Good oral hygiene, including gargling with warm salt water, can helpmanage most tonsil stones. In rare cases, an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist may need to surgically remove your tonsil stones,if they become very large.
They may refer you to an ENT — an ear, nose and throat specialist. The ENT can discuss your surgical options with you. Healthcare providers may recommend surgical tonsil stone removal if tonsil stones are: Large.
ENT (ear, nose and throat) surgeons are the specialists who can do this and your GP can refer you to them if appropriate. The stones may be removed alone, or the whole of the tonsils may be taken out (tonsillectomy).
If you have a difficult time removing your tonsil stones at home or simply feel uneasy doing it yourself, then your dentist can remove them for you. Dentists typically remove tonsil stones by using a professional air or water syringe, or a simple tongue depressor.
If you cannot remove the stones yourself, your ENT doctor can perform a tonsil stone removal in their office. Laser tonsil cryptolysis uses a laser to eliminate the crypt where the stones are lodged. Severe and chronic cases may require a removal on the tonsils, known as a tonsillectomy.
Some stubborn tonsil stones must be removed by a dental professional. If gargling, coughing, and other manual remedies don't work, you may need to see a healthcare provider about surgical removal of your tonsil stones. Minor surgical procedures are commonly performed for large or particularly painful tonsil stones.
Tonsil stones are mostly harmless, even if they cause discomfort. They may dislodge or dissolve on their own, but they can also grow quite large or keep coming back. If you have large and/or recurrent tonsil stones, you should visit a doctor for removal and to find the underlying cause.
Poor oral hygiene, as well as tobacco use, can increase the likelihood of tonsil stones. But in other individuals, it's the structure of the tonsils themselves that makes them more prone to developing tonsil stones.
For larger stones that won't budge, or if you have symptoms of a tonsil stone but don't see one in your throat, it's time to consult a doctor. Procedures for removing stubborn tonsil stones include: Saltwater gargles. Numbing your throat, so that the doctor can manually remove the stone.
Untreated tonsil stones may lead to bacterial infections, including throat infections.
Tonsil stones are usually harmless. Unless there are symptoms of infection, they do not usually require any medical treatment. However, you should consult your doctor if you are experiencing any of the following: chronic sore throat that lasts more than a month.
See a GP if:
the symptoms do not go away within 4 days. you keep getting throat infections.
This can include avoiding certain foods, such as dairy products or sugary snacks, that can contribute to the formation of tonsil stones. You may also need to use a nasal spray or other medication to manage post-nasal drip or acid reflux.
Tonsil stones usually take a bit of time to form and can be either very small, medium-sized, or very large. In fact, the largest tonsil stone on record is 14.5 cm, which is shy of six inches wide. However, most tonsil stones are small, and patients may not even realize at first that they have them.
Tonsil stones often dissolve on their own, are coughed up, or are swallowed and no treatment is needed. Removing tonsil stones at home is generally not recommended because tonsils are delicate tissues and bleeding and infection may occur if stones are not carefully removed.
Up to 10% of people will have tonsil stones in their lifetime. Good oral hygiene is the best way to prevent tonsil stones.
Sometimes, tonsil stones dissolve or dislodge on their own in a short time. They may last for weeks if the bacteria continue to grow. If untreated, tonsil stones may last for years.
The only way to permanently prevent tonsil stones is to remove the tonsils via tonsillectomy. In very rare cases, tonsils have grown back following this procedure. A tonsillectomy is safe, but it can cause throat pain for several days after surgery.
Tonsil stones are small calcium deposits that can build up regularly. They're not a serious health risk, but they can harden and grow, and they sometimes need attention.
People who have long-term tonsillitis are more likely to get tonsil stones. The only way to prevent them is to remove your tonsils. Good dental habits can help prevent tonsil stones. Brush and floss your teeth regularly to remove bacteria and keep things from getting stuck in your tonsils.
Staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water can keep tonsil stones from forming. Water can also increase natural saliva production and help to change the chemistry in your mouth.
Gargling with salt water is a known method of making your throat feel better, but it can also dislodge tonsil stones. The salt acts as an abrasive that shakes everything loose in the back of your throat. The salt can also change up the chemistry in your mouth which will reduce the further presence of tonsil stones.