Huge Tonsil Stone Archive – What Are They & Tonsil Stone Videos

Before you view our Tonsil Stone video collection at the bottom of this page, please read more to learn about what they are, why we get them, and what you can do about them.

There are some people who are prone to getting tonsil stones and often, they also develop tonsillitis. Those with inflamed tonsils too suffer from the same problem. When harmful debris collects in the mouth, it tends to lump together and form a hard mass. This, if ignored, will harden to the texture of a stone and that is where the name is derived. These stones are generally quite small, but there have been cases when there were ones significant in size as well.

• The problem with the size of tonsil stones is that the smaller ones tend to get lost. Unless you go looking for them with specialized instruments, you are bound to miss them. On the other hand, the bigger stones can be seen by looking at the back of your mouth through a mirror. In addition, bigger stones come with symptoms that are not apparent with small stones.
• Bigger stones result in really bad breath. There is a lot of medical research to show that those who have big stones tend to have quite a bad case of halitosis. Another symptom to watch out for is inflamed tonsils or pain when swallowing. If you are able to prevent yourself from gagging, then you can clean these stones off your tonsils easily with a clean cotton swab; if not, do not worry, there are other ways of removing tonsil stones.
• For quite a while, tonsil stones were misdiagnosed by dentists for just being debris from food lodged in the crevices of the tonsils. You should keep in mind that tonsil stones as such do not really cause any harm to a person. There are chances, they dislodge themselves and you end up coughing them out. There are also times when they burst open and that is when you will really smell their bad odor. Bad breath as a result of tonsil stones happens due to a mix of sulfur compounds such as methyl mercaptan and hydrogen sulfide. The smell can be nasty, especially when you are in the company of a loved one. Ignoring tonsil stones can cause you to become a social outcast; you can have them dealt with in a number of ways. There are ways in which you can get rid of them at home and in case you are not too sure of doing a good job, you can get it done with the help of an ENT specialist. They are the ones who are best equipped for these procedures.

How to get rid of tonsil stones?

• Tonsil stones treatment depends on the size of the stone and its location. It will also depend on how much discomfort you may be feeling. There are a range of options for you. In several cases, since the stones do not really present themselves, there is no treatment prescribed at all. You could choose to remove the tonsil stones at home. If you can see and access them and have good control over your gag reflex, you can use a mirror, a bright light and cotton swabs or toothpicks to get rid of them. Gargling warm salt water will help reduce the discomfort from tonsil stones. It does not really take them away, but it reduces your heightened stress levels because of them. Antibiotics are also an option in the treatment of tonsil stones. The only thing lodged is, it does not treat the cause of tonsil stones. In addition, in many cases, there are side-effects from these antibiotics. One of the final options is that of surgery. Surgery is necessary when the tonsil stones are so large that they need to be removed surgically. Surgery to remove tonsil stones is simple and completed very quickly.

This answers the question of what are tonsil stones? Moving forward, you will want to know tonsil stones causes. The problem with tonsil stones is that the smaller ones do not really have any symptoms that you can pinpoint. There have been cases where even the bigger ones have been noticed only as a result of x-rays or scans taken for some other reason. However, in the case of really big stones, some of the symptoms you can expect are:

1. Really bad breath or halitosis is a result of a tonsil based infection. Special tests were created to check the mouth for substances such as sulfur compounds that could lead to bad breath bouts and it was found that in a majority of the patients with halitosis, these compounds were present and that the patient had tonsil stones. In fact, many researchers concluded that in cases of really bad breath, stones should not be ruled out. Recurring sore throats: In cases where you have stones and tonsillitis at the same time, it sometimes is not possible to determine if the sore throat you are having is because of the infection or the stone.
2. However, remember that the stone alone is enough to cause you enough of an ache in the area where it is located. Collection of white debris: In most cases, tonsil stones can be seen at the back of the throat as a white hard mass. However, there are a few instances when they are hidden in the crevices of tonsils. In such cases, only scans and MRIs can help. Another common symptom is a problem with swallowing. Again, this is dependent on where the stone is placed and how big it is. The swallowing of solid food or even liquids can get very painful at times. Since the tonsils are located very close to the ears, there are some nerve collections that cross ways. Sometimes, tonsil stones affect these nerve pockets and ear pain is also experienced. In addition, sometimes, the very presence of tonsil stones can trigger a tonsillitis episode.