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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guest commented on 29 May 2007, 05:38:15
My brother and I get them often and so I knew we weren't the only ones who had this problem. It's of course a very annoying problem and it has made me extremely self conscious especially when I talk to people. I can tell when I have a tonsil stone because I can either taste it, or smell it. Gross!

faith commented on 29 May 2007, 07:51:01
I live in kenya and i have been having a problem of tonsils.I have been taking antibiotics for four years now and no improvement. my tonsils appears when i take a cold stuff or when the climate is cold.
Am tied of taking this antibiotics which are very expensive and seeing a pedtrician every now and then. please advice my email no. faithkanja@yahoo.com

faith commented on 29 May 2007, 08:09:17
I live in kenya and i have been having a problem of tonsils.I have been taking antibiotics for four years now and no improvement. my tonsils appears when i take a cold stuff or when the climate is cold.
Am tied of taking this antibiotics which are very expensive and seeing a pedtrician every now and then. please advice my email no. faithkanja@yahoo.com
am 28 years old

guest commented on 07 Jun 2007, 06:19:46
I did not know that anyone eles had this problem. Thank you for an answer!

guest commented on 07 Jun 2007, 18:16:21
i had my tonsils out and developed these after...due to the deep cutting that was necessary during the tonsillectomy.
they are not diffiicult to deal with: what works for me is a bit of pressure with a soft Q-tip on the underside of it.

Kathy commented on 23 Jun 2007, 09:23:43
These tonsil stones become obesessive after a while...you know they are there as you can feel the tightness in your tonsils. I sometimes get a flashlight and look in my mouth, and when I see them, get a toothpick or skewer and pop that sucker...instant relief!

Danielle commented on 23 Jun 2007, 12:09:42
Yeah, me and my bro have coughed these up before. Boy, do they stink! Before I checked this website though, I used a toothpick to dig it out, it's disgusting!

julie commented on 25 Jun 2007, 17:02:27
I am 31 years old and have had these things since I was a young child. I'm sick of them. I use my fingernail and pop them right out. They smell like poo. I think I will have my tonsils removed. I just found out what they were yesterday from going on the web.

guest commented on 25 Jun 2007, 17:07:47
I've been rsearching these annoying poo smelling balls and was told that gargling with salt water and using Aktiv Oxigen Tablets and nasal sinus drops will eliminate the tonsillolith and prevent having to get the tonsil removed.

guest commented on 02 Jul 2007, 11:55:14
i have them and i am 13 , they are a pain

Cathy commented on 04 Jul 2007, 11:54:29
i thought i was the only person with these thingies. i coughed a few of these up and didnt know what they were and when i asked my friends if they had them they thought i was nuts AND gross when i told them how rancid they smelled! we need a support group for these stones or at least a chat site where we can all talk about this without being humilated...any takers?

guest commented on 04 Jul 2007, 17:05:13
Thank God for those brave enough to share their stories and EVEN pictures! I thought I was dying of some horrific mouth disease! This better enables me to go to my doc and tell her exactly what I have! Thank you!

guest commented on 06 Jul 2007, 08:35:32
It's oddly pleasant to know that I am not along; however, I mostly see complaints of one or a few. The other day I pulled 10-15 out of both tonsils! Please tell me that I am not alone...

guest commented on 09 Jul 2007, 00:49:24
Yep - I get these... I dont however have a sore throat or anything like that - perfectly healthy. I dont have a good gag reflex but I can get these stones out qite easily, I'll use anything to hand when I spot one, Pen, cotton buds, anything, when I see one its gotta come out. I took me ages to think to smell them but my gosh dont they smell? Good luck folks
Emma, 24, UK

sandy commented on 09 Jul 2007, 15:40:54
oh my god! no u are not alone i just found out what these things are i've had them since i was about 15 im 27 now and the first time i took them out it was so gross i took about that many 10 or 15 it was horrible i've never let them get so bad again as soon as i start feeling bad breath in the back of my throat i know they are there and try to take them out! im so glad i know what they are! i also thought i was alone with this embarrasing gross secret i've never told any one before i was too embarrast

