Question 1

my daughter gets tonsil stones and pulls them out on own. is this safe and what medical complications can happen with tonsils stone & pull them out?

Accepted Answer

OK: This is generally safe if careful not to injure the tonsils.  These are highly vascular organs and can bleed or become infected if punctured in a non-sterile manner.  Otherwise nothing wrong with this.

Question 2

is it possible to rupture a tonsil from pushing to hard to remove tonsil stones? what complications can arise from this? is caroited artery connected?

Accepted Answer

Tonsil stones: Yes, you can damage the tonsils with a probe pushed in too far.  Induction of infection, bleeding and other complications is possible. See an ENT doctor.

Question 3

what are tonsil stones?

Accepted Answer

Tonsilliths: They are bacterial colonies that form in tonsillar crypts. A common bacteria is actinomyces.  It can give you a foreign body sensation in throat and halitosis.

Question 4

are tonsil stones serious?

Accepted Answer

tonsil stones: The tonsils have multiple holes that can can get filled with bacteria, mucus and food debris.  Overtime the debris can harden and form the so called tonsil stones.  They are not  serious but they can cause throat discomfort and bad breath.

Question 5

what can cause tonsil stones?

Accepted Answer

Eating: Tonsil stones (i.e. Tonsilliths) are collections of food and debris which get trapped in the tonsils.  This material gets infected usually becomes foul smelling.  Some tonsils have more nooks and crannies in which to collect this debris, which makes the stones larger and/or more numerous.  If removed, tonsilliths usually will recur.  If severe, tonsillectomy will cure the problem. Best wishes.

Question 6

can tonsil stones be harmful?

Accepted Answer

No! Offensive?  Yes!: Tonsil stones are offensive due to odor.  They may cause discomfort and possibly and infection could result from them.  Mostly it is odor and cosmetic.

Question 7

how are tonsil stones removed?

Accepted Answer

Various ways: I have known patients who were bothered by their "tonsil stones" who used a tooth-pick to clean out the tonsil stones; others reported that they used a "water pik" with great success. Try also daily gargling with salt water (saline) containing manuka honey - "nature's antibiotic".

Question 8

how are tonsil stones started?

Accepted Answer

Cryptic tonsils: The first thing that starts are tonsils that have deep pockets or crypts. Food, debris, and bacteria get trapped in the crypts and form the "tonsil stones.".

Question 9

what herbs cure tonsil stones?

Accepted Answer

None really: It is not a medical problem, more of a physical one.  Medications, herbs, mouthwashes generally don't help.   If the tonsils have the deep crypts which trap food debris, tonsil stones will form.  They  can be removed cleaned out,  but usually recur. If tonsil stones are a severe and chronic problem, tonsillectomy will cure the issues.  See your local ent. Best wishes.

Question 10

what are tonsil stones made of?

Accepted Answer

ICKY STUFF: Tonsil "stones" are comprised of dead mucosal cells from the lining of the oral cavity, from microscopic food particles, and from bacteria - usually in the form of "biofilm". Based on dna sequencing studies, we found more than 100 separate species of bacteria in tonsil stones in a group of 50 children.

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Doctor answers about:

Complications of tonsil stones

A member asked:

My daughter gets tonsil stones and pulls them out on own. is this safe and what medical complications can happen with tonsils stone & pull them out?

A member asked:

Is it possible to rupture a tonsil from pushing to hard to remove tonsil stones? what complications can arise from this? is caroited artery connected?

A member asked:

What are tonsil stones?

A member asked:

Are tonsil stones serious?

A member asked:

What can cause tonsil stones?

A member asked:

Can tonsil stones be harmful?

A member asked:

How are tonsil stones removed?

A member asked:

How are tonsil stones started?

A member asked:

What herbs cure tonsil stones?

A member asked:

What are tonsil stones made of?

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