I am careful to avoid all gluten, cashews, and pistachios, I do not get tonsil stones. Also, the hearing in the ear I didn’t have the surgery in, is just fine. The ear I had surgery in is wonky forever due to the surgery. When I am exposed to gluten, wheat, cashews, or pistachios, I get stones but can easily get rid of them by controlling my diet. My understanding is that otosclerosis runs in families. As far as I know, otosclerosis does not cause tonsil stones or itchy eustachian tubes. I would recommend trying allergy and food sensitivity testing and or an elimination diet to see if you can alleviate the problems before having surgery. Also, find out if you have other family members with otosclerosis. I wish I had done these things.
          I hope this helps, Susan

          Added:
    • Sarah

      I’m with you 100%!!! I spent years picking them out with a metal nail file. Thought for sure I had throat cancer. Doctors told me there was nothing to be done and I should use mouthwash for the smell. Well, due to a million other issues, I started following a Paleo diet and as a side effect, they WENT AWAY!!! I have been on and off elimination diets many, many, times (very hard to stick to!) and I know FOR SURE that mine are caused by dairy. When I eat a lot of dairy, my nose and sinuses get all full of phlegm and right away I develop stones. When I stop eating it for a week or two, they go away. Simple as that for me. It may not be dairy for everyone – could be another food – but it is DEFINITELY not anything to do with oral hygiene. That’s a BU#$%T answer from doctors who don’t think diet is related to health! Try a strict elimination diet to see if they go away, then slowly introduce things to try to find the culprit. Good luck.

      Added:
      • Thanks so much for sharing this. Great insight!

        Best, @MsGreene
        Note: I am the co-founder of DrGreene.com, but I am not Dr. Greene and I am not a doctor. Please keep that in mind when reading my comments and replies.

        Added:
    • Sherrie

      That’s the most honest & hilarious look at this problem- EVER! Thank you.

      Added:
    • maggie

      So have those suckers come back yet? If not Iam willing to try what you did

      Added:
    • Leisa

      Hey “Look what you made me do”;

      I am going to have to say in the midst of dealing with this, I loved your post and it made me laugh.

      I have a question for the Dr. and everyone experiencing this. You can email me directly at irentnatomas (at) yahoo (dot) com.

      I have had these nasty little suckers all my life. Never caused me any pain really but I could tell when one was building up and within a day usually coughed it out, leaving my finger smelling like rank crotch!

      I just turned 52 and was confirmed post-menopausal. Along with all the other lovely symptoms (you men don’t realize all the fun stuff we go through as this menopause stuff is no joke) this throat thing came up.

      I went in as thought I had strep. I had like a needle poking feeling in the right side of my throat, shooting ear pain (intermittent), etc. I also had what looked like white heads (only a few) right next to my tonsils. I looked in my throat and could not see anything. She put me on antibiotics and nothing changed.

      Finally I poke and I have pulled out no less than 15 of these and they are DEEP! I find a few daily but my issue is this:

      1. Do these cause a glass like feeling in your throat? It does not hurt to swallow (in fact it feels good to eat hard stuff as it kind of scratches the itch), my lymph nodes are not swollen in fact she said either were my tonsils, no fever I just have this constant pokey feeling and it still effects my ears from time to time.

      I do not want to go to an ENT as keep praying it will just go away.

      Please tell me this is part of having tonsil stones and not cancer! I am freaking out as I have never had these things linger like this.

      I was told being menopausal will dry out your mouth and the antibiotics probably are making it worse.

      Doctors are like used car mechanics anymore. I don’t trust any of them as they part you out, take guesses and drain your bank account with no solution!

      Let me know if this sounds like a normal symptom of stones or should I legit be worried.

      Added:
      • Tony Stark

        I’ve been dealing with these stones as well for years…does anyone lese have the feeling of your upper throat being filled up on the sides and when swallowing feeling something move…I just started gargling ACV 2 days ago and hope it helps.

        Added:
    • Kathy

      To keep them at bay, use a mix of Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar, i mix in an orange juice size glass, add 1 tablespoon ACV and cranrasberry juice, drink fast and rince your mouth out. Do every day! Or twice a day!

      Added:
    • Deanne

      That had me laughing out loud. That was hilarious ! Thank you for posting.

      Added:
  25. Debbie

    Question! Even though tonsils are removed can stones still develope in the tissue that is left? Meaning the area tissue that the tonsils were once attached?
    My friend just coughed up a rough edged, calcium looking stone.
    He called me immediately being that I’m a Dental Hygienist, and asked if I knew what it was. I’m telling you it looks like a calcium type stone.

    Added:
    • Toni Rice

      I had my tonsils removed at 16, I am now 52 and for the 1st time experiencing tonsil stones in the tissue where the tonsils were located prior to tonsilectomy. I am freaking out about this little hole in the side of my throat that when I push on it, stones pop out. My throat hurts me, lymph nodes ache, bad breath and I’m grossed out. So to answer your question, yes you can get these stones after having tonsils removed. Question is, can we get rid of them now?

      Added:
  26. Natalie

    Well written article!

    Added:
  27. Majed Allan

    Thanks
    very easy and clear convincing explanation

    Added:
  28. Julie B

    Great article! So exceedingly helpful! Although, I never had stones as a child but started getting them as an adult. It’s strange that the majority of the article is about kids and their susceptibility to this illness….yet, there are so many adults who’ve fallen prey to the tonsil stone spell.

    Is it possible that gaining weight has made my throat have more crevices, creases, & folds for trapping these food particles? I unfortunately gained about 100 lbs when I quit smoking and wonder if the weight is the reason for the stones. I noticed that I get them a few days after eating tortillas, lol. Ik that sounds weird but was wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience.

    Lastly, people, please don’t make your throat bleed if you can help it. You have a lot of staph in your throat and wouldn’t want it getting into your blood stream. Trust me, a staph infection is much worse than the annoying discomfort from some tonsil stones.

    Added:
  29. Greig Morrison

    I have found this article very helpful!… I have in recent time had my wife complain my breath had become smelly, despite frequently brushing up to four times a day!…. I coughed a sugar puff looking thing that was so smelly. This being the culprit! Thanks 🙏

    Added:
  30. JC

    Anyone have any tips to dislodge the ones you cannot see? My neck is sore and I can feel something at the base of my tongue, but I get them in the bottom and backs of my tonsils where you cannot see them 😕
    This issue is so aggravating.

    Added:
    • Hi JC,

      Thanks for writing in.

      One of our readers suggested “oil pulling”. Have you tired that?

      Best, @MsGreene
      Note: I am the co-founder of DrGreene.com, but I am not Dr. Greene and I am not a doctor. Please keep that in mind when reading my comments and replies.

      Added:
    • Erin

      I have this problem as well. I know they are there because I can feel them, but I can’t ever find them. Like, ever!

      Added:
      • Julie B

        Erin, when I can’t see them with a mirror and know they’re there because I can feel them in my throat, I run my clean finger down along the creases & crevices of the back of my throat. Yes, I almost always gag, but I almost always find the culprit as well. My tool of choice when I can’t it out with my finger is the lid to a particular ballpoint pen…you know, the pointy end of the lid that can clip the pen onto a notepad when it’s on the pen. I never use anything sharp, which is also why I sometimes use the pen cap instead of my finger because I tend to have long nails. I hope this helps. It’s weird because never had this problem as a child, only after I quit smoking and gained about 100 lbs. I’m wondering if my actual throat gained some extra creases or my tonsils got bigger as I gained the weight because I apparently now have tonsil stones at the age of 40 (this started about 6 yrs ago). My doc said it indeed was food stuck back there and not to worry. Yeah right!

        Added:
  31. Shannon

    I am almost 34 years old and have been dealing with tonsil stones and bad breath caused by tonsil stones for about 25 years. PLEASE get treatment for your children so they do not have to deal with this for decades like me. My wonderful husband doesn’t give me any grief about any of it, thank goodness. If the tables were turned, I’m sure I’d find it extremely off-putting, though clearly not his fault.

    Ever 1-2 weeks I can feel and/or taste the tonsil stones and I go through the arduous ritual of trying to poke them out with my fingers and then dealing with aftermath for the next 30 minutes and about 5-10 tissues each and every time. I’ve watched and read countless tutorials on how to extract them by other means, but none of it works. Everything, including my fingers, causes a terrible gag reflex. Once the stones are removed (and I’m certain I never get all of them), I am left gagging and coughing up bloody phlegm for the next 20-30 minutes.

    I have been told by my brother that my breath is “funky” despite doing everything I can possibly due to keep the stones under control. I’ve been to a couple doctors when I was younger and they dismissed it, not even knowing what tonsil stones were. Later in college or in my mid 20s an ENT told me they were tonsil stones and the only way to rid myself of them and my excessive mucus (seemingly brought on by milk products and sugary products (either refined or naturally occurring such as in fruit) was a tonsillectomy.

    Therabreath products work very well, but DO NOT BE FOOLED into buying the HydroPulse Sinus Irrigator. It is nothing more than an electric version of the neti pot, though it’s marketed to relieve symptoms of post nasal drip and tonsil stones. No, it’s just a sinus irrigator, marketed to sound like a stream of water used to blast the stones directly out of your tonsils.

    I am one of those people who constantly suffers from sore throats and sinusitis and should have probably had my tonsils removed as a child. It would have saved me from this constant battle for the past 20 years and who knows how many more years. I figured my tonsils must be excessively large for my age, but they are not. I am now looking into laser smoothing as a more realistic alternative.

    For what it’s worth, I also have a lot of trouble breathing out of my nose and have always had the fear of being kidnapped and my mouth taped shut as I would almost surely suffocate. Breathe through your nose when exercising? Forget about it. I would pass out. I don’t know if this is a deviated septum issue or something else, but my sister just had a turbinate reduction and said it has helped her breathing immensely. For the first time in her 30 years, Vicks VapoRub actually DOES something. Imagine that…I’ve never had it do a darn thing. We’re the type of people who have to apply it directly inside our nose and on our upper lip to get any effect and she said that has changed.

    2017 is a new year with new insurance. As my son just had to go to the ER 2 days ago, I’m sure at least 1/2 our deductible will be met and I will hopefully get the ENT treatment I have needed for so long. And maybe also answers to mine and my son’s dairy allergies.

    Added:
    • Sandy

      My exact story!!!!!

      Added:
    • JC

      What is Therabreath? I have purchased a water pick…all that does is make my tonsils bleed. I get them in the back of my tonsils where I can feel them but cannot see to get them out. This is so aggravating.

      Added:
  32. Radica

    Hi everyone,

    Im back just to update you about my case, hopefully will help for many others. I have been taking care of my oral hygien 2-3 times brushing my teeth with tongue scraper, plus once a day flosing, trying to drink more water. But all this are normal things that we should and probably we are all doing it everyday. One thing that i add plus is gargling with 2-3 spons soda bicarbonat mixed with 1/2 L warm water, the doctor i saw it 2 months ago recommended and it works for me (i also add a bit salt). I was gargling everyday after brushing my teeth, at the begining as many times a could, but later once/ twice after brushing my teeth and change was noticed. My husbans was confirming that he doesnt feel bad breath. Now, we just came back from 2 weeks vacation, and of course i was not gargaling there and he noticed the bad breath is coming back, but just a bit. So, this gargling helps, but i guess has to be a part or our daily routine and hygine, which for me is perfectly fine 😀 Good luck

    Added:
    • Radica,

      Thanks for the tip!

      If anyone else tries this, please report back.

      @MsGreene
      Note: I answer a lot of questions on DrGreene.com, I am the co-founder of DrGreene.com, Dr. Greene’s business partner and wife, but I am a not doctor. Please keep that in mind when reading my comments and replies.

      Added:
  33. Jemma

    Lovely explanation Dr. Greene.

    Added:
  34. kedarnath

    my son is 5 yrs old.He has an enlarged tonsil.No fever.No pain but when he sleeps he snores and cannot sleep well.he breaths with his mouth only when asleep.he has slight ear pain.He has difficulty in eating food and swallows food with water even for porridge.we have tried many treatments with many doctors but with no improvement.They say that surgery is required but my baby is small and i dont want a surgery.This problem arosed 7 months back. we are in great trouble.please help my child.

    Added:
    • Emma

      “They” Who are they? If surgeons familiar with your child’s problem, then why not listen to them? Did you discuss this in detail or were you in a rushed, no time to discuss anything situation?
      My grandson had to have the equivalent of a straw inserted in his neck due to a birth defect. He was small, it went well. These days really small babies–those in the womb–are getting surgery.
      I’d guess that an inability to eat would, long term, be more harmful that not treating the problem.
      If you don’t trust your medical advisors, get some you do trust. Docs who have plenty of experience in the problem.
      Lastly, I hesitate to ask, and do this not in a sense of casting blame, but as a means of helping you figure out what is really best and do-able for your baby—what is the real problem here? What are you really afraid of? Does your financial, religious, personal situation have to do with your unwillingness/inability to accept surgery as an option. I love babies and know how hard it is to grow up healthy and well in our dis-functional society. I wish you and baby all good outcomes.