Becky commented on 09 Jul 2007, 16:06:35
I have been getting these for years now and never knew what the were i hate them so much and i cant wait to gte rid of them.When they are in the back of my throat they almost drive me insane!

guest commented on 09 Jul 2007, 20:06:25
I've been suffering from Tonsil stones too. The smell and taste would be so bad I would gag! I can only imagine what other people thought. I had my tonsils removed last thursday. That should be the last of those!

caroline commented on 11 Jul 2007, 19:40:35
Oh my gosh. I thought I was the only one with this problem. I have had them for several years. I just recently found out what they were. It used to not bother me, but now I am obsessed with worrying about my breath smelling bad. I am so self conscious when talking to people. I always have gum in my mouth. I literally consumes my life. It is all I think about when I am anywhere but home. I dig them out with a bobby pin, and yes to the comment before, I will get 10 or more out sometimes. It is so gross. Sometimes I wonder if maybe some of my relationships that ended with no reason in the past was because of this. I know it would turn me off. Anyway, I'm glad to know I'm not alone. Any advise?

Heraolda commented on 12 Jul 2007, 19:43:51
My little sister used to call the stones "dookie balls" because when you squish them between your fingers it's exactly what it smells like. Mine don't have a taste though. After I hack one up and smell it, I swallow it up because I dont want it laying in the trash. I figure that my body made it, so it must be equipped to deal with it. I love seeing how big mine get (not much bitter than the tip of a highlighter. Ya'll make it sound like these stones are the end of the world. Focus on something else to complain about and get over the stones!

Phil commented on 13 Jul 2007, 04:25:08
Gargling with mouthwash everyday helps. I rinse mine with
a small plastic syringe (from my dentist) every few days.
Be careful because it is bacteria and you dont want to flush
them into your nasil passages. It is funny that doctors and
dentists dont know more about them.

guest commented on 13 Jul 2007, 07:39:01
Hello all. I also suffered with this afflection, but luckily I also found this site and others like it and found out what those horrible smelling things were. I use to get them when I was a child, but only sparingly. Recently, I started to get them, maybe one or two every week. I could not take it. I went to an ear, nose, and throat doctor and was diagnosed with chronic tonsillitis. I just had my tonsils removed about two weeks ago (not a pleasant experience), so hopefully I will not see them again. From what I understand, unless you remove the hiding place for these small food particles and sulfur producing bacteria that grow on them, you will forever have to deal with the menace. Good luck all and you are not alone.

guest commented on 13 Jul 2007, 20:00:57
My daughter just got one (first time) how long do they last , will it just go away?

guest commented on 13 Jul 2007, 20:49:47
I first got tonsil stones two months ago. I thought it was trapped mucus, but trapped mucus doesn't stick like that in the sponge-like tonsils. Usually they go away after a day(I guess I accidently swallow them during eating or in my sleep?) But they come back ever week or so. But recently, I had one that remained for 3 weeks! I got sick of it, and decided to take it out. Success! I finally got to see it up close and personal. It is exactly like the image above. WOW. Now I know I have post nasal drip, so I guess that causes it? Blowing my nose often helps that, but looks like it causes tonsil stones as well. Time to show this ugly particle to my doctor.

guest commented on 13 Jul 2007, 23:20:55
lol the web rules i thought i had an unknown disease, my left tonsil is abnormally large to most people, but my docs say i have always just had larger tonsils and it is nothing to worry about for now

guest commented on 15 Jul 2007, 00:17:30
my sister called me at work today and told me about the little white bumps on her tonsils. well to make her feel better i let her look in my mouth and BAM! there were three little white bumps on my left tonsil! now my throat is sore and i feel awful! one question- are they bacterial or anything? because i have a heart murmur and i have to be careful with bacteria from my mouth getting into my bloodstream

matt commented on 17 Jul 2007, 14:49:09
My understanding is that tonsil stones are partially made up of bacteria. I don't know if it's dead bacteria or what. The article on this site titled "How to prevent tonsil stones" has some good information and links to Doctor Katz who is the expert on the topic.

