Top answers from doctors based on your search:
Tonsil stones
A 42-year-old female asked:
Dr. David Kamanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 37 years experience
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 h... Read More
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Heidi Fowleranswered
Psychiatry 26 years experience
Tonsil stones: Tonsil stone - tonsilloliths - collection of bacterial & cellular debris in tonsillar crypts,
502 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Dr. Nicole Frommannanswered
Urgent Care 23 years experience
Gargle: Initially you can try gargling with warm salt water and/or mouth wash. If that doesn't help then try taking a long moist swab and manually remove them... Read More
1.2k viewsAnswered >2 years agoMerged
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Magalie Nelsonanswered
ENT - Head & Neck Surgery - Pediatric 22 years experience
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 t... Read More
4.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Ed Friedlanderanswered
Pathology 45 years experience
Trivial: They're actually mostly made of keratin. There's a lot of misinformation about them. They can be smelly and uncomfortable. They're easy... Read More
2.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Mike Bowmananswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 20 years experience
Eating: Tonsil stones (i.e. Tonsilliths) are collections of food and debris which get trapped in the tonsils. This material gets infected usually becomes fou... Read More
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Matthew Russellanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 16 years experience
Bacteria: Tonsil stones are benign firm white "stones" that form in the tonsil crypts from bacteria... Much like plaque on your teeth. They are not dangerous, ... Read More
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 21-year-old female asked:
Dr. Danny Proffittanswered
Family Medicine 44 years experience
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... Read More
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Russell Faustanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 30 years experience
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 ... Read More
6.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 52-year-old member asked:
Dr. Patrick Melderanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 28 years experience
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 st... Read More
6.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 52-year-old member asked:
Dr. Mike Bowmananswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 20 years experience
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 whic... Read More
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Russell Faustanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 30 years experience
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 i... Read More
6.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A female asked:
Dr. Martin Raffanswered
Infectious Disease 57 years experience
Highly variable: If you don't go in and force them out they may stay for a lengthy time period. Worry not.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ryan Phasoukanswered
Family Medicine 19 years experience
No need: It is unnecessary to treat tonsil stones as they generally are not related to any health consequences.
4.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
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