Good oral hygiene, including gargling with warm salt water, can helpmanage most tonsil stones. In rare cases, an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist may need to surgically remove your tonsil stones,if they become very large.
Poor oral hygiene, as well as tobacco use, can increase the likelihood of tonsil stones. But in other individuals, it's the structure of the tonsils themselves that makes them more prone to developing tonsil stones.
Tonsil stones may last anywhere from several days to several years. Most tonsil stones clear up in 1-3 weeks on their own. Large stones may remain on the tonsils for many years if not removed by a doctor.
Gargle warm saltwater. Saltwater is the most reliable home remedy. Gargle diluted apple cider vinegar. The acidic vinegar should break down the tonsil stones.
Apple cider vinegar gargle
Gargling with diluted apple cider vinegar (ACV) may help dislodge and break down the materials in the tonsil stones. To make this mixture, a person can mix 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with 1 cup of warm water. Gargling with this up to three times a day can help loosen stones.
Probiotics: Eating yogurt and other foods with probiotics can help kill the bacteria in tonsil stones. Carrots: Chewing raw carrots naturally increases production of saliva, which can help reduce stones. Apples: Apples are acidic, which may help fight bacteria in tonsil stones.
Tonsil stones are small lumps of hardened material that form on your tonsils, in the back of your throat. They usually don't cause serious health problems. The main sign of tonsil stones is bad breath. You can usually try to get rid of tonsil stones using at-home methods, such as saltwater gargles.
In severe cases, tonsil stones can lead to chronic tonsil inflammation or infection of your tonsils, which is called tonsillitis. Tonsillitis symptoms include severe throat pain, feeling sick, swelling of the tonsils, and sometimes a fever.
Tonsil stones look like small white or pale yellow bumps on your tonsils. Usually they're the size of gravel or slightly larger. They can smell foul and cause bad breath. Other typical symptoms include: sore throat, the sensation of something being stuck in the back of your throat, and problems swallowing.
Typically, the smell is sulfuric, like rotten eggs. Bad taste in mouth: You may experience a metallic taste in the back of the throat due to tonsil stones. Difficulty or pain when swallowing: When tonsil stones form, they can be accompanied by inflammation.
Causes of tonsil stone odor
Tonsil stones smell because the bacteria and fungi feed on the mucus, food, and debris that gets stuck in the tonsil pits.
What is the treatment for tonsil stones? Tonsil stones usually fall out on their own without treatment. You can try to help dislodge the stones by brushing your teeth regularly and gargling with warm salt water (one teaspoon of salt mixed with eight ounces of water). You do not need antibiotics.
Lemon juice is acidic and can help to dissolve tonsil stones. Squeeze the juice of a lemon into a cup of warm water and gargle for 30 seconds. Repeat several times a day until the tonsil stones are gone.
Good oral hygiene is important in treating tonsil stones. It may also help prevent them from developing in the first place because it can help reduce bacteria and food debris in the mouth. Steps for maintaining good oral hygiene include: using a toothpaste that contains fluoride.
A tongue depressor is often used to dislodge larger tonsil stones; your dentist will apply pressure next to the tonsillith with the tongue depressor to dislodge it.
Gargling with salt water helps to thin mucus and clear the throat. A warm glass of water should contain 2 to 3 tablespoons of salt. Take a sip of salt water and gargle for a few seconds with your head tilted back while keeping the water on your throat. Then repeat the process of spitting out the water.
Antibiotics. If tonsillitis is caused by a bacterial infection, your doctor will prescribe a course of antibiotics. Penicillin taken by mouth for 10 days is the most common antibiotic treatment prescribed for tonsillitis caused by group A streptococcus.
Step One – Practice Good Oral Hygiene
In addition, drinking plenty of water throughout the day will help flush out any bacteria present in your mouth before it has a chance to settle into your tonsils and form stones.
Saliva helps push down debris and bacteria in the mouth, and you should, therefore, consider chewy foods that help increase saliva, like carrots and non-sugar chewing gums. You can also eat yogurt that has probiotics to help counteract the bacteria causing tonsil stones.
Use an Oral Irrigator
They rely on pressured water and were first created to massage the gums. Start with the irrigator on low to prevent gagging and gently massage your tonsils in the area by the tonsil stones. This should loosen them up enough to suck them out.
Symptoms of Tonsil Stones Include Bad Breath, Sore Throat, Trouble Swallowing, and More. One of the most common ways people find out they have tonsil stones is by spotting these growths while looking in the mirror. “You may notice them when flossing your teeth,” Dr. Setlur says.