Melissa commented on 17 Jul 2007, 20:49:38
oh, fellow tonsil stone friends. I get these and I actually went to the doctor for them once but she didnt tell me what they were, just that they were normal. Yuck!!! My brother and mom and I all get them and my husband thinks its crazy! Its really gross though. I never knew they were called tonsil stones until today. My brother wont eat corn because he thinks thats where they come from, since thats what they look like....keep on digging!

Robert commented on 18 Jul 2007, 15:16:12
I'm 46 years old and have had these things all my life. A former doctor of mine told me that my tonsils were craterous which allowed the stones to develop deep within the tonsils. This made the removal of them all the more difficult. Although I want to have my tonsils removed, until then, I have devised my own tonsil stone removal system. It's very aggressive and care does need to be taken when using this method. But it does work if you have deep tonsils like mine. I fill an eye dropper with undiluted hydrogen peroxide, insert the dropper tip into my tonsils and literally flush them out. It is amazing how many stones can be "bubbled" out when I do this. As I have done though, I would talk to your doctor first about this method because you could injure the tonsil. But it does work for me! Like many other people here, these things have so compromised my social life. I have not dated in years basically because I feel that no one would ever want to kiss somebody with breath like mine...I don't think I would either. In addition to everything else, it has been a real source for my depression. For me, these damn things have almost seemed like a life curse. Good luck to all!

guest commented on 19 Jul 2007, 11:01:41
About a month ago I developed a lump on my tonsils that appears to look like a white-head (pimple). Doctor doesnt know what it is (gargling didnt help, couldnt be "popped" and antibiotics did nothing). Now I have an appointment with an ears/nose/throat doctor. Does anyone develop these stone without getting bad breath or bad tastes?

guest commented on 20 Jul 2007, 13:49:23
The tonsil stones and bad breath are not the only problems you might have. It might be a Streptococcal infection there. Do also ASO test (blood test) to check if there is any streptococcus. If there is, it may be the cause of heart, kidney and articulations diseases in long term. This was my case (tonsil stones + streptococcus). I have had my tonsillectomy on Tuesday (July 17) and I'm very happy I've done it. The thought that I was getting rid of them (tonsil stones) made me so powerful and I was not scared. I wish you Health!
The post op recovery is not easy but... don't let tonsil stones annoying you anymore! This is my advice but it will be your choice...think twice before deciding to undertake surgery. Inform yourself about the tonsils role in your body...and if you arrive at the conclusion that the tonsils do not serve your body properly anymore and the doc encourages you to take them out, then do it.:)...but, remember! think twice and take a consciouns decision. Sorry for my misspelling.

Jack commented on 20 Jul 2007, 17:00:37
I believe i might have just got this today. The thing is i a not feeling it in my tonsils. I feel near the bottom of my neck in the throat whenever food passes it. So is this a tonsill stone or might it really be some food stuck down there. Also the more i drank today the more the lump has gone down my throat.
Any ideas?
any way of getting these out?

Jack commented on 20 Jul 2007, 17:00:38
I believe i might have just got this today. The thing is i a not feeling it in my tonsils. I feel near the bottom of my neck in the throat whenever food passes it. So is this a tonsill stone or might it really be some food stuck down there. Also the more i drank today the more the lump has gone down my throat.
Any ideas?
any way of getting these out?

jp commented on 21 Jul 2007, 17:24:58
My tonsils were removed when I was 8 years old, but today I coughed/gagged one free. They do exist even when tonsils have been removed. This surprised me and answers the mild pain and bad taste I was having.

amused commented on 23 Jul 2007, 13:35:39
I too have experienced these bad boys for more than a decade. I think I had my first one when I was about 16 years old (27 now). I had NO idea what they were and could find nobody else who experienced them until today! They smell so bad and they're so relentless! I don't know why but everyone recounting their personal "feces ball" stories has had me rolling in laughter since I know exactly what you're dealing with. What can be done to make them stop? They reek so unbelievably bad. I don't know how you guys stick things back there to clear them out - apparently my gag reflex is very sensitive because if I did that I'd be puking everywhere. Any suggestions on what I can do? Does anything actually work? I refuse to get surgery.

guest commented on 23 Jul 2007, 17:29:07
I hate these things. They give me yucky breath. I'm going to the dentist tomorrow and will ask him to remove them. Sometimes they'll come out easily with a pin or the cut off end of a Q-tip. Sometimes they hide and cause my throat to be very sore.

