Guess post for Dr. Ellis
Author: WILLIAM PETTET
Humans and hamsters have something in common…
We both can pack our cheeks with food! What are you talking about Willis? What I am talking about is Tonsils stones. Tonsil stones are found in the nooks and crannies of your tonsil glands. These stones are made up from; mucous, dead cells, food partials, and lovely bacteria.
Tonsil stones, or tonsilloliths, are formed when this trapped debris hardens, or calcifies. This tends to occur most often in people who suffer from chronic inflammation in their tonsils or repeated bouts of tonsillitis.
While many people have small tonsilloliths that develop in their tonsils, it is quite rare to have a large and solidified tonsil stone.
Pretty cool huh?
Well for me growing up, not so cool… you see I suffered from many symptoms that are now being credited to Tonsil Stones. What are these symptoms you ask? For exact symptoms, we will use our trusted source for all things Webmd.com
Web source: https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/tonsil-stones-tonsilloliths-treatment-and-prevention#1
What are the Symptoms of Tonsil Stones?
Many small tonsil stones do not cause any noticeable symptoms. Even when they are large, some tonsil stones are only discovered incidentally on X-rays or CT scans. Some larger tonsilloliths, however, may have multiple symptoms:
- Bad Breath. One of the prime indicators of a tonsil stone are exceedingly bad breath, or halitosis that accompanies a tonsil infection. One study of patients with a form of chronic tonsillitis used a special test to see if volatile sulfur compounds were contained in the subjects’ breath. The presence of these foul-smelling compounds provides objective evidence of bad breath. The researchers found that 75% of the people who had abnormally high concentrations of these compounds also had tonsil stones. Other researchers have suggested that tonsil stones be considered in situations when the cause of bad breath is in question.
- Sore Throat. When a tonsil stone and tonsillitis occur together, it can be difficult to determine whether the pain in your throat is caused by your infection or the tonsil stone. The presence of a tonsil stone itself, though, may cause you to feel pain or discomfort in the area where it is lodged.
- 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. In these instances, they may only be detectable with the help of non-invasive scanning techniques, such as CT scans or magnetic resonance imaging.
- Difficulty swallowing. Depending on the location or size of the tonsil stone, it may be difficult or painful to swallow foods or liquids.
- Ear pain. Tonsil stones can develop anywhere in the tonsil. Because of shared nerve pathways, they may cause a person to feel referred pain in the ear, even though the stone itself is not touching the ear.
- Tonsil swelling. When collected debris hardens and a tonsil stone forms, inflammation from infection (if present) and the tonsil stone itself may cause a tonsil to swell or become larger.
How are Tonsil Stones Treated?
The appropriate treatment for a tonsil stone depends on the size of the tonsillolith, and its potential to cause discomfort or harm. Various options include:
- No treatment. Many tonsil stones, especially ones that have no symptoms, require no special treatment.
- At-home removal. Some people choose to dislodge tonsil stones at home with the use of picks or swabs.
- Salt Water Gargles. Gargling with warm, salty water may help alleviate the discomfort of tonsillitis, which often accompanies tonsil stones.
- Antibiotics. Various antibiotics can be used to treat tonsil stones. While they may be helpful for some people, they cannot correct the basic problem that is causing tonsilloliths. Also, antibiotics can have side effects.
- Surgical Removal. When tonsil stones are exceedingly large and symptomatic, it may be necessary for a surgeon to remove them. In certain instances, a doctor will be able to perform this relatively simple procedure using a local numbing agent. Then the patient will not need general anesthesia.
So, how does one prevent these horrible stones from invading our mouths? The answer is simple… Call Dr. Ellis!