      Added:
  35. Radica

    I also saw yesterday for the first time that i have stones in my tonsils? I was getting feedback from people that my breath is not that good for quite some time, few years. Didnt know what the reason could be, because im taking good care of my teeth and checked with dentis and all is perfect. So it kept bothering me this problem and i was trying to find out the reason why my breath is bad? And searching and reading online i saw this cause, stones in the tonsils, went to check and with a lots of efford could see that i have few showing and who knows how many deeper? Tryed to take them out after watching the videos about it, but goes very bad and hard, is not easy at all, plus ut hurts, it bleed and a bit vomit?, discusting. So i was talking with my mom today and she explained me nice as more experienced person and to me make sence: it is from debrise, food, bacterias etc, but thats the purpose of the tonsils, to attach bacterias to protect out body, yeah, to bad that food also stuck in there but has to be that way, its just the passage! And thats why, after some time of protecting us from bacterias, attaching food and doing its process there of stoning all those things together, thats why later we get painful or sore throat, all this debrise will actually inflate, iritate our throat and we will get sick and all this pockets filled with white stones will be even more visible or bigger, means they start iritating our throat and than we see a doctor and we take antibiotics and the antibiotics will help hell this sore throat and it will remove the dead cells or bacterias collected there. And than the process start all over again, collecting again food, bacterias etc… And sick again and antibiotics etc.. So, its a normal process of our life, for some people more often for some less, or for some more severe for some less. So, some who get extreme infections very often on the throat, they decide to operate them and end of story. For others who suffer more or less from time to time, we keep fighting like this and will countine. So, in the mid time what can we do to reduce this stones that produce bad breath and sore throat, my logic of all i have been reading and searching could be this, or what i have decided to do about it?: since i have the stones now, im going to see a doctor and going to try to take a dose of prescribed antibiotics ( my mom told me that on us as kids and her and now she is taking care of my old sick grandmother she has seen the stones fall off by them self after antibiotics or even better injection, even i dont want because later they destroy all my body flora, but will be taking in the same time probiotics and vitamins and drink a lots of water), and while taking antibiotics and after that will try to reduce the chance of letting things stuck there quick. Will take care more about my dental care, will brush my teeth as usual morning and night ( u can do it after every meal if u want, i know i will not stick to that for long?), but, as recommended from you guys here, with oxyganing toothpaste, scrub my tounge, after will use floss to remove better all debrise and later will wash my mouth and gargle with oxyganing mouth wash as longer as better( things that im about to go and buy them now?). Also later will probably order at least the toothpaste and mouth wash from Therabreath, because i have read a lot that are good and they help for this, many comments of people are positive about them, so im curious of trying it ?. Than, while eating and after eating and when i dont eat, will try to drink as much as possible water ( because i know i dont drink enough and its not good). Than will also countine taking probiotics for some time or lets say 2-3-4 times a weeks just to maintaing good flora balance. Will eat more healthy food as vegetables, fruits, sugar free yougurt rich with ferments-good flora, drink green tea, camomile, try to consume apple cider vinegar in salad and also drink it with water and honey, drink water a lot all the time to countine washing my mouth and throat and of course keep it hydrated and clean. Will garggle also with warm salt and water ( can be coconut oil, extra virgin oil, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice and salt, all this mixed with warm water) and also i dont know if u have heard about propolis, i know it helps a lot for sore throat, u can spray ur throat or i have 100% natural and im using 3 -4 small drops disolved in half cup water and gargle. What else i have read from u guys ?, hmm… Ah, yeah, also i have for quite some time, few years, post nasal drip, dont know why and how to stop it, if someone knows please let me know?, but i would try to use also nasal drops or take out those nasal drips as soon as possible not to let them stay behind my throat for long ( durring sleeping, cant do much?). And of course try to stay in clean enviroment not to breathe in many bacterias ? Or if its to much of polution use mask as chinese ?. Thats all i can think of it right now, so in short: curring the stones now with antibiotics to get them dissapear and starting the daily routine of brishing, washing my mouth nice with oxyganing toothpaste and mouthwasher and using floss, it is very important, gargling with the mixes with warm water that i mention before, eating grapefruit, all other fruits, vegetables, green teas, camomile and A LOTS of WATER, to not let things stuck in my throat. Well… Pretty much this, its simple i guess its just trying to lead more healthy life and better oral hygine ? Lets see if my breath improves and if the stones dissapear and most lets see if i can maintain this forever ? Good luck to all.

    Added:
    • Hi Radica,

      I think you’re onto something here

      “Pretty much this, it’s simple I guess. It’s just trying to lead a more healthy life and have better oral hygiene.”

      A healthy diet, hydration, and a healthy lifestyle is important for everyone. Some people don’t have immediate health issues from a less healthy life, but others can’t. For some who more susceptible to tonsil stones, the symptoms start in the throat. For these people hydration and a great diet may do the trick.

      Please let us know how you fair with your new commitment to a healthy lifestyle.

      Best,
      @MsGreene

      Added:
    • Kate

      Hi Radica,
      You’ve done a tremendous amount of research! Good for you!

      Just wanted to respond to your question about treating post-nasal drip. I had it for several years until a doctor gave me prescriptions for Nasonex, Asthmanex,and Zopinex, and told me to take all three of them as directed. Within 3-4 days, my post-nasal drip cleared up, and I’ve had it only once or twice in the last 10 years.

      After it cleared, I also began to see a pattern regarding what was causing it: any food or drink that had a tendency to increase the mucus in my system. So, for example, milk (or at least, a lot of it) was a big no-no. Whenever I felt like the “drip” was coming on, I’d do whatever I could to “dry” my system out.

      Just my experience — Hope it helps!

      Added:
      • Radica

        Hello Kate,
        Thank you so much for your advice for my post nasal drip, i will try your treatment and hopefully will work for me to 😀 Best wishes to you

        Added:
    • Reta Korbis

      I was also getting the yellow smelliest curds in my tonsils where I had large pits in my tonsils. I could some time squeeze them out with a q-tip. They looked liked cottage cheese and they smelled absolutely horrible. I kept going into a ears, nose, and throat specialist. He put me one antibiotics ever six months. It would help for a short period like 2 weeks. I decided to get another opinion from a ears, nose, throat specialist. He told me he needed to remove my tonsils because there was several crevices and ask me if I got a lot of strep throat when I was young and I told him yes. He said because of them that it scares the tonsils and created the holes for bacteria (the yellow stinky curds look like cottage cheese). He said tonsils needed surgery. They needed to be removed. He removed them. I have been free from the horrible smelly breath. Every one of my sisters also had them. I’m so glad my doctor removed them and at that time I was 45 years old.

      Added:
      • Arlene

        Did it hurt to do at that age and I heard laser surgery was good to do for it too

        Added:
    • Mrs No

      NO! DO NOT DO THIS!!! I took antibiotics and ended up in the hospital almost dead from a disease called C Diff., and I am very young. And I took probiotics with it! You NEVER want to take antibiotics for something like tonsil stones! Just adjust your diet to remove dairy and sugar. Drink more water. You can also use a pore blackhead extractor to remove the stones if you’re squeamish. I do this regularly after sanitizing the tool and it works like a charm, using a handheld mirror and flashlight as well.

      Added:
      • Arlene

        That don’t hurt using that tool I seen the thin part of it but the other part looks more challenging

        Added:
      • Emma

        Mrs. No: Thanks for spreading the word on antibiotics. We need to avoid them except as a last hope solution, especially for non-life threatening situations. Dairy, sugar, and gluten are responsible, IMO, for many of our health issues. Easy to check up on, just give them up for a week and see how one feels.
        Thanks again for your post.

        Added:
  36. Chanel

    I like the way you described it, thank you and yes very helpful!
    So glad it does not equal tonsil removal… :)

    Added:
  37. Eva D

    I have noticed within the past week that I’ve been getting a lot of tonsil stones only on my right side. Awhile back I have seen them in both but never had a second thought about them. But recently it seems like they won’t go away. Some can be as small as eraser shavings or almost as big as cooked rice grains. Both of my tonsils seem to also be very enlarged but my right side has a much larger hole where I can see inside a lot easier. I’ve tried a lot of home remedies and nothing has worked so far. The first day I noticed them I had a sore throat, it went away. The only way I can notice them without looking inside my tonsil is by the taste of the stones and the slight feel of something in my throat. I’m 16 female with occasional GERD and I have medication for it, not sure what to do or where to go to. I’ve told my parents but my mom isn’t concerned whereas my dad is. Any ideas?

    Added:
    • Hi Eva,

      Many of our readers report that dietary changes make a big difference. Many report sweets are the culprit. Others say going vegan is the answer to getting rid of tonsil stones.

      One of our readers, Ava, compiled this list of possible remedies:

      1. 50/50 mix of hydrogen peroxide and water concoction to gargle with vinegar and water gargle
      2. salt and water gargle
      3. swish / gargle coconut oil for 5-20 minutes per day
      4. cotton applicator stick with mouthwash
      5. Earpick
      6. Waterpik® Ultra Water Flosser WP120
      7. Kitty Hydrofloss Waterjet Irrigator

      I personally think it’s likely different causes (and therefore different cures) for different people. Since you have GERD, your’s might be more diet related. Have you tried cutting out sugar to see if that helps?

      Please let us know.
      @MsGreene

      Added:
    • Julie B

      Eva, do you eat a lot of Taco Bell or just tortillas on general? I’ve noticed that I get the stones a few days after I’ve eaten something with tortillas, usually flour tortillas but sometimes wheat. I was wondering if anyone else noticed this correlation. Idk, maybe it’s just me, lol.

      Added:
      • Emma

        I’ve heard of the tortilla problem. Flour is made of wheat. How do you do with corn tortillas?
        Wheat is a big problem in many ways these days, as it has been genetically altered in ways that our digestive systems have trouble handling.
        Going gluten- and lactose- free saved my health. Our food supply is often unhealthy. In Europe, the people are not food test dummies, so I look for non-US products and test them out.
        Tolerant brand lentil-based pasta I like quite well.
        It takes awhile to get used to cutting out gluten and lactose, but you get used to it. Except for the price of the bread!!!!! Which helps keep consumption and my waistline down!

        Added:
  38. Scooby

    A lot of people are cosidering having their tonsils removed to get rid of tonsil stones. I had my tonsils removed when I was 5 years old, as a young teenager I noticed a lump at the back of my throat on one side where my tonsil was removed, it had a small hole in it and I saw white in the hole. Igave the spot a push and out popped several tonsil stones. Problem not solved!!. Ten years later I went to another ENT and had another operation. He excavated a large area to remove the lump and clean out the gunk. You could have parked a car in the crater. It healed after awhile but a second time it also healed with a pocket in the tissue and a little hole that collects food particles and turns into tonsil stones . Soooo…, 2 operations I still have tonsil stones. I hope it works out better for everyone else

    Added:
  39. Mika

    I personally just had my tonsils removed after years of suffering, when ever I had tonsil stones I felt horrible. Sometimes it felt so bad I was bed ridden, often suffering from a low grade fever. Once the stone was removed I would start feeling better, for years I suffered from ringing in my ears. First thing I noticed when waking up from surgery is no ringing in my ears.

    Thankfully after years of battling with ENT’s who didn’t want to listen I found one who would. He wanted me to try something and if it didn’t work he’d remove them. As horrible as I feel post op. I feel like removing them was the right move after stuffering for almost 15 years.

    Added:
    • Renee Ashcroft

      I had my tonsils removed at age five, a total removal, not partial. As a teenager I noticed a lump on one side of my throat with a small hole in the middle, and white spot in the hole gave it a push and out popped a tonsil stone, the area on that side of my throat healed with a pocket behind the skin and food was getting in through the little hole, so I still had tonsil stones. Several years later I went to another ENT and had the affected side operated on again, had that under skin pocked cleaned out , you could have parked a car in the crater that was cleaned out. Long story short, It healed up with a pocked behind it again and I still have tonsil stones . So I hope surgery works out better for other people.

      Added:
  40. Lilly

    I used to get tonsil stones almost every week since I was a kid. They were big (about the size of a chickpea), they caused bad breath, earaches, and I got sore throats very often. 3 years ago I decided to go vegan for other reasons. Sometime during the first few weeks I started eating vegan, I realized I stopped getting those awful tonsil stones. To this day, I haven’t even got 1 tonsil stone since then. Not. One. Idk if anyone would be willing to change their lifestyle over this, but veganism 100% got rid of this problem for me. The vegan lifestyle has so many other benefits too, I really encourage everyone to at least do some research and consider veganism with an open mind.

    Added:
    • Great tip! Thank you so much for sharing!

      Added:
    • Sky

      Yes great tip!! I have heard the removal of dairy can help this. I am starting the whole 30 diet and that removed dairy but not meat. If that doesn’t help it, I’ll try full vegan, I’m not a huge meat eater anyway the dairy seems harder for me lol. Thanks for sharing!!!! Blessings to you!

      Added:
      • Emma

        Just look for lactose free dairy. Even in my backwater town it’s in the grocery store.

        Added:
  41. Susan Hampton

    I am 43 and still deal with the stones occasionally. Mine are fairly easy to remove. A few days ago I developed a sore throat and I thought I’d fiND one but I did not. I did find a small firm lump in the back of my throat above my tonsils in a crevice. I’ve yet to be able to extract anything. Has anyone ever had one become lodged somewhere other than their tonsils?

    Added:
    • Julie B

      Susan, I have never actually gotten the stones “in” my tonsils…I don’t even think that’s possible, but I have gotten them above, under, and all AROUND my tonsils. I’ve even gotten them in other weird folds or creases in tyke back of my throat. I suppose they can form anywhere back there considering they’re simply food that became lodged & stuck & is beginning to grow its own zip code of bacteria, lol.

      I do want to warn all of these ppl who say they keep digging the stones out & making themselves bleed….be careful! There’s an awful lot of staph in your mouth at all times, especially in your throat. You DO NOT want it getting into your blood stream by a cut that you made trying to remove a tonsil stone. The end result of the staph infection will be far worse than the discomfort of the stone.

      Added:
  42. CCM

    I have suffered with these for many years now. My tonsils are intact (not removed during childhood). When I suffer with them they are very hard to see and dislodge. Sometimes I can but most of the time I cannot. In recent months they are making me ill. Low grade sore throats and that feeling you get when a cold is ‘coming on”. To the point of being low on energy.
    I’ve had enough and will visit an ENT at the end of May 2016. Like many others, GP’s seem decidedly disinterested or even have no idea what you are talking about (the last one all but refused to even LOOK in my throat?! I’ll be begging to have my tonsils removed, regardless of the discomfort I know that will cause in the short term.
    Part of the issue is the impacts of the condition are understated or certainly not fully appreciated by the medical profession. This is surprising to me given the fact that tonsillectomy’s that were performed in a heartbeat pre- 80’s went out of fashion/were shunned by the profession and hence more people enter adulthood with the tonsils intact and hence, a greater risk of trapping the debris that gives rise to tonsil stones.
    Tonsil stone sufferers need a better deal!! I will keep this blog informed of my personal experience after I receive advice.

    Added:
    • L King

      Don’t be so quick to have them removed! This may seem like a “simple procedure” to you but there are risks involved during and after tonsillectomy. I lost a friend who died 2 days later from infection after the procedure. If you gargle daily, drink plenty of water and eat mostly fruits and veggies, then you reduce the chances of getting the stones.

      Added:
      • JeffBett

        I am 23 year old and i still have this problem of tonsil stones. it really isn’t something pleasant. always having soar throat and itchy ears (sometimes hard to differentiate it with allergy). This horrible smelly stones sucks i tell you!! . can someone give us a solution once and for all please?..

        Added:
        • R

          I suffered from the same condition before. It stopped when I stopped taking dairy products. Specially cheese. Salt gargles with water helps too.

