Pictures of Tonsil Stones

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Author: Doug

Pictures of Tonsil Stones

Tonsil stones can be very annoying. If you have found your way to this site then you may already know what having tonsil stones is like. In either case, it's safe to say you do not want to get them. I have not yet met anyone who was excited about getting tonsil stones. The purpose of this article is to help those of you who are still trying to figure out if that nasty white ball in your throat is in fact a tonsil stone.

In this diagram, you'll notice the locations of the tongue, adenoids, tonsils etc. These items have been labeled for reference. If the white ball you are experiencing is located in the area of the tonsils, then it's most likely a tonsil stone.

These photos give you an idea of what tonsil stones look like after being removed.

I too have suffered from tonsil stones.  It was some time before I located a remedy that worked for me.  You may need to try different things before successfully ridding yourself of these annoying things.  I went for several years before discovering Dr. Katz' tonsil stone remedy. 

Be sure to see the other articles on this site for information on removing tonsil stones and prevention of tonsil stones.

Thank you to California Breath Clinics, and Wikipedia for the above images.

Tonsillolith. (2007, February 12). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 03:49, February 13, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tonsillolith&oldid=107660790

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Berr commented on 14 Jun 2009, 19:04:30
I'm 16 years of age, and I've had these critters since I was a very young girl, I just now figured out what they were, well, I need to go to the hospital and get my tonsils removed, because I will not deal with this anymoe.

Emma - Sweden commented on 16 Jun 2009, 14:25:23
Thank you for a wonderful site. Thank you everbody who is telling there stories.
I had these for some years now (I'm 24 now) and its really annoying. It feels like something is stuck there and I cant get it out. Thankfully can i use my tongue to get them off but it takes a week normally. I cant use a toothbrush or a stick cause then i will gage.
I had never heard of these until i found this site. So again thank you for the information!

Lisa. commented on 29 Jun 2009, 10:18:28
I hate these things. They make me soooo sick. When I have them they make me nauseaus and nothing helps my head hurts, my eyes burn, aswell as my skin besides that nasty metal taste in my mouth that I cannot get rid of Does anyone have these symptoms like me? If so if u have a remedy please let me know. Everytime i feel like this it takes days to go away tried almost everything and nothin made these symptoms go away.

guest commented on 01 Jul 2009, 18:45:54
I don't know but this bacteria that builds up in the tonsil area is no laughing matter, and yet the pharmacheutical companies have no explaination...I think they do and are working on it...its serious I've had it since I can remember..being embarrased as poo poo mouth, I'm 50 now and my aunt has it and still has poo mouth..its horrible ppl having this complex. I think millions of ppl have it and living with it in the dark.

Christy commented on 02 Jul 2009, 13:42:25
Both my sons had them, both had their tonsils removed and no more odor. I have been fighting these for years now and they have gotten worse. Nothing I have tried works. Made an appt with an ent to beg for a tonsilectomy. Only seven more days until I plead for the knife to end this madness.

guest commented on 04 Jul 2009, 23:38:20
yes. I am one more sorry *&#@! that has had the pleasure of these disgusting throat boogers my entire friggin life. ewww. they're grrrross, they stiink, and I thought it was death.
a tonsil douch of GSE (grapefruit seed extract) dilluted in water and applied with a tincture dropper to the interior of the crevass (after removing the stone of course) has helped me in the past. Stress seems to bring them on.
good luck fellow yukmouths:)

guest commented on 05 Jul 2009, 09:51:20
WebMD says to get your tonsils removed.

guest commented on 10 Jul 2009, 22:57:08
i just found out about these today, but had them for about 3 years, i told my doctor when i had a physical because i thought the smell was coming from my stomach, and she said that it was probably because of my braces, but i didn't know i had them months after when i coughed one up and it tasted like dirty mouth, so i took it out of my mouth and it smelled horrible, like poo, and after i got rid of it my fingers still smelled like it. i usually take them out with a small plastic spoon, about once a month since i was 15.

concerned mom commented on 11 Jul 2009, 18:43:49
Thanks for the information. I had my tonsils out at a young age so when My 10 yr old son started to get these I didn't know what it was. I just have him gargle with salt water and they come out usualy that day. Thanks again for the info - it's concering when your kiddo is other wise healthy but his tonsils are white.

