Best way to get tonsil stones out

Tonsil stones are an incredibly annoying part of your life. Some people have to deal with tonsil stones on a routine basis. If you’re looking for a quick solution to these stones, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’re going to learn all about them and how to make tonsil stones fall out. Let’s start off by understanding what they are.

What are Tonsil Stones?

Tonsil stones are hard formations that are located in your tonsils. They are typically white or yellow in color and really firm which is why people refer to them as stones. They obviously aren’t made of actual stone, so it’s not from swallowing rocks or anything like that.

Symptoms of Tonsil Stones

If you’re not sure if you have tonsil stones, here are some of the major symptoms:

• ear pain
• bad breath
• ongoing cough
• sore throat
• white or yellow debris on the tonsil
• swollen tonsils
• trouble swallowing

Smaller stones are more common and they might not have any symptoms at all. You’ll notice that none of these symptoms are especially dangerous – if you’re experiencing dangerous symptoms like bleeding, pus, or incredible pain, then you need to seek medical attention and shouldn’t try to get rid of these on your own.

Causes of Tonsil Stones

Your tonsils are a bunch of little tunnels and pits. They sometimes fill up with food, dead cells, mucus, and saliva which can get trapped in these tunnels. This is the basics of how tonsil stones are made. If you have large tonsils, chronically inflamed tonsils, poor dental hygiene, or chronic sinus issues then will be especially susceptible to tonsil stones.

Preventing Tonsil Stones

Before you learn how to make tonsil stones fallout, it’s a good idea to know how to prevent them in the future.

You should stop smoking, drink a lot of water, routinely gargle with salt water, and practice good oral hygiene. Taking care of your mouth will reduce the number of tonsil stones you see in your life.

How to Make Tonsil Stones Fall Out

Let’s take a look at some different ways to get rid of your tonsil stones. Realize that the method of how to get rid of tonsil stones will depend on your specific case.

The top ways to make tonsil stones fall out on your own are:

• Coughing

• Gargling saltwater

• Using a low-pressure irrigator

• Swishing nonalcoholic mouthwash

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Now, let’s take a closer look at each of these options.

Coughing

For some people, simply coughing is enough to dislodge the stones. A lot of people first discover their tonsil stones after an energetic coughing session. You might cough and feel something hard in the back of your throat or on your tongue. Spitting it out will reveal a small tonsil stone.

Gargling

Gargling with salt water is a known method of making your throat feel better, but it can also dislodge tonsil stones. The salt acts as an abrasive that shakes everything loose in the back of your throat. The salt can also change up the chemistry in your mouth which will reduce the further presence of tonsil stones. If you have a mouth odor along with tonsil stones, then this will help with both.

Dissolve about half a teaspoon of salt in an8-oz cup of water and gargle it.

Low-Pressure Irrigator

If you have access to a low-pressure irrigator like a water flosser, it could really help. Go to your bathroom, stand in front of the mirror, and grab your water flosser. Try to aim the flosser towards the stone and spray it to dislodge it.

When the stone is dislodged, be careful not to wallow it. The stream of water will push it to the back of your throat and might cause coughing, so be ready for that.

You can also use a low-pressure irrigator on asemi-regular basis to help flush out your tonsils and prevent stones.

Nonalcoholic Mouthwash

Mouthwash kills germs in your mouth which automatically helps prevent tonsil stones. The nonalcoholic variety of mouthwash can also help dislodge and remove whatever stones are currently in your tonsils. This method typically doesn’t work as well as gargling in fully removing tonsil stones, but it can help loosen them.

Conclusion

Now you know more about tonsil stones. You know what they are, what causes them, what symptoms to look for, and how to get rid of tonsil stones. If your stones are too large or none of these techniques work, reach out to your doctor for more instructions.

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: What causes tonsil stones? Is there a way to permanently get rid of them, other than having my tonsils removed? I am 48 and have heard that having a tonsillectomy as an adult is a significant surgery that can lead to other problems.

ANSWER: Tonsil stones form when substances become logged in the crevices of your tonsils. If you are prone to tonsil stones, having your tonsils removed is the most effective way to solve the problem. If, however, you prefer not to do that, there are ways you can safely remove tonsil stones. There also are self-care steps you can take to help prevent them from coming back.

Your tonsils are two oval-shaped pads of tissue at the back of your throat, one on each side. The tonsils are a type of lymph node and work as part of your body’s immune system. They act as filters for bacteria and viruses. They also make disease-fighting white blood cells and antibodies.

The tonsils’ surfaces are irregular. Some people have pits and craters in their tonsils that are deep enough for food particles, bacteria, saliva or mucus to become caught in them. As these substances are pressed into the craters, they eventually develop into tonsil stones.

Also called tonsilliths or tonsil calculi, these stones typically are pastel yellow in appearance. You might be able to see the stones when you examine your tonsils. But if they form deep in the tonsillar tissue, the stones may not be visible.

Common signs and symptoms of tonsil stones are tonsil redness and irritation. These stones also frequently cause bad breath due to the bacteria that collect on them. In some cases, tonsil stones can lead to chronic tonsil inflammation or infection of your tonsils, called tonsillitis. But in many cases, they are simply a nuisance.

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. As with all surgeries, it carries some risks, such as bleeding after surgery. Most people have throat pain after a tonsillectomy. But the pain often can be effectively managed with medications, along with plenty of fluids and rest.

If your doctor recommends against a tonsillectomy due to your medical history, age or other factors, or if you simply would rather not have your tonsils removed, you can take other steps to deal with tonsil stones.

When stones form, you can remove them either by gently pressing them out with a cotton swab or the back of your tooth brush, or by washing them out with a low-pressure water irrigator. You can use this device to aim a gentle stream of water at the tonsil craters and rinse out debris that may be caught in them.

You can help prevent tonsil stones from forming in the first place by following good oral hygiene. Brush your teeth after meals, at bedtime, and when you get up in the morning. When you brush your teeth, gently brush your tongue, as well. Floss your teeth daily. Regularly use mouthwash that does not have an alcohol base. These techniques can lower the amount of bacteria in your mouth that may contribute to the development of tonsil stones.

If tonsil soreness persists, if your tonsils look very red or bleed easily, or if pain from your tonsils extends to your ear, make an appointment to see your doctor. These symptoms could signal a more serious problem that may require medical attention. — Ann Bell, M.D., Otorhinolaryngology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.

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