          Added:
      • Chandi

        Omg really Sooo sorry for ur frnd but I’m hving a tonsil stones I get worried Wht to do they r not tht big small like size of grain

        Added:
      • Piper

        L. King sorry to hear about your friend. Did your friend hemorrhage. I am planning to have the surgery because of tonsil stones, but am scared to death. I am 55 years old and the stones are ruining my life!!

        Added:
    • R. Barker

      Please make sure you get a complete description of what to expect long term after a tonsillectomy. I have had tonsillitis for years and had gotten to the point that I had a sore throat and felt run down all the time. I saw an ENT who told me my tonsils had to come out. I am an adult and this surgery was much worse than a C-section. Beginning about a year after the surgery the tonsil stones began to come back. The are forming in holes that were left after the tonsilectomy. The stones are much larger than before the surgery. I’ve seen another ENT because of the constant sore throat who run a tube down my throat and told me everything looked fine. Well it is now two and a half years post surgery and the tonsillitis continue to get larger. I know I should find yet another ENT but I don’t know who to turn to and don’t know what they could possibly do about closing the holes anyway.

      Added:
      • R. Barker

        Tonsilths, not tonsillitis. Lol!

        Added:
        • Deb Krysa

          Actually, the term is tonsilolith.

          Added:
      • Bard

        Go to a dentists! If you find one that has experience/focus/specialist in oral medical health you will be in great hands. Dentists in general have more exposure to and experience with tonsil stones. They could also refer you to an oral surgeon that can properly remove tonsils so that no crypts remain. GPs are pill pushers and if there is no medicine for it then they don’t know about it.

        Added:
    • Cassy

      I totally agree. I’m 13 and I’ve been wanting my tonsils out forever now. They cause me so much pain it’s crazy. I already told my mom the next time I go to the doctor I’m not leaving until they agree to take them out. Sadly I currently have a soar throat right now?

      Added:
  43. Red

    Wow. I wish I had come across this post with comments before spending an hour at the ENT doctor today, as the suggestions here for extraction without surgery were much more thorough & helpful. (My doctor was definitely pushing for surgery.) Previously, I had had the tonsil stones removed by an ENT doctor, but this time he did not attempt it due to not being able to see it visibly, even though I could feel it & scratch off a chunk with my finger nail. I’ve had tonsil stones the last three years or so. They seem to “bloom”, or grow to the point of being noticed physically, in the spring. As far as triggers for me, I eat dairy-free & wheat-free almost always, so I don’t think that is it. Also, I gave up coffee about a year or so ago, so that’s not it for me either. As far as possible links, I’m thinking it could be sugar related, sleep related, situational living conditions (possible mold), and/or taking calcium supplements. I also wonder about how the microbial balance in our gut may affect the balance of microbes elsewhere in the body. As for removal tactics, I don’t remember what I have used in the past. Whatever was long & solid enough without being too dangerous. Lol! Thanks for all the suggestions posted, though, and for all the great thoughts & advice. The feeling of connection & community, even online, helps ease the stigma 0f bad breath & feeling of isolation. Thanks guys! :)

    Added:
    • JeffBett

      well said Red.. at least i can feel that i am not a lone . Earlier on i was seeing this as sort of curse and I kept as a secret known only to me and myself. In fact this is the first time i am opening up!

      Added:
  44. Malooo

    I’ve always had massive looking tonsils with crypts all around that were turning almost everything I ate into tonsil stones. Main foods that were causing these stones to develop were pork, dairy and everything with soy in it. Eating any of these would bring on a swollen/lump sensation in my throat just hours after consumption (please note that the swollen throat sensation was around my Adam’s apple and nowhere near the palatine tonsils), a change in voice (voice got deeper), and I’d be spitting out tonsil stones from something I ate 2 weeks back. I had a tonsillectomy 4 months ago and was quite pleased with the outcomes (tongue turned pink, teeth got whiter, no gunk on tongue, no foul smell from the tonsil area, no swelling throat and most importantly, could get back to eating anything without worrying about tonsil stones). All was well until I had pork *bacon to be specific*. Post tonsillectomy, dairy and soy had no negative effects on me anymore so I assumed pork would also be safe to eat too (I was wrong). The pork didn’t cause tonsil stones or anything like that, but it did leave me again with a swollen throat and a very deep voice. It’s been 3 weeks since I stopped eating pork but the swollen throat feeling is still very much there showing no sign of returning back to normal. I’d like to point out that:
    * I’m 27, male.
    * Only had a reaction to pork, can eat anything else (3 weeks and not getting any better).
    * Lump is not painful.
    * Swallowing food is not painful.
    * Breathing normal.
    * Lump feeling is under the Adam’s apple (not tonsils).
    * Don’t believe I have symptoms for GERD. (However, throat feels like it’s taken the shape of an hourglass).
    * Globus neck exercises don’t make a difference.
    * 120mg antihistamine tablets don’t work.
    I’d just like to know what else can I take or do to get my throat feeling normal again.

    Thanks.

    Added:
    • Shiree

      I know this is an old post but I noticed your message regarding tonsil stones and sore throat symptoms. You mention a lump near your Adams Apple. Have you had your thyroid checked?

      I hope you have figured all this out and are feeling better.

      Added:
      • Emma

        Good luck with that. I asked 2 different doctors to check my thyroid. Each said it’s fine. Trouble is, they checked just the first of multiple levels of thyroid testing. (Don’t mean to highjack the thread, but Shiree brings up a good point.
        My new doctor is a ball of fire. She ran all the tests and found that my thyroid was hardly working and did an explanation with a diagram. We have another gland that produces something that makes the thyroid system think all is okay, when it’s not. About 6 weeks of one drop of iodine twice a week in a little water, gave my thyroid system what it needed and I suddenly became a new person! I didn’t buy the iodine for wounds in the local drug store, b/c i dont know what else might be in it. I got my ingestible form online from J Crowe.
        Now I’m like a ball of fire. The first day it hit me, I worked 5 hours cleaning up my yard I’d not had the energy for the last two years!
        Any of us living away from the coast, unless we eat lots of seafood, are likely to be low on iodine. But still avoid lactose and gluten.

        Added:
    • Ryan

      I know this is old but that just sounds like a pork intolerance to me. Avoid it and you should be okay.

      Added:
  45. Meg

    Tonsil stones and vertigo?

    Hi everyone- I too have tonsil stones. I first noticed them about 2 years ago and it is at a point where it is bad and persistent. I have a huge hole in only one tonsil and (gross) the tonsil stones seem never ending and too far into my tonsil to get them all out. I am just curious if anyone has every experienced or linked tonsil stones to vertigo?? I have had vertigo for about 5 years now, seen almost every specialist under the sun, with no result or findings on what cause this… I am curious if this might be causing this. I am 25. Really appreciate it.

    Added:
    • Morgen

      Meg, I’ve been experiencing chronic dizziness somewhat like vertigo for about 14 months now and I’d say my tonsil stones probably started not too long before. I do wonder if there is a correlation.

      Added:
      • Sharon H

        Hello,

        I felt I had to respond! I had bouts of vertigo and dizziness several times a year for the last several years. I really did not know what could be causing it and did not find much relief during that misery.

        I started to see a correlation, in that whenever I was going through the dizzy times I would have tonsilliths. It happened enough times that I really started to wonder.

        Well, I have not had any kind of attack at all for about a year. I have been thinking about what is different, what have I changed? I always strive for a good diet, and to be active. But the only real change I could come up with is that for almost a year my family has been drinking filtered (Glacier brand) water, and more water in general. I originally sought it out because I wanted to get away from fluoridated water, and it also tastes better so we all drink more water. Anyway, I just wanted to add that. I certainly can’t prove anything about the water and I know this is not scientific.

        BUT- I think there is definitely a connection between dizziness and vertigo and these tonsil stones!

        Added:
    • Rachel

      Perhaps have a chiropractor or physiotherapist try something called the Epley Maneuver. This worked to help with my vertigo. I think that also the tonsils being chronically swollen causes a higher likely hood of tonsil stones and in turn can cause trouble with ears and the ears are a huge factor in our sense of balance.

      Added:
      • L King

        Absolutely! I have always had ear & throat and allergy issues all of my life. I have found chiropractic treatment very helpful. Also avoid dairy & increase consumption of organic fruits and vegetables

        Added:
        • JeffBett

          Same thing to me L King, I still have these kind of allergies … soar throat and itchy ears..and at times spits the tonsil stones especially during wet seasons.

          Added:
          • JeffBett,

            It sounds like you have a combination of allergies and tonsil stones. Each one may make the other worse. Treating one may well help the other.

            What do you do “during the wet seasons” for allergies? What do you do for the tonsil stones?

            One easy treatment that may help both is putting about a half teaspoon of coconut oil in your mouth and swishing it around for up to twenty minutes. Spit it out when you’re done. Do not spit into a sink, as it may clog the sink. I spit into a small paper cup and then throw that into the trash. Do not swallow it. If you feel any stones dislodge while your swishing, spit it out immediately and start over. Coconut oil has been used historically to sooth the mouth while dislodging debris.

            I’d love to hear if you try this and if it helps.

            Best,
            @MsGreene
            Co-founder and Executive Producer, DrGreene.com

            Added:
    • Missy

      Meg, It’s weird you bring that up because my daughter who is 8 has been complaining about these white balls in her throat. So I was online doing some research trying to figure out what they are. And sometimes just out of the blue she will tell me she is dizzy.

      Added:
    • Ross Scalise

      I have the same feeling of being unsteady and dizzy for a while now. I regularly overbalance. I have been told I have tinnitus. Also get big tonsil stones which I massage out frequently with ear buds (Q-tips). Feel constantly run down, sore throats and an enlarged tonsil on one side. I have GERD (reflux disorder) and my oesophagus doesn’t close fully which allows more build up.

      Must all be linked.

      Added:
      • Emma

        Ross
        . Docs put me on every kind of med for GERD and nothing worked. Then I gave up lactose and gluten. Lots better. Lately a little uncomfortable, so I quit coffee every day. At same time I am taking two drops of iodine a week for thyroid issue.
        Decades of feeling crappy and now have a new life.
        The tinnitus is the next thing to work on. Not so bad when wearing hearing aids, but I’ll figure it out.
        I recommend Adele Davis’s book, “Let’s eat right to keep fit. ” On page 56 she discusses Vitamin A deficiency, while describing the tonsil stones without naming them. Book is available online. It’s my health “bible.”

        Added:
    • AKK

      I am very interested to see a possible link here as I also suffer from low grade vertigo and tonsil stones.

      Added:
      • Let us know if you have anything new to report. We’d love to gather more data and seeing if there might be a link.

        If anyone else sees a link, we’d love to hear.

        Added:
  46. afshin

    Thank you for your helpful information. Doctors in Iran are very corrupted and ruthless, the only thing they care about is money. I wish there was some international supervision so they could not do whatever they want.

    Added:
    • chuchu

      does your daughter have badbreath?

      Added:
  47. Ken adamtey-kudjawu

    Thanks very much for the information. My problem is I feel that there is something in my throat. Recently I tried socking my throat out and what came out was shocking and the odor wasn’t good, for several times I have done that now irritation has gone.

    Added:
  48. Aleema

    i have a piece of skin hanging off my right tonsil which is solid and where the hole is behind it i keep getting yellow gunk which i keep scraping out however the yellow stuff just returns 30 min later.

    Added:
  49. Susan VanderHoosen

    For a year or two now, I had what I told my dental hygenist was a bad taste in my mouth, like I had licked cardboard or something. She said I had “dry mouth”. OK. So I got some rinse made for that. I am super dilegent with my oral care…brushing five times or more a day, including my tongue, floss every single night, use Therabreath, get a cleaning twice a year. But STILL I had this crappy taste in my mouth. I was always eating mints or chewing gum. One day I looked deep into my throat and saw a little yellow spot. I googled “bad taste in mouth and spot on throat”. Lo and behold, a whole screen popped up with “tonsil stones”. I was floored. I had NEVER heard of these! Eureka!!! I had a little metal device made for extracting blackheads, so armed with that and a tiny flashlight, I dug out about three of those gross things. This is now part of my daily routine. Sometimes I find one and sometimes I don’t. After extraction, I gargle hard with Therabreath. NO MORE BAD BREATH OR BAD TASTE IN MY MOUTH!!! I am so happy and so relieved that I found out about this horrible malady. Thank you to all who’ve posted!

    Added:
  50. Linette

    What if you think/know you have them but cannot see them, how do you get them out?

    Added:
    • tonsililith

      I have been sufering these since childhood. I have been scraping them with long swabs and tongue depresors (ice pop sticks) for decades. They are disgusting and I hate them. I know I have some coming because my tonsils get kind of swollen. But some times the “calculus” dont show until some days later or just stay in there. In this cases I just use the swabs to press around on the tonsil area until I see them come out one of the holes in the tonsil, and I keep pressing until I see enough has come out. It is disgusting! At first I would kind of choke but later you get used to picking your throat. Always gargle after picking on them to avoid infecting them. I have associate eating rice and such grains (millet, quinoa, etc, which I love) as precursors, they get worse a couple of days after eating them. :( I carry in my bag a Listerine spray thingy and it helps for the bad breath on those days and has help when I,ve had colds too.

      Added:
  51. Catelynn

    My throut hurts a lot, I can barely even take a breath. My right tonsil is very big. I am going to the hospital tommorow but i dont know what is wrong with my throut… Please help?

    Added:
  52. rick

    ive managed to remove and maintain stones from my tonsils within reach. but Ive got problems on the deeper ones that I cannot reach, the ones radiating the itchiness in my ear.. because of this the breath still hasn’t improved much. how do you deal with these deep ones?

    Added:
    • Gloria

      I am looking for the answer to that myself.
      I do believe that I am just going to get a tonsillectomy.