Vera commented on 24 Jul 2007, 09:14:40
i first started getting them when i was about 11. then i didnt think to much about it... then when i got to 18 i thought i might have had throat cancer... considering i only seem to get it in one tonsil... but i never went to see a doc about it. silly i know. im 22 now and i only just now found out what these things are. its good to know it isnt a threat to my life.

mik commented on 24 Jul 2007, 09:28:30
i dont always get these but now i know what they are. accidentally found out while surfing.i used to think they were a material that was formed in my lungs or hacked up from my throat or even cancer from my lungs.turn out these gross things are bacterial,mucus,food crap apparently. EWW!!! fak.my grandpa showed me a tiny thing once when he (if i remember right) coughed or sneezed.

erin commented on 26 Jul 2007, 00:00:00
Having tonsil stones is a complete pain in the a**!! its so disgusting and drives me nuts! i have to pick my tonsils daily until they bleed to get them out. Its really embarrasing when i told my fiance and how disgusted he got. Now he gets them too! very weird.... anyway im glad im not the only one with this problem. I use a small spoon like plastic device i got from my doctor... works pretty well. anyway hope everyone else finds relief somehow!

sh commented on 26 Jul 2007, 09:01:51
I'm 44 and just got back from my doctor. Yep, tonsil stones. I'm amazed that no one told me about them before. My husband cant't deal with my intermittent bad breath that I now know comes from these things. I'm seeing an ENT to have my tonsils scraped and those crypts will essentially smooth out, not trapping the stones any more. A few days of a sore throat will be worth not having that embarrasing breath. I'm still shocked my dentist didn't tell me what the problem was/is.

No More Tonsil Stones commented on 26 Jul 2007, 16:15:47
Tonsil stones are disgusting. I have used the remedies mentioned by the article author above and found them to be very effective in removing and preventing my tonsil stones. Thank goodness, because I too was considering having my tonsils removed.

Gina commented on 28 Jul 2007, 18:29:30
I am 29 and have SUFFERED!!! From this grusome and disgusting ailment for years. I am picking these death smelling balls out 10-15 times a day, and up to 30 stones. i have picked so much that my tonsils have grown bigger, and would hold more at a time. I know my breath smells like crap and nobody wants to admit it to me. I have used the TheraBreath program faithfully for two years, and IT DOES NOT WORK!!! I am sinus meds all day, thinking that's the problem, and they seem to keep coming. I just had my tonsils removed, but am still in recovery, so I hope and pray that this is my answer for life, because having bad breath this severe is no way to live....

EJ commented on 30 Jul 2007, 15:49:10
Thank god for the internet! These things are absolutely disgusting and embarrassing. I have tried alll sorts of antics to try and remove these things. Never with a long term solution. At least I know that I am not the only one suffering. I have ordered Dr. Katz's TS remedy, its be here shortly hopefully I will find relief. Thanks to all who have shared.

Relax commented on 31 Jul 2007, 13:20:15
I find brushing my tongue and flossing between my teeth, greatly reduces the number of tonsiloliths I get. EVERYONE has bacteria in their mouths that produce smelly sulphur compounds and how many people do you know that have bad breath? Most people with bad breath don't floss or brush their tongue.

guest commented on 02 Aug 2007, 07:58:45
Thank God I have found out what was sticking upon my tonsils. I am glad I am not the only one out there with these gross things. I wanted to tell everyone that I have BAD allergies and Sinus problems which I believe contribute to these also. Someone had mentioned cutting out dairy products-I agree with that also. Yes, they stink to high heaven. My husband and I have tried many different things to get them to come out,....I have found that rigging up a Q-tip to the end of some sort of stick to get a good reach gets it out most of the time. I am in the field of Nursing and always get embarrased about these,...the stinky breath. Most of the nurses I work with have never heard of them. I coughed one up, and did a show and tell (nasty I know) but they were thrilled to see it. Now, I can tell other people (and my patients) about these to help someone else out.

