how do I stop getting tonsil stones?

63 Comments

1. ♠rock n roll ruby♠ says:

   April 28, 2010 at 12:05 am

   only thing that really helps is to have your tonsils removed.

   i had this for a long time and it ended up causing chronic tonsillitis!
2. misslilly says:

   April 28, 2010 at 12:28 am

   There is no such thing as tonsil stones. If you have a medical problem you need to see a Doctor. There are no medical experts on Yahoo Answers. Even if you still think that you have tonsil stones, see a Doctor anyway.
3. Skeeter says:

   April 28, 2010 at 12:57 am

   MissLilly oh but you are sadly mistaken. Yes there are tonsil stones or the scientific name is Tonsillolith. Did you even google tonsil stones before you state there is no such thing?

   See link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonsilloliths

   Snipped from above page
   Tonsil stones, it is theorized, are the result of a combination of any of the following[1]:

   * food particles
   * dead white blood cells (a.k.a. leukocytes)
   * oral bacteria, possibly from mouth breathing
   * overactive salivary glands

   They are described as having a pungent odor[2]: halitosis concentrated into a small solid object. Visually, they may resemble sesame seeds or cottage cheese in color and texture.

   Protruding tonsilloliths have the feel of a foreign object, lodged between the outside of wisdom teeth and the temporomandibular joint region of the fleshed jaw. They may be an especially uncomfortable nuisance, but are not often harmful.

   Treatment and prevention

   The most aggressive form of treatment involves surgical removal of the stone, via oral curette or a tonsillectomy to remove the tonsils.

   Tonsilloliths can be removed by the patient. Using a medicine dropper (especially one with a curved tip) can help to suck out the stones if they are small enough. A cotton swab dipped in hydrogen peroxide applied directly on the tonsil stones will not necessarily dislodge them – it may help some sufferers of tonsilloliths while others may experience only an unpleasant gagging sensation. The use of a water pick (irrigator) to clear out the crypts of accumulated debris may also help (the lower pressure tongue-cleaner attachment is recommended). While difficult to perform due to the gag reflex, a quick brushing with a toothbrush will generally remove any tonsilloliths. Another effective way to remove tonsil stones is by pressing a finger against the bottom of the tonsil and pushing upward. The pressure squeezes out stones. Some people can even reach them with their tongue, which is the best method as the tongue doesn’t stimulate the gag reflex.

   For large crevices, an effective tool for digging out a stone is an ear curette. The curette is used primarily for the removal of ear wax, but is effective for removal of tonsil stones as well. It comprises a long thin metal stick with a tiny metal loop at the end. Alternatives include the curved end of a hair grip or a cotton swab.

   A longer term cure is possible by using laser resurfacing. The procedure is called laser tonsillotomy, or laser tonsillectomy. This technique can be performed under local anaesthetic, using the scanned carbon dioxide laser, which vaporises and removes the surface of the tonsils. In this way, the edges of the crypts and crevices which collect the debris, are flattened out, so that they can no longer trap material. Therefore stones, which are almost like pearls forming from a grain of sand, cannot form.

   The most drastic method, a tonsillectomy, is not usually indicated or recommended, but will provide permanent relief.

   Prevention

   Prevention methods include gargling with salt water, cider vinegar, dissolvable paracetamol or a non-alcohol-, non-sugar-based mouth wash.

   Some alternative practitioners state that reducing the amount of white sugar or dairy in the diet will reduce the frequency of buildup. There is, however, no reliable data that supports this theory.