      Added:
  53. nooby

    One thing i wanted to say if u see my post i have had tonsillitis/ stones for 4 years last two times I went to the doc first he was shock told me they need to go he don’t see me for years then I got back and he asks me how I got better I’ve practically told you guys what I have done and still do it today don’tget me wrong this sucks but if your like me you find away since real doctors are losing there love in the practice

    Added:
  54. nooby

    OK this should help almost any/ every body Iin some way . So when these pockets get filled with stuff not alot oust enuff to make your throat soar or Iif there just sore steem! Yes get them steamed all nice moist with clean steam it will sooth them and maybe lose the crap in them more gargle with guess what? Antibactrerial soap it won’tkill u just don’t swallow alot and swoosh alot to help with test. Use salt water to if u want works great to. Cold cold water gargle with cold water nothing but cold clean water to cool sooth and take down and lose the stuck food or particles then right after use Luke warm to cold hot water with salt or soap in this step it will draw disinfect and help recover. If u scrap the big out then do so make sure hands are washed well. Flushing them out with water from a syringe large and plastic preferred safety first or the spray hose from your sink just spray it in them or as close a possible with cold or warm no matter just ddon’t drown your self . And I’msorry for those what u would like to call llumpsIin your neck but ice packs is best to help those right under your chin above your Adams apple if you can feel/see it the glands in yourn neck swell up so ice is nice another eat food aaccording to your tonsils what you notice helps wile and after eating soft non starchy foods help in the long run I’ve figured are good but Its your best interest to try and feel how u do with all kinds of food every one is not the same. Brush up to 3 times a day gargle with mouth wash to if it’s not to harsh up to 2 a day like I said u can use Antibactrerial soap as well this isa new one or people have not hear about this drink black or green tea the acids inthem are nnaturally able to draw out infection and kill bad breath. Leafs or thebag no matter.. above all I am not a doctor these tips are to give some helpfull advice to help with this chronic condition if there is any serious chronic symptoms like bleeding swelling, hard to breath, unable to speak or finish words do to severe pain of throat. Light headedness Valmont, or lose of hearing and, or vision contact a doctor or hospital as soon as possible

    Added:
  55. nicklebum

    I recently started dating a pretty young woman and I noticed after about the 3rd or 4th time we kissed heavily that I would end up with one or two of these yellowish / off-white ball like things in my mouth. I haven’t said anything yet mainly because it would probably ruin the mood. I just quietly spit them in my hand and I’ve actually saved them in case they might need a biopsy. As time goes on I’ve noticed the balls/stones are getting much bigger and also stink like rotten eggs. It’s hard to imagine something so nasty coming out of such a pretty girl. I don’t know if the stones are getting worse or if she isn’t taking care if herself as well once becoming comfortable with me. It’s also went from 2-3 stones to 5-8 stones that are twice gas large.

    Should I say something to her? I already know she removes them occasionally but it’s getting to be unbearable. Since they have gotten worse I can actually smell when one pops out during sex/making out. For lack of a better term its like someone ripping a rotten fart in your mouth while trying to maintain an erection.

    Added:
    • fefe

      Oh my God,at first ewwwwww,secondly it gross then thirdly u HV to let her know,if not that relationship will be snappy.

      Added:
  56. Ben

    I am a 28 year old RN who has NEVER heard of tonsil stones. I recently started running a low grade temp which quickly rose to, and sustained, around 101* (oral). I treated the temp with Acetaminophen 650 mg q6 hours. I began having sore throat, swollen tonsils, bad breath, and aches in my neck and ears (bilaterally), along swollen lymph nodes under my neck. I went to see a friend of mine who is an ENT and was shocked when we removed not 1, 2, or even 3…..but a whopping 6 stones from my tonsils. I am now 2 days post removal and my fever has now broken to a low grade 99.6 (oral). My breath has improved, but my throat remains sore. I attribute the elevated temp to the release of WBC’s that were fighting off these little bundles of joy that were lodged on my tonsils. My friend of course suggested I have a tonsillectomy as soon as possible, but I am now questioning this. I am hoping that simple diet modification will prevent more stones from developing. Any suggestions on preventative maintenance? Much thanks.
    Ben P, RN, CCRN, CCHP

    Added:
  57. mishe

    Throughout most of my life, those annoying, little calculi have appeared and disappeared in my tonsils. For the longest time, I wanted to have my tonsils removed so that those crypts could not form those tiny little yellowish balls of bacteria…However, I’m so glad that I did not remove my tonsils. Now I am glad that my tonsils are doing their job and blocking those balls of bacteria from being injected further into my body. I have also discovered that I am more inclined to develop the calculi when I eat breads, pastas and other carbos-namely lots of sugars that get broken down initially in the mouth in concert with the enzymes from our salivary glands. If I refrain from breads, pastas and sugars, I don’t get the smelly stones at all. However, when I do imbibe on those carbs and get the stones, I have a plastic syringe with a curved tip that my dentist gave me way back when that I fill with water and I can squirt water into the tonsil cavities to flush out the stones and spit out. It’s not the best system but I find it okay to manage and a better option than surgery to remove the tonsils. Also, having experimented with eating different types of foods and seeing the effect, I am more and more convinced that my tonsils are there to help me, as DrGreen’s article above states. For those of you with stones, you might want to try altering the foods you eat, keep a diary of whether certain foods create more stones or not and see how the foods you ingest affect the production of stones (or lack there of) in your tonsils. Surgery should always be the last option-don’t cut into your body! Modifying what you ingest is so much easier and you have all the control to affect change in your body’s health.

    Added:
  58. Alex

    Plausible treatments extracted from comments:

    • 50/50 mix of hydrogen peroxide and water concoction to gargle with
    • vinegar and water gargle
    • salt and water gargle
    • coconut concoction to gargle for 5-20 min
    • cotton applicator stick with mouthwash
    • Earpick
    • Waterpik® Ultra Water Flosser WP120
    • Kitty Hydrofloss Waterjet Irrigator
    Added:
    • Alex

      and
      4 day fast
      no sweets for a while

      Added:
    • Emma

      Add Vitamin A supplements. Adelle Davis writes that A deficiency allows the build up of bacteria and dead tissue.

      Added:
  59. rick

    very thankful for this thread. im 23 and has the same problem. like you guys I thought the culprit of the breath problem was on my dentition which I took desperate measures with the dentist. But was very disappointed for it did not solve the problem. now i see this thread and these people sharing ways to solve this very unpopular mouth phenomenon. ill try everything you shared. thanks guys!

    Added:
  60. cheri

    Out of nowhere at the age of 45 I noticed these white/yellow, mushy, smelly “blobs” in the back of my throat. Now, I brush my teeth twice a day and floss (most of the time) like most people I know. So why was I getting these things now? The dentists/doctors could not give me a clear diagnosis on what they were. So I started ready anything I could find online. Finally I realized they were coming from these rather deep crevices in my tonsils. Food, acid reflux, bacteria – Gross!! And, there is no cure or medicine to perminately get rid of them. So now I have a routine I follow every morning and bedtime. I brush my teeth as normal, along with my tongue, and floss. Then I put warm water and mouthwash into my Water Pik and at a fairly high setting, direct that liquid stream right into those crevices to remove any debre I missed. Another things is to get a very small flaslight and while holding the light with one hand and looking into the mirror, gently push with the tip of your pointer finger, below your tonsil, moving your way up, and it will also dislodge most of those nasty things.
    I definitely would recommend getting the water pin. They are fairly inexpensive and getting those things out while keeping your mouth super clean with the added mouthwash will make a big difference.

    Added:
    • Skittlez

      Thank you

      Added:
  61. cheri

    Out of nowhere at the age of 45 I noticed these white/yellow, mushy, smelly “blobs” in the back of my throat. Now, I brush my teeth twice a day and floss (most of the time) like most people I know. So why was I getting these things now? The dentists/doctors could not give me a clear diagnosis on what they were. So I started ready anything I could find online. Finally I realized they were coming from these rather deep crevices in my tonsils. Food, acid reflux, bacteria – Gross!! And, there is no cure or medicine to perminately get rid of themm. So now I have a routine I follow every morning and bedtime. I brush my teeth as normal, along with my tongue, and floss. Then I put warm water and mouthwash into my Water Pik and at a fairly high setting, direct that liquid stream right into those crevices to remove any debre I missed,

    Added:
  62. zach

    Bless you man; this was helpful! I have wondered why I have had a reoccurring, mild soar throat, which now seems to be a symptom of these mysterious white bodies that I have worried about for awhile now. Thanks Dr.

    Added:
  63. Kryskrys

    Try non fluoride buy toms. Ive suffered for ten years. It I’ve done everything from water pik, brushing 6 or more times a day, shoving tooth brush down throat qtips to lodge out of tonsils gargle salt warm water, oral biotics bliss12*very helpful annoying to do every single day. Many doctors who look at me like they have no clue. One day i came across an article how fluoride is poison yes it was a funny article anyways . I thought to myself maybe fluoride is bad for my mouth so i decided why not try non fluoride . With in a week i started feeling less and less of these crap balls. Its been 6 or more months ive been clean. My breath is fresh i only brush my teeth 3 times and gargle salt and warm water once week. I can finally snuggle with my husband and talk to him close up without having to turn my head. I finally had the confidence last week to kiss him without stopping to brush and rinse teeth. I hope this helps its doesn’t hurt to try everyone is different not everything work for everyone . If this helps you spread the word.

    Added:
  64. yo

    fast for 3-4 days. Just water. Reduces inflammation pronto.

    Added:
  65. Ethan

    I have a small chunk taken out of my right tonsil somehow, its been hurting for days and its really red! What do i do?

    Added:
    • Sounds like it’s time for a visit to your doctor. Depending on your healthcare coverage and their availability, you could start with your internist, an ENT (Ear, Nose & Throat specialist) or even your dentist. He or she will point you in the right direction.

      Hope that helps,
      @MsGreene
      Executive Producer, DrGreene.com

      Added:
  66. Chris

    Hi,

    My 7 year old daughter occasionally (every 3 or 4 months) gets small bits of food stuck in her throat. She has problems removing them and has to make herself sick. A specialist here (Spain) has suggested that she has her tonsils, which are quite large, removed. Does this seem like a sensible course of action?
    Any advice would be much appreciated.

    Added:
    • Kryskrys

      Try non fluoride tooth paste by toms. I’ve been suffering with this for 10yrs. I’ve done everything from water pik, oral biotic pills called bliss12 *very very helpful, brush teeth 6 or more times a day , gargle salt, qtips to lodge them out of tonsils shoved tooth brush down throat. Off topic i read an article on how fluoride is poison blah blah. So i thought hey maybe it is bad for me. I went out bought non fluoride and i only use salt and warm water to gargle. With in a week i started to see a huge difference. I’ve been free from these nasty crap balls for 6 months. I hope this helps. Its doesn’t hurt to try. If it works for you spread the word.

      Added:
      • Wow, this is the first time I’ve heard that tip. Thanks so much for sharing.

        If anyone else tries this, please report back on your experience.

        Thanks!
        @MsGreene
        Executive Producer DrGreene.com (not a doctor)

        Added:
  67. Aneezah Blancio

    I was trying to remove my tonsil stone, but when I cough, the tonsil stone remove. So when I checked my mouth, there is this like a black marks or like a hole where that tonsil stone is placed. Is that normal? And what should I do?

    Added:
  68. Nini

    For years now I suffered from bad breath. I go to the dentist every 6 months, brush my teeth 3 times a day floss 3 times a day and scrape my tongue with a tongue scraper and nothing seems to work. I always feel that I have something stuck in my throat. Please solve my problem.

    Added:
    • Sounds like you’re doing a great job with oral hygiene and that isn’t the issue. Have you asked your dentist to probe your throat area to see if you have tonsil stones? If your dentist is not comfortable checking or this is not his / her area of expertise, you can go to an ENT for an exam.

      Added:
  69. nana

    I know about tonsil stone because it come when I’m cough most of the time.

    I don’t really think about it until i have sore throat and spure for almost two weeks. One day after meal i felt something stuck on my tonsil and even i try to swallow it, it just stuck.

    I check it on mirror and I saw something look like spure but it doesn’t hurt or else. I try to scratch it with my finger, and I get tiny tonsil stone.

    I ask my co-worker, a dentist, she suggest that I gargle with water and efisol liquid. I did it so many times, but it still stuck and I feel it getting bigger.

    Last night I searched how to get rid of tonsil stones. On Wikihow, they said use wet cotton bud to gently removed it, and it worked!

    I was surprised because these things are hidden so deep and cause a big hole after I remove most of it (like a pimple).

    That night, I used efisol liquid to gargle, take vitamin C and sleep. Now, I feel much better, the pain already gone, spure doesn’t hurt like days before.

    I am a little worried because if the hole still exist, food can stuck there right? Can it become another tonsil stone, maybe even worse than now?

    (I’m sorry for my insufficient english, english is not my native language.)

    Added:
    • In the comments below there are many great suggestions for removing, treating and preventing tonsil stones. These are from other readers who have tried many remedies and share what they’ve found to be most helpful. I suggest you try some of them and see how they work for you.

      Added:
    • lillyanne24

      Hey everyone! I suffered from the very annoying tonsil stones for a long time as well. I had my tonsils removed on Friday the 2nd and it was truly the best thing I could have done! Don’t get me wrong this pain is hard but the doctor told my mom and I that when he removed the tonsils they were growing inward instead of out, he also said the tonsil stones are from bacteria and the naked eye can only see so many but deep down there is always so much more. Ewe gross ? but that is the only way to get rid of them and get rid of them forever! Good luck!

      Added:
    • Emma

      Add daily dose of vitamin A. It’s fat soluble so take it with a fatty substance, oil or butter or coconut oil.

      Added:
  70. katrina

    I was happy when within 5 minutes of my ENT seeing me he said he’d be happy to remove my tonsils, without even really looking in my mouth. But my insurance needs me to meet a deductible of $2,563.00 first. So im looking for a home remedy that can suppress this problem until then. My only concern is bad breath that im not trying to cover up with mouth washes or gum because u can still get a hint of it even with using those.

    Added:
    • Flower

      Use Therabreath Mouthwash and Toothpaste. Works wonders.

      Added:
    • Kryskrys

      Try non fluoride tooth paste by toms. I’ve suffered 10yrs. Once i switched it stopped. It doesn’t hurt to try do some research fluoride. Stop using mouth wash use salt and warm water to gargle. If it works for you spread the word. Before i discovered non fluoride toothpaste. I used or oral biotics called bliss 12 look up too also very helpful but never stopped all the way.

      Added:
  71. PRANJIT

    Before 1 month, when I take a deep breath trough my mouth with the mouth wide open I feel pain near the tonsil, but this week I looked on the glass and shocked of seeing a white substance on the back of the mouth above the tonsil. I visit an ENT doctor yesterday, he told me that this is not a serious problem, its tonsil keratosis. The white layer is the food particle deposited. He removed the white particles from there and told me to maintain oral hygiene. Gave me chewable tablet Lidocam (Benzoxonium chloride + Lidocaine), and an antioxidant capsule and told me to gargle with Hydrogen Peroxide with warm water.

