Tonsil stones – also known as tonsiliths, can be quite a problem for a person affected by them even though they pose no real severe medical complications. The excessive amounts of odor that they emit can be a source of considerable social embarrassment and the best way to treat them is to catch them early before they develop into being significantly disobedient. Protruding tonsil stones may give you the feeling that a foreign object is lodged within the mouth at the back of the tonsil crypt. Tonsil stones are known to occur more commonly in adults than in children and rarely cause any noticeable symptoms despite being rather large. Most tonsil stones are discovered by complete accident while others are only noticed after the onset of extremely bad breath. They are usually caused by the buildup of sulphur producing micro organisms and food fragments stuck in the tonsils. The mouth naturally contains some amounts of anaerobic bacteria present under the tongue which mingles with the contents of the tonsils thereby generating chronic halitosis and tonsil stones. One of the more noticeable symptoms to occur at this point, if any, is the development of a sore throat.
Getting rid of tonsil stones is not as hard as many people may make you believe. Your diet plays an extremely important role in getting rid of the stones. Reducing the amount of dairy products as well as calcium intake is one of the first steps you should take. Any increase in the levels of calcium will lead to a deposition of the substance in the tonsils – thereby causing an increase in the prominence of the tonsil stones. Avoid retiring for the night immediately after eating your food as you need to allow the food particles to pass through your throat and reach the stomach. One of the most effective treatments in getting rid of tonsil stones is to drink plenty of water as this helps the saliva constantly move all around the oral cavity while also flushing out hidden bacteria. Gargling with saline water will help act as an antiseptic and prevent the tonsil stones from reoccurring in the future. Brushing your teeth at least twice daily will help maintain healthy levels of oral hygiene while you could also use your toothbrush to get rid of the tonsil stones themselves. You could also try manually removing the tonsil stones with the help of cotton swabs or water picks while chewing on sugar free gums will help increase the production of saliva in the mouth.