<p>I’m a college student and I seem to have tonsiloliths, as my symptoms are exactly what others on the internet describe. I’ve had a sore throat for two or three weeks, but never thought anything of it until today when I was able to fully see the current occupants (trying to put it nicely!) of one of my tonsil cavities. </p>
<p>I will be going to the doctor tomorrow, but I was wondering if any of you oh-so-knowledgeable parents have any information or advice? Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>If you don’t mean “tonsillitis” I’m afraid I have no idea what you are talking about. In any event, I suggest you listen carefully to the doctor and then (in nearly all cases) do what the doc recommends.</p>
<p>EDITED: I’ll be darned. I just googled on Tonsiloliths, which sounded to me like it meant “tonsil rocks.” Turns out that’s exactly what they are called. Learn something new every day. And, still, follow your doc’s advice.</p>
<p>I get them regularly. Last time I did any research on them (years ago), there really wasn’t anything you can do to minimize them. However, mine usually do NOT come with a sore throat.</p>
<p>That being said (and how do you talk about any of this with diplomatically?), I have had some success in getting them out with my finger… it takes patience, and practice to reach back there without gagging yourself. Mine also have to have been there growing for a few days in order for me to be successful in getting it out - it seems the bigger they are, the easier they are to dislodge.</p>
<p>If anyone has any suggestions as to how to minimize getting them (short of surgery), please chime in.</p>
<p>Since these are formed generally due to regular flow of sinus drainage, post nasal drip which is protein rich. I would suggest gargling with warm water or mouth wash a few times a day as a normal practice.</p>
<p>Although tonsiloliths recur, to prolong their reccurance, try to drink plenty of fluids during the day. Carry around a water bottle and don’t allow mucus to coat your tonsils. Drink plenty of water and gargle multiple times a day.</p>
<p>I had never heard of any of this either. When I was still experiencing a sore throat and the sensation of having something caught in my throat, I start googling. Thanks for the info so far.</p>
<p>Teriwtt: I actually did try to get them out. There was a large amount of material, and I think I removed most, but of course I still want to see a doctor. This is the first time I’ve ever had this problem. Just curious: how are you able to tell that tonsiloliths are forming?</p>
<p>Over time I’ve learned what my tonsils look like when there aren’t any stones ‘incubating’, and what they look like when there are. I also have become very aware, just by moving my tongue at the back of my throat if one is there… the tissue around the tonsil feels like a tiny little stone is there. Occasionally I won’t notice one until it’s so big, that any big sneeze or cough will dislodge it. What amazes me is how quickly they can come back once one comes out… just a matter of a few days.</p>
<p>I didn’t know those aggravating things had a name. My dentist was the one who first pointed them out to me. He had a dental device that could dislodge them. It had a small round loop at the end. I’ve often thought I should try to find one of these instruments. He just told me I had “decrepid tonsils”. He said if it really bothered me, I could have my tonsils removed. I don’t think I’m up for that at this late age.</p>
<p>Having your tonsils removed for tonsil stones really isn’t necessary unless they’re causing you severe pain or socially crippling halitosis. </p>
<p>I have tonsil stones, and typically I find it’s simple enough to pop them out with a Q-tip and a mirror. If you apply gentle pressure a bit next to the stone, it’ll pop out, and with the q-tip and the mirror, it’s accurate so you don’t gag yourself by ramming your fingers down your throat.</p>
<p>If you google, I think there’s a support forum that has a lot of other useful advice. Tonsil stones really aren’t a big deal, though. They’re just annoying.</p>
<p>as to the word, remember when Professor Jones in the first Indiana Jones movie broke down the word “paleolithic” for his students? “Lith”/stone age.</p>
<p>AiHy - what did the doctor say?</p>
<p>BTW - I have a follow up appt. with my ENT tomorrow for a nasty ruptured eardrum from a couple of weeks ago. I’m hoping to remember to ask him if he has any recommendations for the tonsil stones.</p>
<p>Thanks for asking teriwtt…Unfortunately, the doctor was not very helpful. She was indifferent and ignored the possibility of tonsil stones. She dismissed it, saying “I’ve never heard of that”. She did a throat culture (she thinks I have strep throat) and prescribed antibiotics but did nothing else- did not check my lungs (even with lifelong asthma), did not fully examine my throat, etc. I am hoping to get in with an ENT tomorrow if possible because my throat is actually getting worse. </p>
<p>I wonder if anyone has thought they had tonsil stones only to have it be something different altogether? Hopefully I can get a second opinion and clear this up!</p>
<p>AiHy - a doctor that hadn’t heard of them?</p>
<p>For criminy’s sake - my obstetrician knew what mine were, 22 years ago; that’s how I found out what they were.</p>
<p>Because tonsil stones look like white gunk, it’s common to suspect strep. But to never have heard of them? They can cause your tonsils to swell. My daughter finally opted to have her tonsils removed because the constant sore throats, giant (touching) tonsils, and chronic stinky breath were awful. Plus, she kept coughing them up at the most inconvenient times–like the middle of a race at a swim meet! Unfortunately, there’s really no specific treatment to “cure” tonsiloliths.</p>
<p>Sorry to revive such an old thread, but as the OP, I was hoping others might weigh in. I did see an ENT a day or two later, who confirmed that I had tonsil stones. The day that I removed them (the night before my ENT visit) I began to develop a canker sore the size of a dime on the back of my throat! It was horrendously painful, and took over a week to heal. </p>
<p>In any event, this evening I removed four rather large tonsil stones. After days of a low fever, sore throat, and swollen glands (same symptoms as before), I realized that they must have recurred. Of course now I’m anxious about the possibility of another awful canker sore. All this rambling (and rather graphic, sorry) story-telling is just to hear from anyone who may have helpful information…</p>
<p>This sounds awful. Can you have your tonsils removed?</p>
<p>Some people are more prone to tonsiloliths because of “cryptic” tonsils–they have more little nooks (crypts) for stuff to get stuck in. Not much you can do about that.</p>
<p>What you can do: avoid post nasal drip! Use a decongestant and blow your nose frequently if you have even the tiniest sniffle.</p>
<p>Gargle w/ an anti bacterial mouth wash after every meal or snack. You can also investigate homeopathic remedies like herbal teas.</p>
<p>Again, there is no cure outside of removal of the tonsils, and many doctors are hesitant to perform surgery on an otherwise healthy patient. The older you are, the more difficult the recovery from tonsillectomy. That said, having her tonsils out greatly improved my daughter’s quality of life!</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>I am sitting here reading this thread watching over my 19 year old who just had her tonsils removed this morning. She also had “tonsil stones”, but the primary reason for the tonsillectomy was extremely large tonsils (touching), chronic upper respiratory infections and sore throats. She never knew about the stones until the ENT mentioned them and basically he said the only way to be rid of them for good is to take out the tonsils.</p>
<p>ratedpg - here’s to good health for your daughter from now on. The next few days are not going to be fun, though, but I’m sure we’ll be hearing from you within a couple of months that she doesn’t regret it for a moment.</p>
<p>thanks for the well wishes teriwtt. I don’t think there will be any reqrets at all. During the procedure the doc made the decision to remove her adenoids as well… he said they were 2 of the largest he had seen in a long time. When she woke up from surgery she was amazed at how well she could breath!</p>
<p>Just for the record, gargling nightly with Hydrogen Peroxide will disinfect and oxygenate the areas where tonsiloliths form, creating a noncondusive environment for the bacteria to live.</p>