    Added:
  72. Odysseus

    My father used to tell me the one and only cure and prevention to all those problems, frequent mouth washing and daily gargling with pure sea water.
    In a month all problems (including gum problems) are gone. I guess its the salt and iodine doing this miracle. In the ’60s, finding pure sea water was easy for my father: Living in a Greek island, was a few seconds walk from his doorstep to the sea shore. I understand that nowdays with all this pollution even if you live by the sea does not guarantee pure sea water… Furthermore, most people nowdays live in big cities, making it impossible to follow this simple “cure”. Still, i m mentioning here, in case it does help some, even few lucky that can try it :)

    Added:
    • I wonder if a daily rinse with sea salt and purified water would work. Have you tried that?

      Added:
  73. Terri Reed

    Thank you for the information. I still get these ‘stones’ a lot and I am 47years old.I had a lot of throat problems when I was growing up. I have extremely large tonsils and the Dr’s wouldn’t take them out when I was younger even though my parents insisted. I have continued to have problems with them even as an adult.

    Added:
  74. planet.PH

    The tonsil stone remover (aka ear pick) with light does not work for me. It was too bright when put inside the throat so I couldn’t see clearly because of too much brightness and kind of painful to the throat coz it was too hard. What I did was I bought a 6-inch cotton applicator stick (much like cotton ear buds, only with longer sticks) and Listerine natural green tea which I gargled the night before I removed them. The cotton applicator is much more effective compared to a regular ear bud because with it you can even lift a small portion of your throat to see a bigger part of your tonsils. The following morning, this is when I really got surprised coz hiding beneath that lifted portion of my throat were bigger chunks of tonsils stones. This time I really was determined to get rid of these tiny irritants. I was really shocked I was able to remove so many of these.

    Added:
  75. Jessie

    My names Jess an I’m 15, I recentley had a peritonsillar abcess drained and just a few days ago I noticed a really large hole at the the side of my throat near my tonsil and Im really freaked out an I don’t know what to do.

    Added:
    • Dr. Phil

      Perhaps a blackhole has grown inside of you as a result of the procedure you have done recently. This eventually will suck you from the inside out. I suggest you go to NASA for treatment. They would know how to handle blackholes. :)

      Added:
    • V

      That could be your sinus cavity. Tell your doctor, in any case.

      Added:
  76. Konny

    Dear all,

    Awesome posts and blog: And my heartfelt sorrow for all of us!

    I have those stinky things too, however, I believe they only smell once they are exposed – meaning, while they are ‘hiding/engulfed’ in the tonsils’ crevices (caves, craters?) they do not smell at all. If you see one poking out, but mostly inside, rub a cotton swab on top of it, without moving it. It does not smell like anything (well, mine doesn’t) … but pop them out and will get the odor we all know so well… and try to forget!
    I do not believe we can/could possibly remove every invisible (to the naked eye) particle of food out of the depths of those criptic/cavernous tonsils. Something will always get caught there. Bacteria, slime, foods, etc. However, gargling with all/any of the above – as everyone else mentioned: coconut oil, apple vinegar, salt+water, and alcohol-free mouthwashes (ones with alcohol will eventually destroy the cells in your throat), oh and equal parts of hydrogen peroxide and water also can be harsh with daily, prolonged use… So, yeah: a good clean mouth will harm no one, but the truth is: I do not think we can keep everything out of those ‘traps’ in our tonsils… But we can certainly minimize/delay the formation of bigger ones.

    Also, I believe that chewing gum can contribute to more saliva, therefore more antibacterial agents… Sugar-free gum, but without any artificial sweeteners (Xylitol, like it was mentioned by some is good for your teeth.)

    Note: We have a few tonsils in our head: two are the palatine tonsils (the ones you can see, bilaterally, when you open you mouth to check for the disgusting things; the other two are part of our pharynx (throat) and they are deeper below what our eyes could see… I believe I get some stones from those. And those would be the ones you would gag when they are released in the open.

    I also believe there should be a way to ‘cauterize’ those holes, once and for all. Doctor Greene? Could you give us you input on that?

    Have them cleaned out, professionally, do a CT or MRI to confirm there is none of them hiding and then just seal those holes. If it is true they form from debris. Now, if the come from other internal sources, or from our lymphatic system… Then, closing those holes could be of no help… On the contrary.

    I think stress contributes to more formation of the tonsilloliths. I have notice it for myself.

    Feel free to correct me if I am wrong. Good grief: these are the MOST disgusting things in our body. I even think that ‘pooping’ is an beautiful thing: at least the waste is out in a discrete and effortless manner… And it is easily cleaned. And you can walk away from the smell. Now, walking around knowing your tonsils are forming a rotten poop inside of your mouth without warning when they will come out?? OH MY GOD: it is the grossest thing in the world!

    P.S.: I too have been using my waterpick with warm water and some alcohol-free listerine, or salty-water (less suggested due to calcification of saline residue in the pipe), or peroxide mix… It hurts a bit, but maybe it preventes them from forming a bigger stone.

    Added:
    • Ellen

      A very interesting article and post!
      Many people say to me, to have the tonsils taken out (I’m 34), but I feel they do prevent me m catching illness sometimes and it is hard to get doctors time and attention for this on the nhs in the UK. Also I have read many times that even once out , you can still have tonsil stones from crevices where the tonsils have been removef? Is this true, as it doesn’t seem quite logical?

      And what do people think about drinking tap water in relation to the causes of the stones?. Here near London Thames water add calcium into the water. Is it the calcium etc in hard water that could be causing the stones? When I drink and rinse with cold water after haggling with salt water am I actually adding to the problem? And like someone else pointed out in the way that squeezing spots opens up your pores so they become worse over time, is my regular Bobby pin opening of the crypts in my tonsil actually making the problem worse? And as this problem only occurs on one tonsil can you have just the one out?

      When I press a cotton bud soaked in warm salt water against the tonsil and that area of the tonsil turns whitish that makes me more sure there is a stone behind caught in the fold somehow but where to find the opening place?

      And at what point in a relationship do you mention that you have this issue, many people have never heard of? I mentioned it to someone I fancy in a friendly chatty way and now think they would probably never want to kiss me!!!

      Added:
      • Mel

        Good grief, that could almost be me who wrote that post. I only have these things in one tonsil and have suffered from this since I was in my 20’s (I’m now 55) I have seriously thought about having my tonsil (tonsils?) removed but realise it’s quite drastic at my age. I just think that as I get older it will become more difficult to be able to remove them and I don’t want to become the elderly aunt that no one wants to go near because of the bad breath!

        So far I’ve told no one about this problem, I’m just too embarrassed but am so fed up with making sure I don’t get too near people or putting my hand over my mouth in case my breath is awful!

        Added:
  77. hien

    rinse your mouth with salt , water and vinegar 3 or 4 times a day . It help me almost gone

    Added:
    • Dr. Phil

      please specify the ratio of water, salt and vinegar in this mix. thanks.

      Added:
  78. Marilyn

    I’m kind of a health nut and I believe that it’s my lymphatic/immune system that is compromised, and the reason I may be getting them is my lymph system can’t keep up with it. I was once told to take good care of my tonsils because they are there for a reason….to help fight all the invaders, and once they’re gone, we need them so badly that they sometimes grow back! No dairy and grains and mucous-forming foods has helped, and juicing and getting healthier, staying away from junk. It’s hard to get and stay heathy?

    Added:
  79. Anne

    Sorry spelling is Xylitol…still very easy to find even at convince stores. Garlic truly seems to help (even in pill form). Some places on wen state it has to be fresh garlic, but my daughters have frequent ear aches and taking garlic for 3 to 4 days in pill form has fixed the problem 75% of the time.

    Added:
  80. Anne

    Try Trident which has Xylatol (or other gum with it)- it kills bacteria and studies show even has helped ear infections. It reduces my tonsil stones as a preventive option. Also garlic is a natural antibiotic and vinegar. My family uses vinegar and alcohol after swimming in rivers. Our doctor stated the alcohol dries out the water and the vinegar kills bacteria. We have found always using this after swimming helps reduce both ear and throat infections. The Xylatol gum (easy to find Trident has it) works for me.

    Added:
  81. Gloria

    Twelve years ago at age 58, I was told I had infected and enlarged tonsils. My ENT doctor told me I had to get a water pic to keep them clean or food would get trapped in the large cavities of the tonsils, and my tonsils would become infected again and the infection could spread throughout my body and kill me. I asked for removing my tonsils but was told that was not advisable due to my age, in that I might bleed to death. I felt I had a death sentence. I’d be damned if I removed my tonsils and damned if the infection returned and became severe again.

    Since then, I have had numerous sore throats and long-lasting colds. But now, twelve years later, I got another severe infection in which I couldn’t swallow and I was choking on my saliva. I went to a different ENT this time. So at age 71, he recommended that I get my tonsils removed, stating that I should have done so at age 58, but I should not be concerned about bleeding to death at my present age. He said it would be harder on me now, but he does not think it would be a problem.

    Who should I believe – the doctor who strongly advised against it 12 years ago vs. the present doctor who thinks I should now have my tonsils removed? I am tired of all the illness, but don’t want to bleed to death. How dangerous would it be at my present age?

    Added:
    • First, I am NOT a doctor, so this is just one patient to another.

      Consider this, many, many things in medicine have changed in the last decade. You are seeing a different doctor, who many have more experience with cases like yours. Perhaps you’re taking different medicines now than you were 12 years ago. That said, if you’re not comfortable with the surgery, consider getting a current second opinion before making up your mind.

      Remember, doctors are people. Most of them try very hard. Some times they make mistakes. Since we only have one body, it’s our responsibility to get the best help we can.

      Added:
    • mo

      Hi Gloria,,

      You and me seem to have the same problems. I am 65 and I have been told no to an operation and I have had sickness bouts for years. Like you I am fed up with the off days. Once I have antibotic my problems go and you feel you could fly. Sadly after a while the problems return again. I wrote about it all below… Read it and contact me.

      Added:
      • Gloria

        Mo
        I don’t know how to write to you as E-mail is private on this site. I can tell you that I am scheduled to have my tonsils removed in mid-July, but I want to learn more before I go through with it. A nurse friend of mine advised against it but said that if an ENT thinks I should, then I probably should. That didn’t help. I would like to find statistics on successful removal of tonsils for older people.

        Added:
        • mo

          Hi Gloria,

          I am in the same rotten boat as you .. great fun hey? I have asked for another appointment to see the ENT. The last time I saw him he wasn’t keen on removing them, too old, but I had so many problems with my throat. I want them gone.

          Antibotics work, yes and I feel great all for a month then its starts again — sore throat, ear ache, coughing, sneezing, feeling sick, headache. The worse part is when your throat closes whilst eating and you cough and cough till one is sick, then the throat is even more sore.

          As for the goo one coughs up, it is nasty. I am always coughing and blowing my nose once my throat starts again. And it effects my voice. It’s a lot deeper. I have just finnished my course of antibotics. At the moment I feel great, well sort of.

          Does the cold and wind effect your throat? It does mine. I feel as if my nose ect wants the sunny days only. As for if it a good idea having them out, may be one has to say I’ve had enough of feeling rotten and it’s because of our tonsils. Don’t know anyone my age that had their tonsils removed. Younger ones yes.

          Hope this helps. Let you know what happens. Bye, mo

          Added:
          • Gloria

            mo,

            I don’t know the reason for my tonsil flare-ups. I believe I may have a weak immune system, so I try to avoid sick people. That is hard to do because people who are coughing and sneezing like to have me believe it is just allergies they have. So why am I sick after being around them??? I wish I knew how to help you. I don’t know what is best for me. I am still searching for info.

            Added:
    • farooq

      My name is Farooq. I am 30 yrs old. I am suffering tonsils problem from the age of 15. Now it is enlarged and having a rough surface appearance. It is also become porous and a white colour puss entrapping on the pore holes, after few days it will go out like a hard stone. Now am very tense due to this problem. Is any immediate treatment required for this? Please give brief advise.

      Added:
  82. Shun jay

    Guys, I had tonsil stones for 2 years. I hated them. Just last week I found out how to never get them again. Gargle with listerine every night, it helps SO much! I haven’t seen Any sign of the stones ever since. Just a suggestion

    Added:
    • Grace

      Hi, could you tell me which type of Listerine? I’ve heard alcohol-based mouthwashes should be avoided for tonsil stones. Which do you use? Thanks in advance!

      Added:
  83. mo.

    i am 65 years old and for years i have had problems with my throat , in fact all the symptoms i have seen i have got including the tonsil stones which i only just found out about, i have been coughing sneezing them out for years not even knowing what was the cause,,i have seen my doctor and specialist all i was told my large tonsils are the cause ,,, so can i have them removed at my age .. i have been told i am too old .. so as you can guess i hate feeling unwell antibotics help i feel good for a while then it starts all over again,, am i able to have my tonsils out at my age is my question ,,

    Added:
  84. Lyana Mendiaz

    Please help! My daughter is four and I noticed that she’s been complaining about her throat hurting and her ears hurting as well. And like most parents I bought mdicines to ease the pain, but I just had her open her mouth and I noticed she had a weird white growth which appears to be Tonsil Stones on the roof of her mouth. I took her to, the Dentist and I was told to take her to the Dr. Which is ridiculous in my opinion. Anyways I would like to know how can I remove them? Without hurting her? Plese help. I dont like seeing jer her in pain. Thank you

    Added:
    • Are these on the roof of her mouth or in the back of the throat in the tonsils? If they are on the roof of the mouth, it doesn’t sound like they are tonsil stones, thus the dentist would send you to a pediatrician.

      Look forward to your clarification.

      Added:
  85. GARY

    I’ve been getting these stones all my life. The easiest way to get rid of them is with a straw. Then gargle with mouth wash.

    Added:
  86. Jessica

    I am the child referenced in this post and I had my tonsils out almost two years ago. It was the best decision I made for my health. They are actually made from leaking lymph fluid mixed with bacteria, NOT trapped food and debris. My tonsils ended up being on the verge of being necrotic and the doctor told me they were the most disgusting tonsils he’d ever seen in his whole career. And he was old. This article is very old, outdated. and incorrect. Tonsil stones are a sign of failing tonsils. They do not benefit you in any way once they’re doing this. I heard this from one of the best ENTs in this nation at one of the best hospitals for research and treatments, not a pediatrician. Get your tonsils looked at and removed if the ENT thinks it’s prudent. It’s an awful thing to go through, I even hemorrhaged a few days after that required a second surgery, but I don’t get sore throats anymore, and I rarely ever feel sick. It’s like I told him, I’d rather have died getting them removed than live with them one moment more.

    Added:
  87. Heather

    Thanks for this great information about tonsil stones. I’ve been getting these since I was 19 (I’m now 44). It was in my late teens that I began to have recurrent bouts of tonsillitis (nearly once a month), and the stones started shortly thereafter.

