Question 1

hi, i have had a sore throat on and off for the last 3 months and keep getting white spots on my tonsils. i have now noticed my tonsils have holes in?

Accepted Answer

Tonsillitis: Cryptic tonsils with tonsilloliths versus tonsillitis. If you have fever, tenderness in your neck and discharge from the tonsils you should have a rapid strep+ throat culture and treatment depending on the size of your tonsils and how difficult it is to swallow. ENT surgeons grade the tonsils +1 to +4, +4 are touching and cause difficulty eating/swallowing. Prednisone and Clindamycin +refer to ENT

Question 2

are indentations in your tonsiles normal?

Accepted Answer

Usually: Palatine tonsils tend to be irregular with ridges or crypts.

Question 3

what do tonsils do?

Accepted Answer

Immune system: Tonsils are lymph tissue that help your immune system.

Question 4

can tonsils re-grow?

Accepted Answer

Adenoids regrow: Tonsils usually do not regrow but adenoids have propensity to reappear. It is more difficult to remove entire adenoid tissue.

Question 5

dark spot on tonsil?

Accepted Answer

Not sure: Some with darker complexions can have areas of pigmentation in the mouth particularly on the gums next to teeth. The old mercury dental amalgams could leave a gray area on the tissue next to the tooth. Melanoma can occur in the mouth but rarely.  I suggest you see ENT for evaluation.

Question 6

how to manage tonsils?

Accepted Answer

Question unclear but: We usually treat for tonsil infections. Occasionally but not often, tonsils get removed... for such reasons as snoring, sleep apnea, frequent tonsil infections, and persistently enlarged tonsils with "crypts," which are holes containing pieces of firm whitish stuff. A pediatric ENT doctor (otorhinolaryngologist, ear nose throat doctor) can evaluate and make recommendations.

Question 7

what causes tonsil cysts?

Accepted Answer

Not to worry: The tonsils in the throat are lined with squamous epithelium (skin).  Sometimes the normal growth of this lining can invaginate and grow inwards causing a benign cyst.  If there is no redness around the cyst and if does not cause pain or enlarge, i would not worry about it.  The question is, is this really a cyst?  See an ENT doctor for reassurance.

Question 8

bulges on tonsils?normal?

Accepted Answer

Tonsil anatomy: Normal tonsils have an irregular look to them and there can be bulges surrounding pits or crypts within the tonsils.  Sometimes we'll see that a normal tonsil will actually have what looks like another lobe.  If you are concerned about what you see, best to have your doctor examine to make sure it isn't something different than a normal tonsil.

Question 9

can you have extra tonsils?

Accepted Answer

4 sets of tonsils: Most people are unaware that there 4 sets of tonsils in the upper respiratory tract.  1.) palatine (throat) tonsils; 2.) adenoids (nasopharyngeal tonsils)  3.) lingual tonsils (tonsils at the base of the tongue) and tonsils at the entrance to the 
eustachian tube (auditory tube).  Together, these are known as waldeyer's ring.

Question 10

are holes in tonsils normal?

Accepted Answer

Crypts are normal: It may be normal to have some discharge or tonsillar exudate, that resides in crypts within the tonsils.  These deep ridges are just a characteristic of tonsils.

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Doctor answers about:

My tonsils have holes in them

A member asked:

Hi, i have had a sore throat on and off for the last 3 months and keep getting white spots on my tonsils. i have now noticed my tonsils have holes in?

A member asked:

Are indentations in your tonsiles normal?

A member asked:

What do tonsils do?

A member asked:

Can tonsils re-grow?

A member asked:

Dark spot on tonsil?

A member asked:

How to manage tonsils?

A member asked:

What causes tonsil cysts?

A member asked:

Bulges on tonsils?normal?

A member asked:

Can you have extra tonsils?

A member asked:

Are holes in tonsils normal?

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