Is it bad to pop out tonsil stones

Overview

Your tonsils are areas of tissue in the back of your throat. They are part of the immune system, which helps your body fight infection. Tonsil tissue has small gaps in it. Tonsil stones form when bacteria and debris get stuck in those gaps and harden.

Tonsil stones look like white or yellow pebbles on your tonsils. They can cause bad breath, a sore throat, a bad taste in your mouth, and ear pain. Or they may not cause any symptoms.

Usually, tonsil stones can be treated at home. But large stones that cause pain or other problems may have to be removed by a doctor. And if your tonsil stones keep coming back or are bothering you a lot, your doctor may recommend removing your tonsils.

Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor or nurse advice line (811 in most provinces and territories) if you are having problems. It's also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take.

How can you care for yourself at home?

• Gargle with warm salt water. This helps reduce swelling and discomfort. It might also help remove the stones. Gargle with 1 teaspoon (5 mL) of salt mixed in 1 cup (250 mL) of warm water.
• Use something soft to gently remove tonsil stones that bother you. Some people use the end of a cotton swab.
• Practice good oral hygiene. Brush and floss your teeth regularly.

When should you call for help?

Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor or nurse advice line if:

• Your tonsil stones keep coming back, or they really bother you and you want to talk about other options.
• You do not get better as expected.

Where can you learn more?

Go to https://www.healthwise.net/patientEd

Enter T111 in the search box to learn more about "Tonsil Stones: Care Instructions".

If you still have your tonsils, you probably don’t think much about them. But if you are struggling with bad breath or throat irritation, grab a mirror, open up, and say, “aww.” You could have a common problem known as tonsilloliths or tonsil stones.

Causes and Symptoms of Tonsil Stones

Your tonsils, those small, fleshy bits on either side of your throat, help detect and filter the bacteria and viruses that enter your mouth. They do this by producing white blood cells and antibodies. The tonsils also have craters and grooves, called crypts, that can trap food, bacteria and other particles. As saliva and your white blood cells attack those particles, they can begin to calcify and harden, turning into tonsil stones.

“Often, these stones are small and harmless, but for others they can cause noticeable problems, such as throat irritation, difficulty swallowing, white or yellow looking stones on your tonsils and bad breath (halitosis),” said Bruce Stewart, MD, an ear, nose and throat specialist at Banner – University Medical Center Tucson. “When you disturb or remove a tonsil stone, it can often produce a foul smell and taste in your mouth.”

Bad breath and throat irritation can also be a sign of tonsillitis or strep throat. The big difference is that tonsillitis is caused by a virus or bacteria and generally comes with a fever, headache, swollen neck glands and inflamed, red tonsils.

Prevention and Treatment

Generally, tonsil stones are not harmful, so if they aren’t giving you trouble, you are best to just leave them alone. But if you want to treat and prevent tonsil stones from recurring, Dr. Stewart recommended these preventive at-home strategies:

• Brushing teeth and tongue
• Gargling with salt water after eating
• Use Waterpiks to flush out food and debris
• Gently express the stones using a cotton swab or toothbrush

“If you are getting tonsil stones often and they are providing discomfort, a tonsillectomy is an option,” Dr. Stewart said. “This is a painful surgery and you should only consider it if you are sure you don’t want to keep cleaning your tonsils.”

Talk to your health care provider if you are experiencing severe and prolonged symptoms, so they can rule out any other causes and provide a personalized treatment plan. To find a Banner Health specialist near you, visit bannerhealth.com.

Other useful articles:

• Pain in Your Mouth When You Eat? It Could Be a Salivary Stone
• What Your Tongue Says About Your Health
• Dysgeusia: What to Do When You Lose Your Sense of Taste

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