    Thankfully, with acupuncture, herbs, and diet, I finally stopped getting tonsillitis when I was in my mid-twenties, but it plagued me until then, with incredibly painful sore throats and swelling that made it impossible for me to eat.

    I can’t remember the last time I had a sore throat (thank God!), but I still get tonsil stones about once a week, in both tonsils, but more often in the right one, which is where my sore throats were usually the most severe. They feel really weird, they look really weird, and the smell is horrific. I wish there was a way to eliminate them.

    I often wonder if they would stop if I was somehow able to reduce the scar tissue on my tonsils. When I was 18, my doctor recommended a tonsillectomy, but I said no. I’m really glad I still have my tonsils, even though they create and eject these disgusting little blobs. My college roommate called them “tonsil poops.” Gross, but apt, I’m afraid :-)

    Added:
    • Wow, what an experience. I’ve never heard them called “tonsil poops” but I do get the picture.

      Several of our readers have made suggestions for controlling tonsil stones in the comments below. I highly recommend you read the comments and systematically try some of these natural remedies. I’m guessing each one works, but better for some people than others.

      We’d love to hear what works for you!

      Added:
    • Jessica

      Get them removed. I am the child referenced in this post and I had them out almost two years ago and it was the best decision I made for my health. They are actually made from leaking lymph fluid mixed with bacteria, NOT trapped food and debris. My tonsils ended up being on the verge of being necrotic and the doctor told me they were the most disgusting tonsils he’d ever seen in his whole career. And he was old. This article is very old, and incorrect, and tonsil stones are a sign of failing tonsils. They do not benefit you in any way once they’re doing this.

      Added:
  88. neiq

    I have suffered from tonsil stones since age 12 and I never knew what they were, I once asked my mother to check but she said that it will go away over time, but it didn’t. I once scratched one out with my tongue, but it doesn’t work anymore. They have caused me severely bad breath and I’m still too self conscious to talk as much as I used to! Sometimes they hurt a bit and its hard to get rid of them! I have never had tonsillitis and I don’t know what to do now…

    Added:
    • Hello Neiq!

      I’m copying this from below. It’s buried deep in the comments, but I think it applies perfectly to you …

      There are several great treatments used by other folks mentioned in the comments on this article. My favorite is using coconut oil to lubricate the throat so the stones slip out. The method is called “oil pulling”, but is very simple — place about 1/2 teaspoon of coconut oil in your mouth and swish it around for to to 20 minutes. Some times as little as five minutes will do the trick. When you’re done, spit the coconut oil into a disposable container (paper cups work well) and throw it away in the trash (not down the drain). You can do this a few times a day. It may take a week or so to see results. If it doesn’t work you haven’t lost much as it’s inexpensive and otherwise a healthy behavior.

      If you give this a try, please let us know how it works for you.

      Added:
  89. AMBER

    I reviewed this site after doing some research. I had a headache on the weekend, and when I woke up it felt like I had plastic stuck in my throat. I made hot tea and tried to just relax hoping to get whatever it was out… It did not.. It was quite annoying. I could feel my tonsils swelling on the one side.. I happened to look in the mirror wondering if I could see what was stuck, and saw a little white spot.. I poked and prodded with no luck. Did some research and found tonsil stones.. I used the coconut oil and a bobby pin and got it out.. The smell was absolutely horrifying.. I have a hole in my tonsil and I can’t I didn’t notice a smell? Now I’m so freaked out i’ll be looking in my mouth all the time.. My diet recently changed when I started a new job I drank more milk. I also have had 2 really bad mucus colds that seemed to last a longer than normal… Hope this helps someone else.. but coconut oil works(any suggestions of another oil? I gagged as I hate coconut)

    Added:
    • Lisa

      I had been researching these disgusting “stones” and after coughing up a half a teaspoon full last night I got desperate. I used a Waterpik on the lowest setting to get around my very large, weirdly shaped tonsils. I put a little antiseptic mouthwash in the reservoir along with the water. If you gag easily this method will not work for you! Also, I used only the lowest setting… even one setting up from the lowest would likely cause damage to tissue in the back of the throat. I’ll be talking to my doctor about getting rid of the tonsils altogether.

      Added:
  90. Mr. Johnson

    I’ve had this problem for a few months and now that I think of how I’d get this problem I think I know the troublestarter. I’ve been eating a lot of white bread (I used to eat brown bread almost every day) the past few months and I think that’s the issue (maybe it’s the colour, because my tonsil stones are as white). Maybe I’m completely off, but I seem to get them more often when I’m eating white bread… Anyhoo, going to try the apple cider thiny.

    Added:
    • I think you may be onto something there, but I doubt it’s literally the color. Instead I think it’s the lack of fiber in the bread you’re eating. When we eat highly refined foods (white bread counts here) they start to digest more quickly — even in our mouths. I suspect that process of breaking down the foods in our mouths makes for more mouth bacteria or at least different mouth bacteria.

      If you didn’t have crevices in your tonsils, you probably wouldn’t have the problem. If you changed back to whole grain bread, you probably wouldn’t have the problem. How about a test? Change back and see what happens? If you do, we’d love to hear the result.

      Added:
      • James

        I am currently 55 years old. I have coughed up a few of these throughout my life…until about 2 years ago. Now I cough one up about every week or two and they are large. The one this morning was easily 1/8 inch across. My wife mentioned bread so I have been paying attention and they do seem to follow eating refined flour (pasta, French bread, etc.), usually within about 12 hours. My dietary habits haven’t changed appreciably in the last 5 years so something else has. Reading down this page a little I see someone changed his tonsils behavior by taking antibiotics; I did go through two courses of Flagyl for (what I believe to be) an unrelated issue shortly before this started. I also notice dental hygiene may be related and must admit that due to changes in my work and living arrangements, my brushing has been less than daily since about that same time. Could any of that have triggered this? My MD has kind of shrugged it off as nothing to worry about but they annoy me. Any thoughts?

        Added:
  91. JR

    I had these a couple years ago and the oddest thing was these were only triggered to develop when I had anything with lemon real lemon juice in it. I was a huge consumer of water with lemon juice in it–all the stars were doing it :o. I learned what amount I could have.

    So after a couple years of really good control and only a couple stones I was on vacation and got a sinus infection. Luckily in the Caribbean they sell over the counter amoxicillin. I took it and boom the stones never returned. And I’m back to my daily water with lemon. I’m NOT suggesting you self medicate without seeing a doctor but I know when I need penicillin and take maybe once every few years.

    Hopefully this helps others.

    Added:
    • john

      For many years I’ve had this problem without knowing..
      More than 5 yrs I suspected my mouth was smelling bad, I started brushing more than twice a day, using extra mouthwash and so on..
      That didn’t help with foul smell, I was very uncomfortable around people, suspecting myself, chewing gum didn’t help, I chewed until my mouth couldn’t take it anymore, I gave up.
      Around 3yrs ago, I noticed that every time I’d feel something stuck on my throat I will just cough and it will come out, jump out, never thought of checking because I’d think it was some food remnant, especially rice that I like eating and it had the form of a half grain..
      3 months ago, I got one out with my fingers as it slipped on my tongue, ended up smelling it and to my surprise it smelled very bad, and almost like the foul smell I get when I check my breath..
      I was devastated…
      I remembered all the clues people gave me about the bad breath; Last year I went to see the GP, she was checking my mouth from gum bleeding she suggested I see a hygienist or something like that (I think she saw the stones)..
      I decided to go to the dentist a month ago, I explained about the smelly particles coming out of my mouth, she said it was due to the plaques and gum disease, cleaned my teeth and gave me another appointment.
      It’s now 3 days since I read about tonsil stones that I’m taking them out by myself and am gurgling salty water, I use to cough one out every 5 days to a week but when removing I’ve taken out around 5 the first day and around 10 today.
      From the suggestions here i think I can control them as they came out without any problems, I already clean my mouth/teeth well it will just be a matter of flashing them out.
      I will continue gurgling salty water, until the hydrogen peroxide is delivered, just ordering now and tomorrow morning I’m going to buy apple cider vinegar to be drinking with warm water.
      3 days ago I stopped drinking coffee, was taking 2 to 3 cups a day and will reduce/stop alcohol intake, both unnecessary compare to better mouth smell. I don’t smoke.

      Pardon my English and John is not my real name ;)

      Added:
      • I’m so glad you found this article helpful. It would be great if you could control the Tonsil Stones on your own, but do continue to get your teeth cleaned every six months or year. This is important to overall health as well as better smelling breath.

        Best,
        @MsGreene

        Added:
  92. ReynoldMike

    Tonsilloliths are nothing but tonsil stones. Tonsilloliths may cause symptoms include a metallic taste, sudden coughing, throat closing or tightening and choking. Use natural treatments from Diane’s Puttman’s book “Banish Tonsil Stones” for your tonsil.

    Added:
  93. triveni

    hi.. i found yellowish particle in the throat coming and i was getting fever frm past 5months… i consulted Dr thy told infection thts y… recently got to know it is tonsil stones.. is there permanent cure for keratosis tonsils.. Dr has adviced for surgery so please suggest me wt to do…

    Added:
  94. Anonymous

    I’ve lived with this condition for over One year, In this period have learned that certain variables consist in lifestyle choices that are mitigating factors when attempting to diminish the presence of persistant discomfort. Which include, but not limited to diet, health, hygene, and age, as mentioned. As well as, in personal experience smoking or inhaling of tabacco products (cigarettes). However the conclusion drawn in instance is regardless of attempts to diminish symptom, the underlying condition will prevail. Therefore I continue to suffer. My request to the Web being. “Is there a diagram available for public viewing via internet containing in-depth illustrations of a healthy vs affected Tonsil, and the interacate workings there-in?” Highest Regards –

    Added:
  95. Tonsil rinser

    Hello people, there’s absolutely no need to wait for the tonsil stones to grow to get them out. If so you will get bad breath. Instead just go to any pharmacy and get the “waterpick waterfloser” for $70 and rinse out the tonsil cavities with the general tool pick at a medium pressure every morning before brushing your teeth. You can repeat this method everyday and the foul build up won’t stand a chance! This is an easy and effective method. Hope this will help you all!

    Added:
  96. apoorva

    My 3 year old son had tonsil stones…with fever…i dislodged it my finger…but still he continues to have fever… What may be the reason.. He does not have cough or cold but I’m worried if its swine flu… Please advice

    Added:
  97. Desiree

    Your description was much more thorough then any others, it even explained why, when I was a teenager, I first noticed these tonsil stones, and exactly why this happened. Now I feel much more relieved. I am completely convinced that I have no need for concern and plan to following the reasonable suggestions. I’m glad I found this site first. Thanks so much.

    Added:
  98. Cindy

    Thank you for this post site. As a child, I constantly suffered with tonsillitis twice a year for many years. Some were so severe that they required a doctor or hospital visit. The treatment, I remember, consisted of “painting my throat” with some kind of chocolate concoction, a penicillin shot and an oral prescription for “ice cream”. I was told to eat lots of it. I have not experienced the tonsillitis for many years, but the bad breathe has materialized and increased to the point where it is constant all the time. My PCP, ENT and others have not been helpful at all. They feel it is a mild problem and will soon go away, just drink MORE water and gargle. I too have removed little whitish hard substances from my throat and have constant ear ache, some days worse that others. This problem has me to the point of desperation and mild depression. Simply because I refrain from talking at times when I need to, due to the reaction of the people that I am talking to. Their facial responses and gestures, which assure me that they are smelling an unpleasant odor, is not very comfortable for me. It’s embarrassing and hurts. I am in my late sixties, and feel that a tonsillectomy would be too devastating at this age. Other than becoming a hermit, living in a bottle andor tolerating the offensive gestures, I just don’t know what to do. This is a real and serious problem. Thanks for listening. Cindy

    Added:
    • Anonymous

      It certainly does sound like you have tonsil stones. If you can do so without harming yourself, look up how to remove tonsil stones on the Internet. Or maybe go to a dentist to see what they can do. Please don’t let this condition go untreated if it is affecting you so severely. Best wishes

      Added:
      • There are several great treatments used by other folks mentioned in the comments on this article. My favorite is using coconut oil to lubricate the throat so the stones slip out. The method is called “oil pulling”, but is very simple — place about 1/2 teaspoon of coconut oil in your mouth and swish it around for to to 20 minutes. Some times as little as five minutes will do the trick. When you’re done, spit the coconut oil into a disposable container (paper cups work well) and throw it away in the trash (not down the drain). You can do this a few times a day. It may take a week or so to see results. If it doesn’t work you haven’t lost much as it’s inexpensive and otherwise a healthy behavior.

        If you give this a try, please let us know how it works for you.

        Added:
    • Jan G.

      Hi Cindy, I had the same problem for years and years and what works for me (and not trying to sound like an advertisement) are Thera-breath products. Walmart sells them as well as the major drug stores. The toothpaste and oral rinse are the most helpful as well as lozenges that simply neutralize the anaerobic bacteria in your mouth that is the major cause of the odor. I’m also trying out a less pricy method of using a 50/50 mix of hydrogen peroxide and water to gargle with. Some people just have more of this bacteria in their mouths so this product adds oxygen to reduce their numbers. Best always…

      Added:
    • Cynthia

      I have had tonsil stones for many years–I get them whenever I don’t get enough sleep. I remove them with a Q-tip and gargle with hydrogen peroxide. The hydrogen peroxide prevents them from forming and ends the cycle if it gets started.

      Added:
      • Excellent observation. Sleep is so important and impacts more parts of our lives than most of us realize.

        Added:
        • hhhh

          Meaningless what you are talking about

          Added:
    • Paula

      Hi Cindy,
      I know exactly how you feel. I too have suffered from this and for many years have removed these tonsil stones from my tonsils… they are vile and nasty. I have suffered from bad breath because of it and have lost friends and gotten depressed over it. For many years I didn’t know what the cause of my bad breath was. I now know but am unsure of what I need to do about it. I was scheduled twice to have my tonsils removed but chickened out both times because of the horror stories I heard from people about how they nearly bleed to death on the operating table because I am a “bleeder” I bleed easily and for a long time compared to what other people do. I removed a nasty tonsil stone today and just don’t know what else to do. Maybe I will try some of the suggestions/remedies from others on this site but Cindy I want you to know that you are not alone.