guest commented on 16 Jul 2009, 08:01:32
i thought they were little dead worms in my stomach that died and found its way up, now i know what it is. i've had it only 3 times but ti still freaked me out.

guest commented on 16 Jul 2009, 19:56:37
I have these darn things too. My one tonsil has a large crypt that is really deep. The other tonsil has very small holes . . . which are too small for most food particles. Sometimes I get a milky discharge out of the tonsil with smaller holes . . . no stones. On the other hand, the other tonsil - with the crypt - actually produces some pretty large, nasty stones. They smell so terrible.
Any how, my theory is that they are formed by an acidic environment in the body . . . aka too much meat and dairy. Therefore, I have changed my diet to a relatively meat-free/dairy free diet and I cannot tell you the difference it makes. Think about it: when you eat all of that nasty, acidic food the paste/digested matter can get into your tonsils and I'm sure that all that crap is attacked by white blood cells and stuff. Therefore, it leads me to believe that it is a combination of food and your body's biproducts of your immune system that result in those little stones.
I use a little syringle with peroxide and water. When I'm done injecting and clearing it with tap water, I apply tea tree oil to a q-tip and disinfect the crypt. With diet and maintenence, it's stone-free for me.

oran commented on 16 Jul 2009, 20:07:11
I was kissing my girlfriend and she yaced one of them into my mouth , I swallowed it on accident and then I was sick for days and had to get on antibiotics. When I learned what I swallowed after telling the doc I literally puked for hours. MY gf is going to get her tonsils removed as her breath smells like something crawled in there and died. I will never loo at her the same again after that.

guest commented on 21 Jul 2009, 00:09:46
These things suck. I have used cocktail straws to extract mine for the past 3-4 years and they work great. They are long enough to reach the back of my throat, and you can use the straw as sort of a vacuum to 'pop' them out. Listerine rinse helps a little, as does Colgate Peroxyl. Happy picking!

gessss commented on 31 Jul 2009, 10:00:08
I know exactly what y'all r talking about!! I've been getting these sence I was around 6 or 7 an when they would come up while I was talking to some one I either had to swallow them or spit them out in my hand so no one would notice. Barely now (14) I jab started to research those white balls in the back of my throat. I had bad breath but I thought it was my stomacth that made my breath smell. When I was reading articles on these "tonsil stones" I read that these white things stink I went to smell one and almost pucked. I'm trying to find was to remove them without gaging but still no success.

bobett commented on 08 Aug 2009, 04:32:39
help! i have a stone and my throat hurts so bad dr. said it would come out on its own. 5 days and no stone yet.my breathe is not bad. but it hurts sooo bad.it feels like something stuck in my throat. drinking not a problem,but eating is.

guest commented on 11 Aug 2009, 11:23:41
I get tonsil stones too! I have never used anything by my tongue to get them out. I can only get the right side. However, it is now inflamed..I don't know if its because i was getting strep throat or lot or what...but im getting my tonsils out on Thursday!

TLT commented on 15 Aug 2009, 19:49:41
Yea, I hve these tonsil turds too. Glad to find some other people who have them too. I went to an ENT. He didn't seem to think it was enough to have the tonsils removed. I am gong to try the water pik and see if it works. I have been pressing on the sides of my tonsils with a cue-tip and they pop out. I hate them!

guest commented on 16 Aug 2009, 05:38:36
Wow. I have always coughed these things up and never realized that they were coming from my tonsils. Now that I think of it, I usually have a sore throat when I get them, and they do smell... but I never pieced it together before.

guest commented on 17 Aug 2009, 17:43:41
Does anyone get a terrible headache with these, like a strep throat headache? I just went to the dr. today after these things showed up and she knew exactly what they were. Tonsil lithes from a sinus infection. I also have been feeling tired and achy all over and had a fever today of 102.8. I keep on getting sinus infections and don't know why. She said I have allergies.

juan commented on 17 Aug 2009, 22:39:39
ooooh my gosh i thought i was the only one with these things , they are horrible i always try to take them out of my mouth , they smell so bad what i do to get rid of them permanently

guest commented on 18 Aug 2009, 11:56:31
I also have had these for many years. I went to an ENT doctor several years ago and left on the verge of tears. It was almost as if the ENT treated it as a big joke. "Ha, ha, it's just food stuck in there, nothing you can do at your age. Your're too old to have your tonsils removed". I menioned that I always knew when something was stuck in my tonsils because I would start to feel bad after a few days. He thought that was nonsense too. He didn't offer any suggestions or any advice on what to do for them, so I too have been pushing them out with my finger or a q-tip.

