What is tonsil?
Tonsil is a gland. There are two tonsils in our body. It is on both sides in the back part of the throat. Tonsils are made of tissue containing lymphocyte cells in your body that prevent and fight infection. The tonsils play a role in the immune system.
What are Tonsil Stones?
Tonsil stones are small white or yellow lumps that form on the back of your throat. They develop when food, bacteria, and other debris (waste) are stuck on the surface of your tonsils. And they inflame and calcify the surrounding tissue. They harden as calcium build up on the surface of the debris, form hard lumps that look like small stones on the surface of your tonsils.
Most tonsil stones are harmless, but they can be uncomfortable, and some people find that they have difficulty swallowing.
Symptoms of Tonsil Stone
The following symptoms of tonsil stones are not the same in all patients.
- Halitosis (bad breath),
- Persistent cough.
- Trouble in swallowing
- Swelling of tonsils.
- Sore throat
- Pain in the ears.
- Stiffness in the throat
Cause
Tonsil stones, or tonsilloliths, form when the stuck debris hardens, or calcifies. It occurs most often in people who have chronic inflammation of the tonsils or are prone to recurrent tonsillitis while many people have small tonsilloliths. There is some other reason as well.
- Not cleaning the mouth properly.
- Enlargement of tonsils.
- sinus problems.
- long-term swollen tonsils
Diagnosis and treatment
To diagnose tonsil stones ENT Specialist will do a physical exam to look inside the mouth and throat, or perform an imaging scan.
For medication, your doctor will give antibiotics to treat tonsil stones, if you develop a bacterial infection. While they can be helpful for some people, they cannot cure the underlying problem caused by tonsillitis.
If tonsil stones are bothering you or causing pain or other problems then An ENT Specialist will usually remove the stones by numbing your throat with a local anesthetic.
Your doctor may not want to remove your tonsils or perform a tonsillectomy unless there is evidence of a chronic infection. Tonsillectomy may help if tonsil stones are causing repeated infections.
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