      Added:
  99. Chantal

    Hello my friends!! I had tonsil stones for about a year and a half now I had really bad breath — it was so embarrassing. I just got my tonsils out, but I found a remedy that worked for me before I got them out! I had no bad breath! Go to your local natural store and buy myrhh tincture or order online and also coconut oil. I used a tablespoon of coconut oil and 5 drops of myrhh and I used the oil pull method for twenty minutes!! This is the only thing that took away my bad breath!!! I’m happy to help you. Don’t hesitate to try this.

    Added:
    • alice downin

      I am 13 i have had tonsil stones 2 and a half years ive been in agony since i first started they say im very young to have the operation and it’s quite a long one i would be very grateful if u replied about all your experience with doctors and having your tonsils out i would love to know because im just taking more and more time of school and for what its not gettig better thanks alice

      Added:
      • Anonymous

        The younger you get them removed the easier the recovery, from what I understand. I’d talk to your parents about seeing an ENT about having then taken out.

        Added:
      • Tara

        I had tonsil stones as a child/teen with problem tonsils and bad breath. I ended up having a tonsillectomy at 17 and it was the best thing I did! Yes, the recovery was painful for a week but so worth it! It’s been 20 years and I NEVER get strep throat or sore throats (even when it’s cold season). It’s rare for me to even get a head cold at all– no matter what illness is going around. Everyone seems to make a big deal about not having surgery but for those of us who had significant problems in our youth, surgery is viable option. It’s better to have tonsils removed in your teens–easier recovery and then a life without bad breath and sore throats (for the most part).

        Added:
  100. laura chhan

    Thank you so so so much. I learned so much from this article. My right tonsil is swollen twice its size–and I already have large tonsils! I checked my tonsils and didn’t see any stones on the surface but I noticed a “hole” in my tonsil and inserted a q tip in it and soooo many stones kept coming out of it. Once I thought it was all gone, I’d rinse with salt water and more came out.

    I feel sorry for who ever smelled my breath! It smelled horrible. On top of that, it was bleeding and could tell it had bled inside this hole before. This whole time I thought it was pus and was afraid to scrape it off. Sure glad its safe to ’cause it always feel so much better when I do.

    Added:
  101. louise

    I’ve suffered 2 years with tonsil stones. The sore throat I can deal with, the bad breath I can’t. I was once very sociable to becoming house bound. Tried EVERYTHING to get rid of them. booked in to have them removed next month. I realy do feel for you all. Scared though. lol

    Added:
  102. Brooke

    I’m 31 and have had tonsil stones for 12 years . not getting any smaller. Its really bad! There is so much And blood just pores out, I don’t know what to do??? Please help

    Added:
  103. Charity

    Great article! Glad to know what they are called. I have had mine for as long as I can remember. One day the left tonsil got swollen, went to hospital and was given antibiotics. They didn’t work. Went back to the hospital and was given a second round of antibiotics. Nothing changed. I was very frustrated. Sat down with a mirror and a torch and tried to figure out what the white thing was. I took a toothpick to “poke” at it and it moved! I removed it and the relief was instantaneous. I don’t get other throat problems so anytime I see the stone, I just remove it and life moves on.

    Added:
  104. Ray Bazuaye

    I have removed several of these disgusting tonsil stone from deep inside my throat, but now I think I can’t get to it any more because they have gone deeper inside. It’s really disturbing me because I have the feeling of a foreign body in my throat all day and now it’s causing asore throat. Please, I need exact quick step to eradicating them. Thank you!

    Added:
    • Two of our readers have suggested natural, inexpensive remedies that have worked for them.

      1) Oil pulling — This is a very simple practice that’s been used historically and claims a variety of health benefits. Our reader claims that swishing coconut oil in the mouth for several minutes lubricates the tonsils and causes the tonsil stones to slip out on their own.

      2) Vinegar “tea” — Add one tablespoon of organic apple cider vinegar in approximately 200ml water and drink once a day to treat infections of the mouth and throat. Our reader says this remedy caused the tonsil stones to disappear.

      Best, @MsGreene
      Note: I am the co-founder of DrGreene.com, but I am not Dr. Greene and I am not a doctor. Please keep that in mind when reading my comments and replies.

      You may have to repeat daily several days before you see a result. Either way, the treatments are easy.

      If you try either, please let us know the results.

      Added:
      • Iowan

        I drink 1/2 cup warm water daily with 1 T organic apple cider vinegar and 1 T honey – and I have constantly recurring tonsil stones.

        Added:
        • Cynthia

          Try rinsing your mouth /gargling with hydrogen peroxide after brushing. This works well for me.

          Added:
  105. chrissy

    I think mine are from dead cells, mucus, bacteria as the article says. As I was using a tongue scraper to clean my tongue tonsil stones started coming out the crevices. Ugh. Gross.

    Added:
    • Summer68

      Hi Chrissy,

      Tonsil stones is an awful condition. I’ve suffered with them for over 30 years with some doctors not even recognizing it. By chance I heard a broadcast on the radio approx. 4 months ago where the caller recommended a tablespoon of organic apple cider vinegar in approx. 200ml water to treat infections of the mouth and throat. I started to use this treatment and can truly give thanks that they have gone.

      My breath is no longer putrid and no more stones. I continue to take the apple cider daily and I have not cut anything from my diet. I’ve also noticed other benefits like better sleeping at night, and the condition and appearance of my skin.

      I take the apple cider at about 6pm. Please try this but please remember you must dilute it before taking. I am so happy I just want to share it with everyone who suffers with this condition.

      Summer68

      Added:
      • Dexter

        Summer68,

        Could you provide any more details on how you take the apple cider vinegar – can you just gulp the whole diluted drink down? Do you drink it slowly or swish it? Thanks for the remedy!

        Added:
        • Summer68

          Hi Dexter,

          Sorry for only just replying to your query but only saw it as I was browsing this site today. Please dilute the Organic Apple Cider Vinegar with warm water and drink normally, you do not need to gulp it down.If you find the mixture too astringent, just add a little more water.

          You can also leave a small amount in the glass to gargle your throat and swish around your mouth.

          The Cider Vinegar is an antibacterial and will freshen your breath.
          Please let me know of the outcome for you if you tried this method.

          All the best

          Added:
      • Cynthia

        THANKS! I’ll try your remedy and see if I can get rid of this once and for all!

        Added:
  106. marie

    Thanks for the article. I’m so glad for the reassurance that I won’t need surgury because of my tonsil stones.

    Added:
  107. lisha

    I understand this, but my tonsils have small to medium holes in them. Its only my right tonsil and I’m not sure if it can spread to the other tonsil. My other one now has line like scratches on it. I don’t know how to explain it, but it bothers me and I’ve had it for quite some time now. I will be going to get it checked out, but I would like to learn more because if I think some thing is wrong with me or my body I have a habit of searching and thinking of the worst and over educate. Oh and by the way, I am a 13 year old female.

    Added:
    • yo

      Hi Lisha,
      Try fasting (just drink water – preferably spring water or good filtered water) for 3-4 days. Sounds really hard but it’s not so bad after the first day. Stay home and rest as much as you can (do the fast during vacation/ weekend). It might help reduce the swelling and get the stones to pop out. Or you can try eating very very little like one small bowl of steel cut oatmeal for a few days and drinking a third cup of vinegar in the morning diluted 50/50 with water??? that might help??? Hope you figure it out.

      Added:
  108. Mathew Jackson

    Extremely helpful. I have bad teeth an suffer often tonsillitis. I have a huge stone lodged at back of my throat. It’s the size of a 2p english coin. I can’t dislodge it.

    Added:
    • Have you tried “oil pulling” as suggested by another reader? You put a very small amount coconut oil into your mouth and swish it around for up to 20 minutes. I know, this sounds like a long time, but the oil may work as a lubricant and make it easier to dislodge the stone. It’s non-toxic, non-invasive and several readers have reported that it worked for them. Good luck and please let us know if it helps.

      Best, @MsGreene
      Note: I am the co-founder of DrGreene.com, but I am not Dr. Greene and I am not a doctor. Please keep that in mind when reading my comments and replies.

      Added:
  109. JD

    I’ve successfully treated them with a combination of diet change and using q-tip to remove what is present. For diet, I cut out all sugar and sweets for a month. I find coffee to be like fertilizer for my tonsil stones so I no longer drink coffee of any kind. I can eat sweets after the stones are gone. I eat raw onion which for some reason helps – perhaps has some beneficial relationship to the tonsils. I also drink sage tea or take sage tincture. I feel this a natural way of healing my body.

    Added:
    • I think you’re onto something. Has anyone else experimented with changing the diet to reduce tonsil stones? Are there any foods you think make it worse (like onions for the commenter above). I wonder if different people have different triggers or perhaps the combination of deep crevices and a high sugar, high coffee diet are the perfect tonsil stone storm?

      Best, @MsGreene
      Note: I am the co-founder of DrGreene.com, but I am not Dr. Greene and I am not a doctor. Please keep that in mind when reading my comments and replies.

      Added:
      • lisa

        Dairy always make mine worse. When I cut out dairy, they often go away. I have also heard peppermint works .

        Added:
      • SGRL

        I had my tonsils out 2 months ago for this very reason and I thought that I was cured from it…NOT, I just found 3 tonsil stones in a crevis!!! I am devastated :(

        Added:
        • SG

          Oh no!! I am getting my removed for the same reason, how are you dealing with the tonsil stones now??

          Added:
      • Nicole

        When I eat anything with bread it doesnt effect me just yet, but when I wake up in the morning it looks like its been building up overnight.

        Added:
      • Brandee

        For those of you that think coffee is the culprit, do you drink it black or with any form of dairy/sugar?

        I drink coffee, a lot of it, but I drink it black. I wonder if it could still be causing tonsil stones? Any thoughts?

        Added:
  110. Caleb

    Thanks so much! It is an embarrassing subject for some and can be difficult to bring up. This post has been invaluable thanks doc. Now that I am better informed I know the questions I need to ask!

    Added:
  111. jenny

    Before I used cotton buds but it makes me vomit because it touches my tonsil. Then my daughter suggested to use toothpick which you only prick or get the tonsil stone without touching your tonsil. It is very easy to remove, then once removed gargle with alcohol free mouthwash.

    Added:
  112. Shell

    I suffered with this for two years. I finally got a tonsillectomy and it was worth it. The healing process was painful. I lost 10 pounds that month as I could not eat. I developed oral thrush a few days post surgery. Talking was painful, so I walked with a dry erase board. It has been three years since this and I am so grateful that my ENT recommended surgery. I haven’t had any symptoms since. I hope this helps others make up their mind.
    Shell

    Added:
    • Michael J.

      You should have tried the little tool on Amazon.com, mentioned below!

      Added:
      • Dr. Phil

        LOL.. I immediately burst into laughter when I did a search at Amazon for this. This tonsil stone remover is actually an ear pick. If we search using “tonsil stones”, you’ll find the tonsil stone removal tool http://bit.ly/Expensivetonsilstoneremover for $16.38 (+$4.59 shipping cost). But if you search “ear pick”, you’ll also find the same device http://bit.ly/cheapearpick for just $1.63 (with free shipping), just 10% of the price for the tonsil stone remover. Same device, but once you give people the idea for a different and probably a better use, the value gets higher.. lol

        Added:
        • planet.PH

          Here in the Philippines, I bought two for US$0.88 yesterday but unfortunately didn’t work because the light was too bright when place inside the throat so I really couldn’t see much.

          Note: Here’s a photo that shows the tonsil stones and the the long-handled cotton swabs this person used to extract the stones. http://bit.ly/mytonsilstonesremoved

          Added:
    • Giraff59

      I too am deciding whether I want to have a tonsillectomy for this. Can I ask your age you were when you got it done?
      I love your dry erase board idea!
      Thanks!

      Added:
      • Kasey

        I was about 20 when I had my tonsils removed for this reason. I didn’t know about others suffering from this at the time. I picked the stones out starting from a very early age until they were just too bothersome to keep dealing with. I’m happy I got my tonsils removed.

        Added:
  113. Jacob Christiansen

    I’ve suffered for years – tried everything – the only thing that I’ve found that truly works is being proactive with removal. If you stay on it, your tonsils will become less swollen, which for me, resulted in the stones leaving completely for many months at a time (I will get them back and repeat).

    The best method for removal I have found is a little extraction tool with a light at the end that I found on Amazon. You can find it if you go there and search “tonsil stones”. Much better than anything else I have tried including cotton swabs and a flashlight, gargling, poking with your fingers, etc. It’s a clever/convenient little design for this purpose and well worth it!

    Hope this info helps you as it has helped me!

    Added:
    • Michael J.

      Thank you so much! This was BY FAR the best remedy!

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  114. Sydney

    Oh my gosh I just started getting these about a year or so ago after a really bad case of tonsillitis. My biggest issue is that I have such a bad gag reflex that I have never been able to extract them. I’ve tried everything but I just gag so badly every single time. So I just have to wait for them to come out on their own. My ENT told me the only way to get rid of them is get a tonsillectomy…but I’m very nervous about that since I heard the healing process is very extensive.

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  115. Gail Branch

    My granddaughter had her tonsils removed at 3. Sometimes her breathe is horrible. She is 13. Could she still be getting tonsil stones? Do the tonsils grow back?

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  116. Angie

    My daughter is 15 last year she had her tonsils removed but not the adenoids. Lately she’s been complaining of pain on one side of her neck on inside of her throat where they removed get tonsils so I looked and on the inside of her neck on the right side where the tonsil was removed she has a gaping hole it’s swollen and very painful. She says when she breathes she feels air going thru it. the doc put her on antibiotic but it doesn’t seem to be helping. Any suggestions what this could be? Thanks

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  117. Lunarblaze12

    I’m 17 and I’ve had these for a while now. I only recently found out what they were, about a year ago. My ENT doctor prescribed me some antibacterial medicine and the pill worked great both times, and he diagnosed me with tonsil stones. He’s scraped one out before, even, and it looked just like you described.
    The thing is, I’m getting surgery in 2 days, a tonsillectomy. I have terrible breath and sometimes an itchy feeling in my throat. And I knew it wasn’t my teeth; I brush very well and my ENT said my teeth were fine.
    I’m just really worried about this surgery. I know that getting a tonsillectomy is increasingly dangerous the older you get, and I hate the thought of the pain and of being put under. But the ENT said there’s nothing else to do, though he admitted that it might not completely get rid of my bad breath.
    I really hope it does….. And that I don’t get sick more often without my tonsils, as they are a defense against bacteria, viruses, and other harmful things.
    This is also my first surgery, so there’s that too…. And the fact I hate medicine and I’m going to have to take some to dull the pain after surgery.
    Well, wish me luck that I don’t die, that my bad breath goes away, and that it doesn’t make me get sick more often!