guest commented on 19 Aug 2009, 22:01:05
Oh my goodness! I thought I was the only person with these things!!! I've had them since I was four!!! I used to get so annoyed with them, that i would stick my finger back there, and pick them out! I used to make myself bleed! By the way, do these things make your breath smell bad??

guest commented on 24 Aug 2009, 09:01:51
I've suffered from these things for years now but only just found out the correct name for them! I too am so self conscious when speaking to people and the thought of having to kiss my partner scares me as I'm convinced I've constantly got bad breath. Anyway, I've since found out I'm lactose intolerant and since cutting out my 'bad foods' the tonsil stones have disappeared! I've been bad this past week eating things with milk in, and, yip, I got one today! First time in 2 months or so. I'm thinking it may all be connected!?

guest commented on 25 Aug 2009, 12:01:20
Ever cough one up and not know where it went?! .....I have :S Nothing is more discusting than knowing a stinky ball is somewhere...Like what if it's on your clothes and you don't know it! Ugh!!!

guest commented on 28 Aug 2009, 05:46:19
i just sneezed two up for the first time! so stinky too!

Mazz commented on 28 Aug 2009, 06:07:36
Im like 14 and i get them.
I hate them.
They stink of shitt.
=]
Soooo glad im not alone

Tonsil Stoner commented on 30 Aug 2009, 23:10:36
Ive had these for a while now....probably 20 years. I am able to remove them by closing my mouth and making suction pressure around my tonsils and gently rub them with the side of my tongue. There are times when Ive dislodged up to a dozen small stones. I usually have numerous small ones, as opposed to larger stones. My tonsils are huge (according to my family doctor), and have very noticable pits.

Angel commented on 01 Sep 2009, 11:44:31
Does anyone else get "phantom" tonsil pain? I had mine out last year and, although my throat rarely gets sore anymore (it used to be sore at least once a month) I still feel like I'm getting sick sometimes. Is it all in my head, or could it be something else like laryngitis? Please advise.

boinker commented on 01 Sep 2009, 12:50:25
I have been getting these for atleast 12 years...they are gross. When I pick them out (I poke at the crypts and the stone pops out on finger) and wash my hands my breath smells even worse! My husband tells me not to remove them b/c my breath ends up worse. I was to get my tonsils removed, but they say the surgury is risky. The humiliation I feel when my bad breath is noticed makes the surgury worth it for me!

guest commented on 01 Sep 2009, 18:46:17
HOLY WOW!!! its cliche to say i know but i really thought i was alone on this! ive had these since i was a kid and just thought it was stuck food... ive only smelled one once and that was enough(naaaasty!!) ..... so far i know that there is really no cure... my doc prescribed Zertec... i have post nasal drip... but what i do is take a dental syringe(skinny curved tip) and i squirt the crap out..picking at them only irritates my tonsil more.... so anyhow..thats my time....

guest commented on 01 Sep 2009, 19:18:07
I just finaaly found out what these were today from an article in the New york Times on my Iphone. Ive had these since I was a child and I'm 26 now. I always thought I was the only one. Somehow this info needs to be put out somewhere so everyone that has this can find it. I mean tonsil stones, who would ever think this is what they would be called. If it wasn't for this article in the Times I would still be walking around thinking I was the only one and not know how to take care of it.

Layla commented on 04 Sep 2009, 22:52:25
What blows my mind most about all these comments is the stupid doctors and dentists who are clueless as to this situation.

Thao commented on 08 Sep 2009, 16:56:13
When i was born ( just a baby ), my heart beat went so fast that the doctor had to examine me and i stayed at the hospital for a couple days. I had to get my tonsils removed.

