Foods that cause or contribute to tonsil stones often leave debris, promote mucus/bacteria, or cause irritation, with common culprits including dairy products, sugary foods, processed snacks (nuts, seeds, popcorn), alcohol, and carbonated drinks, as these can get trapped in tonsil crevices and harden with calcium, dead cells, and bacteria. Limiting these and maintaining good oral hygiene helps prevent buildup.
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Tonsil stones happen when bits of food, dead cells and bacteria get stuck in the small pockets of your tonsils. Over time, this material can harden into small lumps. You may be more likely to develop tonsil stones if you have: poor oral hygiene.
Poor Oral Hygiene: Not brushing, flossing, or using mouthwash regularly allows bacteria and food particles to build up in the mouth and get trapped in the tonsils' pockets, leading to tonsil stones.
Studies have shown that oral bacteria may increase in number and unusual oral microorganisms maybe become more prominent during pregnancy. Excessive saliva, also frequently associated with pregnancy, or ptyalism gravidarum, 12 – 14 could be an additional contributing factor to increased tonsil stone formation.
Tonsil stones generally aren't harmful. But they can become a major annoyance if you get them often. It's OK to try and remove them at home. But if home remedies don't work, it's time to call your healthcare provider.
Gargle with saltwater to help get rid of tonsil stones
To do this, dissolve one teaspoon of salt into a cup of warm water. After the salt is no longer visible, take a mouthful of saltwater, tilt your head back, and gently gargle for a few seconds. Repeat this process until the saltwater is gone.
If you have a history of developing tonsil stones, the best way to get rid of them permanently is to remove your tonsils. Surgery to take out the tonsils is called a tonsillectomy. It is usually done as an outpatient procedure, so you don't have to stay overnight in the hospital.
Poor oral hygiene, continuous mouth breathing, deep crevices in tonsils, huge tonsils, chronic tonsillitis, hormonal changes, and too much calcium in the blood without adequate vitamins K2 and D3 are all causes of tonsil stones.
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.
Dry Mouth: Dry mouth is another factor that causes tonsil stones. Without enough saliva to wash away debris and bacteria, the risk of tonsil stones increases.
Preventing Tonsil Stones
Brush your teeth twice a day or after meals: Use an anti-bacterial toothpaste like Crest Pro-Health to better neutralize plaque and limit the spread of oral bacteria into the throat.
If you have chronic or recurring (returning) tonsillitis, your healthcare provider may recommend a tonsillectomy. This is a procedure to surgically remove your tonsils.
Saltwater gargles: Gargling with warm saltwater is a simple way to dislodge tonsil stones. To prepare a solution, mix one teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm (not hot!) water. Oral irrigator: Also referred to as a water flosser, these tools can be useful for flushing out tonsil stones.
One of the main causes is poor oral hygiene. If you don't regularly remove bacteria and debris from your mouth and tonsils through brushing, flossing, and rinsing, they can build up and contribute to the formation of tonsil stones.
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People with a history of tonsillitis may be more susceptible to tonsil stones. Each time the tonsils are enlarged from infection, small holes tend to develop from the swelling. People with large tonsils also are more at risk of developing tonsil stones.
Recurrent tonsillitis can contribute to the formation of these deposits. Crypts in the tonsils: Some people have deeper crevices, known as crypts, in their tonsils. These crypts can trap debris, leading to the formation of tonsil stones. Diet and lifestyle factors: Dairy and sugary foods promote bacterial growth.
Processed foods: Highly processed snacks like chips and crackers tend to leave particles that are hard to remove from the mouth. These particles can get lodged in the tonsil crypts and contribute to stone development. High-starch foods: Pasta, bread, and potatoes can leave residue in the mouth.
Most tonsil stones fall out on their own, but there are home remedies that can help speed up the process. You can gargle with warm salt water or apple cider vinegar to get rid of tonsil stones. Rinsing with alcohol-free mouthwash can also help remove tonsil stones.
The 7-5-3 rule (Paradise Criteria) for tonsillectomy is a guideline for recurrent tonsillitis: surgery may be considered if a patient has ≥7 infections in 1 year, or ≥5 infections for 2 consecutive years, or ≥3 infections for 3 consecutive years, with each episode being significant (fever, exudate, etc.) and impacting daily life, though modifying factors (like peritonsillar abscess) can alter this.
Even if some people do take diligent care of their teeth and mouth, they will get stones because of the anatomy (the specific size and shape) of their tonsils. If the tonsils have a lot of crypts and crevices, they're more likely to have debris trapped in them and form tonsil stones than tonsils that are smooth.
Manual Removal: For smaller stones, a dentist or dental hygienist can often remove them during a routine check-up using a dental tool. This process is usually quick and painless. Water Irrigation: At home, you can use a low-pressure water irrigator (like a Waterpik) to gently dislodge tonsil stones.
They are usually small in size, measuring a few millimetres. Large tonsilloliths are usually discovered in routine panoramic radiographs, where they may appear as radiopaque masses that overlap the mandibular ramus. However, large tonsilloliths measuring more than 3 cm have also been reported [6].
White debris.
Some tonsil stones are visible in the back of the throat as a lump of solid white material. This is not always the case. Often they are hidden in the folds of the tonsils.