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    • Eva

      Lunarblaze, how did it go?

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    • susan

      you are 17 not 70. i am sure your doctor knows how to preform this simple procedure, it’s not heart surgery. i hate to think how you will act if something serious happens. take a painkiller, buy some mouthwash, and grow up.

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      • jen

        You’re right. She’s 17 not 70, nor does she have the life experience to deal with things beyond her scope of understanding. So instead of harshly telling her to grow up, I’m telling you to have compassion and possibly act your age.

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        • melanie

          right on!

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      • R Lynn

        What a rude person you are! All these comments are beneficial and relatable to readers then there’s always the ONE! PEOPLE LIKE YOU that choose to be disrespectful & mean aggravate me to my CORE! MAY YOU EAT YOUR WORDS ONE DAY & may they turn into the most rotten tonsil stones that ever existed on a human. Lol that thought just made me laugh. Don’t disrespect others like that no matter what their age is!

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        • JR

          And this was better? The golden rule isn’t “do unto others as they have done unto others…”

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  118. Lara

    I started getting tonsil stones in November of 2013 and was put on Penicillin on February of this year and I still have these lumps today… I started removing them myself last night and I am now left with big-ish holes, is this normal for tonsil stones? Also, I am left with one large stone that I think is responsible for ny constant sore throat… how long should I leave it before consulting a doctor? :(

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  119. Steph

    Hi. Thanks for your insight on this problem. I have read several articles which mention that tonsil typically reduce in size and issues reduce with age. Growing up I had frequent tonsils infections, typically where strep was found. I am almost 40 years old, and my tonsils are still quite large, and unfortunately, my tonsils do have crevises in them now, and I have now been getting tonsils stones consistently for the past few years in both tonsils. The stones are typically not painful, no sore throat, just annoying because it seems to be constant. My oral hygene is very good. Yesterday I worke up with my ear and tonsil quite sore on one side, and a day later, more stone pieces than usual came out of that tonsil. It is still a bit sore, and I’m wondering if there may be more in the tonsil, but also concerned about doing any potential damange. I am just wondering a couple of things.

    1) Is there any risk of putting pressure on the tonsils to extract these (e.g., can it push them back deeper and cause worse infection, or anything like that?). Do you need to be cautious about how much pressure to apply to the tonsils? Is this an effection that can spread elsewhere (e.g., lymph nodes/other)?

    2) Is there a scan or anything that can be done to check the tonsils for these stones or to check their overall health, or see if there is any concern?

    3) I really don’t want to remove my tonsils as I’ve been avoiding that for years. I saw mention that you can have laser procedure to smooth/close the crevises in the tonsils. How serious is this procedure and the recovery? Is it painful? And how effective?

    Thanks!

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  120. see mun Teh

    Hi, I really have Symptoms of Tonsilitisas, especially always spit out yellow stones and bad breathe , but I don’t see yellow stones around tonsil by using torch to check myself. I really don’t know where they hide. What should I do now? Thanks.

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  121. Siobhan

    I am 20 years old and have been dealing with tonsil stones for about 2 and a half years now.

    The first one I got was rather big, about 1cm. It was on my right side. A week later I got my second one, similar in size, on my left side.

    Since then I have had a few more come, most of them have been on my right side and I haven’t had one on my left side in a long time now.

    Over the past year or so I have had tonsil infections (always worse on the right side) about 5 times… And waiting them out has never helped. I would always wait until I couldn’t even swallow before going to the doctor. At that point I would end up on antibiotics and the pain would go away.

    Recently I got sick with bronchitis and was able to get better within a few days… Only to come down with a cold the very next day.

    Before getting sick with bronchitis I had a sore throat, it lasted throughout my bronchitis, throughout my cold, and even stayed after I was cleared up.

    Throughout that spurt of sickness I went to a walk in clinic 3 times (Twice complaining about my sore throats, concerned that it was staying for a long time). On the third visit my throat was swabbed for strep, and it came back negative. I even mentioned to the doctor that I knew it wasn’t strep and that leaving it alone would not solve the issue.

    Last night I was struck again with the tonsil stones, only in my left tonsil. I pushed them out, and everything else stuck inside. They were very tiny, and some weren’t even formed entirely. They were all a grayish brownish color which I have never seen before. Also inside was yellow and white mucus as well as blood. Yuck.

    I went and saw my family doctor today (she works at the walk in clinic that I go to) and she prescribed me antibiotics. Finally, relief. My tonsils are and have been infected once again. She also said they are very active. I have a follow up visit with her next week once the infection clears up. I’ve also noticed that above my tonsils, beside my uvula I have something hard under my skin, little bumps that feel like tonsil stones. Although I’m not sure they should be up there. I mentioned it to her and she is going to take a look next week.

    I know cancer and tonsil stones are in no way related, but the mucus and blood coming out of my tonsils is scaring me into believing I may have cancer as well.

    Most doctors won’t remove tonsils at my age, but I will continue to get tonsil infections, and eventually won’t notice improvement through antibiotics.

    What are the pro’s and con’s of having my tonsils removed in my situation?

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  122. Rachel Grantham

    This is the first helpful thing I’ve seen for this. I’ve had these stones come up every so often and it goes in spells. It feels great just knowing what it is. The thing is it’s not consistent enough to really determine if I should do something about it.

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  123. PJGU

    I have dealt with this for years off and on. I am fascinated to see how common it seems to be. I thought I was an oddity to get these as an adult. Mine tend to be in one side for a while, then a year later, they will suddenly decide they like the other side. Also oddly, I can go months with never getting them at all, then they will recur out of the blue for no reason that I can yet pin down. I noticed today that I have had a huge recurrence, and my throat is very sore with blisters on the affected tonsil. I cannot tell which came first in this case. Am I sick and the inflammation puffed up the tonsil and caused inflammation to trap food particles again….or did the tonsil stone cause the symptoms?

    I would like to know where one gets a “scraper”. I have used many home made tools over the years, from an oversized bobby pin stretched open ( the knobby ends are good for not injuring the tonsils), to the flat and slightly rounded ends of a dental mirror to press the tonsil. My tips are to always sterilize your tool with alcohol before and after working on the stones, never poke or dig too far in the tonsil, and gargle with lister one or a tea tree oil/peroxide rinse for a minute after poking around. I read one time that the tonsils sit right on the blood super highway that runs directly to the brain (thus the reason for the dangers of tonsillectomy surgery). I have always been mindful of that and try not to get an infection in that area from my prodding and to never cause it to bleed if at all possible.

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  124. Marissa

    Hello! First of all I want to thank you so much for the article! This is awesome and superb information for those of us suffering from this annoying ailment. My issue started about a year ago and I have seen about 2 ENTs, A gastroenterologist and my family practitioners numerous times this year and I still cannot find an answer to the annoying itchy feeling in the back of my throat. The ENT did say that I have crevices in my tonsils and I have been suffering from tonsil stones for awhile now but I did not know they were. However things have gotten worse because now I am reduced to eating foods that will not accumulate inside of the crevices which in turn end up in these stones…my problem is that before I did not notice them but now they bother me so much because they seem to be forming in an area that feels close to the upper part of my tonsil that feels connected to my inner ear. When I have the stones I get this horrible itchy sensation and it unbearable and I can only find relief when the stones are out but it takes forever for the stones to come out because the pocket is too deep and I really suffer for days. I also feel like I can hear crickets on that side of my ear as I feel this things are pushing up…it has come to the point where I use a Qtip to relief the itch in my ears and I kid you not, the stones come out with the pressure of the Qtip sometimes…are they that far into my tonsil? It seems like it. Now I can no longer eat foods like breads, rice or anything that could get lodged back there because it will form a stone and I will start that cycle all over again. My ENT doesn’t seem to think it is too serious to have tonsils removed because I do not get fevers or infections just this horrible itchy sensation. I also have post nasal drip and a combination of acid reflux and we are tackling both and I will not lie my symptoms go away when I stop eating the breads, the flours, the rices, but mainly the wheat, bread starches…etc…I am trying to figure out on whether I need to get my tonsils removed, but I’d rather find a doctor that is willing to minimize the crevices through surgery, I read about certain surgeries to do that but there seems to be not many ENTS interested in doing this at all. My only hope is that by changing my diet permanently the hole might get smaller and the stones will go back to becoming irregular when I eat regular foods. The other side effect that bothers me is the feeling that my ears are stuffed, it takes several minutes but then again I also have sinus issues so I got a combination of everything and I feel like there is no ending this…after a year, it depresses me and I just want a doctor that can help me. That is all I want, and they all seem to just blow me off. I do not know what to do anymore just to suffer in pain. Thank you anyway for the helpful tips and God willing I will survive this and one day look back and realize that it wasn’t as bad as I think it is…because right now it is a nightmare!

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  125. Donna Melton

    Thank you so much for this article and thank you to all the folks who have posted. I found it after coughing up another large gray stinky pebble. I’m 58. I am very large. I have lots of problems with allergies – having a flare now. My tonsils are huge. I tried to get my primary care doc to set me up for removal years ago after another bout of tonsillitis (never had it until I was 18). I never knew this things I hate had a real purpose. After reading the comments I’ve learned not to be ashamed (thought this was a weight issue) or embarrassed and that it is fixable. I’m out of work but between coughing up more of these and having feeling like swimmer’s ear for months I realized that despite having no insurance I need to have this looked at and get the stones removed as well as drastically improving my oral hygiene. Thank again Dr. Greene as well as folks who shared your own stories.

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    • k

      I would go to the dentist and ask for the prescription mouthwash for halitosis (chronic bad breath) it has a very mild amount of antibiotic that will kill any of the stuff growing in your throat, and help with the bad breath of course. when I’m using it consistently, my tonsil stones and sick symptoms decrease drastically. Plus as a bonus your mouth feels cleaner all day long.

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  126. pooja joshi

    dear doctor,
    my kids, a son 8yrs old n a daughter 3 1/2 yrs old,r very prone to throat infections..they get sore throat in every three mnths. wht precautions shld i take to prevent this recurrence….they get swollen tonsils n this condition of tonsil pearls also..it leads to high grade fever..i m a bit worried…my doc says it is due to low immunity…is that so…kindly guide! thanks!

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  127. Carli Anderson

    I’ve always had a problem with low grade sore throats, but I’d only recently been noticing the stones in my throat. I’ve been coughing them up more and more lately and it leaves me a little concerned.
    Also it makes eating popcorn annoying because I end up having the little kernel shells stuck and scratching up my throat.

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  128. Alan Greene

    Jay, your description – including the color, shape, hardness, and smell – would fit with tonsil stones. Tonsil stones aren’t a reason to worry, but are a reason to make taking care of your mouth a priority.

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  129. Alan Greene

    Nic, the holes do usually get smaller gradually over time once the stones are out, and promptly removing any new stones can help keep the openings smaller. Even with ‘little caves’ in the tonsils there is hope for this getting better without surgery.

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  130. Savanna

    I have tonsil stones in both tonsils. I have a hard time swallowing and can constantly feel then. They are at a point where I can no longer remove them. My neck and ears are constantly sore and my tonsils keep getting bigger. I tried everything and nothing seems to work. Is removing my tonsils realistic?

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    • Alan Greene

      Savanna, removing the tonsils may happen too often, but sometimes removing troublesome tonsils is the best answer. It’s worth considering. Difficulty swallowing (and breathing while asleep) can be very good reasons to get this done.

      An Ear, Nose and Throat surgeon (ENT) would be the person to do the job. I’m a fan of getting evaluated and asking for the pros and cons of both courses of action.

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  131. Guest

    Thank you so much for this post. Like many who have posted here, I too have been experiencing problems with halitosis. For over a decade, I have been going to dental hygenist, dentists and even seeing a specialist at a dental school. Suffice to say my teeth are probably cleaner than most and the periodental pockets which were thought to be the root of the cause have all but dissapeared.
    The problem still remained. Foul smelling breath! During this time I became less outgoing, more introverted. When I spoke I could see people recoil (but all were too polite to say what I knew). I spoke less, became depressed because I was unable to communicate effectively face to face. The psycological impact was definetly the hardest thing to deal with. Stagnated in the same job (although quailified and experienced enough to be doing more), no close friends (too self concious to relax and be around folks) and no intimate parteners.
    After stumbling upon this article perchance and reading tips on how to remove tosil stones, I had a go that same day. To my suprise, there were two large (0.8 and 1.0cm long) white / yellowish stones on the right hand side of my tonsil. Once removed using a teaspoon, I was curious to find what they smelled like. My word!! At that moment I understood why folks kept away. The next day I decided to test the waters at work by standing closer to people when I spoke and to my suprise no one backed off!
    I have mixed feelings at the moment, one of elation that I may finally have found what the problem is and how to deal with it and one of anger. During this time none of the professionals I paid good money to see mentioned the possibility that this may be the problem. Hell, 6 months prior to this, I called my dentist and broke down but was told there is more to life.
    Anyway I am probably venting in the wrong place. I have made and appointment with my dentist. The purpose? To ask why such a simple examination was never performed.
    Thank you all and wish you well.

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    • Alan Greene

      I’m sorry for what you’ve been through, but very glad you posted. I hope your story helps many others.

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  132. Morgan Musel

    Thank you so much for writing this, someone sited it on yahoo. I looked it up because it freaked me out that I routinely spat out little white stones. I’m glad it’s nothing serious, I do have one question though. How am I supposed to get them out other than gagging them up like I usually do?

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    • Alan Greene

      Morgan, I’m a fan of using an irrigator to wash the tonsils and/or a scraper to gently scrape them to get small stones out or to keep new stones from forming or getting too large.

      Manual irrigators may be more comfortable and less irritating for washing than electric ones, because the electric irrigators sometimes use too much pressure. Having said that, I do love my WaterPik.

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      • gina

        is it harmful when thy are swallowed???
        I cant remove them myself what else can I do and is their any medications that I can use??

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  133. Chrystal @ Happy Mothering

    Great article. I had terrible tonsil stones and constant tonsillitis until I finally broke down and had my tonsils removed when I was 28. It was not a fun experience, but I don’t get sick nearly as often now.

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    • Dr. Alan Greene

      Thanks! And I’m loving your posts this week over on the Perspectives blog here.

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      • Chrystal @ Happy Mothering

        Absolutely. It was an honor to write a series for your guest blog!

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        • The honor was mutual! :)

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  134. Hestia Thomas

    Thank you. A very well written article

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Comments are closed.