Kristi commented on 08 Sep 2009, 20:32:13
I am just so glad I am not alone!

guest commented on 13 Sep 2009, 21:41:11
I have had this problem since I was young. Now I'm 21 and I have finally found out what those nasty smelling balls are. I'm not a freak of nature after all! It's also nice to know that I can get rid of them. Because waking up in the middle of the night to cough up stone after stone gets super annoying and telling people about it only gets you looked at funny... Thank you for finally answering my life-long question. And providing some relief!

guest commented on 13 Sep 2009, 21:41:11
I have had this problem since I was young. Now I'm 21 and I have finally found out what those nasty smelling balls are. I'm not a freak of nature after all! It's also nice to know that I can get rid of them. Because waking up in the middle of the night to cough up stone after stone gets super annoying and telling people about it only gets you looked at funny... Thank you for finally answering my life-long question. And providing some relief!

chiquitabanana commented on 16 Sep 2009, 22:21:15
WOW I get them bad sometimes... so bad they make my throat hurt and there are so many of them in there that i can see down the "crypt" like the little tunnels they come from in ur tonsil. i could stick a whole q-tip head down there... don't use sharp stuff to get em out cus having the smelly balls and blood coming out is just not fun... i feel for u guys

guest commented on 25 Sep 2009, 21:31:32
I had them so bad at one point that I thought I was developing throat cancer or a tumor. I got a syringe from the pharmacist to help flush them out. Fill a cup with warm water – with severe cases of “something stuck in your throat feeling” mix the water with 1-2 capfuls of hydrogen peroxide. Fill the syringe with the mix. Use one finger with a pulling motion against the front of the tonsil crypt to expose the opening. The point is to expose the opening. With your opposite hand and place the syringe into the opening and gently flush. I flush each tonsil 3-4 times each with a regular sized syringe. You will eventually get used to the gag reflex. Now I know when I’m getting one when my saliva taste funny or I get that “sand grain stuck in the throat feeling”. You will be surprised how many grains you can flush out with a syringe.
My experience – try SmartMouth mouthwash instead of TheraBreath. My taste buds changed with prolonged use of TheraBreath – and SmartMouth is much cheaper. Here’s the best tip: If you don’t brush and floss after “every” meal start doing so – this will keep the bacteria down. Purchase a tongue scraper and use it morning and night before brushing.

Rob commented on 30 Sep 2009, 20:15:24
I noticed my first stone when I was 6 on the playground. I coughed and just about gagged on a pea sized chunk that came loose the back of my throat. I coughed it out and and didn't think much of it. Over the next few years it would get slowly more frequent, but the size of the stones got smaller because I got to picking at my tonsils with my fingers. Fast forward 22 years later, and I still get them in the deep holes in my tonsils, but my abnormally flexable and long tongue picks them out. But sadly I am still very embarrassed about my breath and it has truly effected my self confidence with everyone around me and especially girls. I can't go near anyone unless I had just deeply cleaned my mouth, tongue and tonsils. Even then I am just conditioned not to speak closely to people. 15 mins later and I can feel my breath ain't fresh anymore. What hurts the most is in highschool I got the nerve to bring it up with my mom and ask dentists about it. Everyone said it was normal and didn't GET my concern. Nothing and no one really helped me, so I still live with it. I count my lucky stars though, I enjoy single life and the good health otherwise I have. Gotta find a cute girl with the same nasty problem. Then we can make out with our bad breath forever.

guest commented on 30 Sep 2009, 21:24:22
just now orry about this... when u r reading this dont stop or something bad will happen! my name is summer i am 15 years old i have blonde hair ,many scars no nose or ears.. i am dead. if u dont copy n post this on 5 more sites.. or.. i will appear one dark quiet night when ur not expecting it by your bed with a knife and kill u. this is no joke something good will happen to u if you post this on 5 more pages

guest commented on 02 Oct 2009, 23:39:58
I've had these things ever since i've known myself. I get them all the time. I think i'm getting my tonsils removed. Whenever I touch my tonsils they smell like poo. I always have bad breath and I can always smell it so i know if i'm smelling it others are too. Earlier this week I felt like I had something in my throat. I looked in the mirror and it looked like these things were coming out of every available hole in my left tonsil. I was so grossed out and felt so sick I felt like cutting the damn tonsil out. YUCK!!My breath was so bad all week. No matter how much I brush my breath smells not long after. Before i knew what they were I used to brush so hard my gums would bruise. I thought I was alone but at least now I know I'm not.

guest commented on 08 Oct 2009, 19:00:03
oh no :( i'm pretty sure i have these.. ahh i'm so upset. i just discovered them today :'( ughh they smell so bad :(( this sucks...

guest commented on 09 Oct 2009, 11:16:56
I use as metal black-head remover to get them out of the crypts. Works great.

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