Dragonic Peace commented on 02 Aug 2007, 17:49:24
I'm thirty and today is the first I've heard of these things!! I've coughed them up ever since I was very young. I started researching because my 4 year old son coughed one up last night and showed it to me. I knew what it was from the shape & smell.
Until last night I thought I was the ONLY person in the world to have these. I'm grateful to know my son & I are not alone.
I can remove them by coughing w/ gaging sounds. Sounds like a cat hissing, but the sound come from the back of my throat. I hadn't thought of them linked to my bad breath. It's so simple, I feel silly I never researched it before. THANK YOU EVERYONE!!!!!!

guest commented on 03 Aug 2007, 20:30:14
I have to admit...I have them and I hate them. I have found something rather gross that works to get them out though since I've dealt with them for years. Take a small or large Bobby Pin, depending on which crypt you're poking in or proding, and push or pull it out with the closed or rounded end. The tonsils are very sensitive and sometimes there might be blood but the closed end of the bobby pin can help pull them out in larger sections so you don't get a lot of small pieces. It's quick and easy, kinda gross but the bobby pins work if you can manipulate it with your hands and handle the gag reflex. Best of luck people!

guest commented on 06 Aug 2007, 15:28:04
Hey, I got a tonsil stone once when I was a teenager but i thought it was just a crazy build up of food at the time somewhere at the side of my tongue. I started getting them once every month about a year ago and it coincided with a me going through a period of being run-down and getting lots of colds. Strange. Anyway - initially i would just cough it up after a few days but i have developed an ability to get them out when they appear. I just push towardas the bottom of my palate tonsil and move my finger up and the thing will just pop out onto my finger nail - a ball about 4 or 5mm in diametre. I have decided to wage war against the problem now. I have just started using a powerful anti bacterial mouth wash - gargling and am waitng to see any results.

guest commented on 06 Aug 2007, 20:51:03
i ironically JUST successfully got rid of a tonsil stone and you know what? i used no medicine nor did i go to any doctor. I got an 8oz cup and filled it halfway with just ordinarty tap water. i then added ONLY 3 drops (as this is so concentrated you dont need much!) of grapefruit SEED EXTRACT, stir it in with the water very well, and gargle with it. Get it as deep in your throat as you can mainly focusing on the infected areas! Before i even finished the cup the tonsil stone came out. i still finsihed gargleing with the remaining solution though in case of any unseen residue. Afterward i gargle with a mouthwash like listerine or something to completely remove any taste as you know the taste IS NOT pleasant! I REALLY hope this tip works for you. please pass it on if it does.
by the way i got the grapefruit seed extract from a local health food store. The brand i used was NuttriBiotic the original, liquid concentrate. Also the taste is faint not at all unbearable and it is okay if you swallow some because it is all natural, and its almost inevitable for me not to accidently swallow some lol. Best of luck to you and dont get discouraged! it may take you a couple tries but for ME its worked everytime! and i dont get them often as long as i keep doing it.
please reply to let me know if helped you any

guest commented on 08 Aug 2007, 10:35:18
man these things are annoying!!!!!! i didn't know there was a name for it...but hte ones i get don't have a taste or make my breath smell bad...they're just an annoying feeling at the back of my mouth, i want to fix this asap!!

Tiffany commented on 09 Aug 2007, 11:27:30
For about three weeks now I have had this sensation that something is stuck in my right tonsil. The first week I was coughing and white balls were coming up. I still have that feeling but I don't see anything. Does anyone have this problem? Alot of you talk about these white spots but I don't have them.

guest commented on 10 Aug 2007, 21:34:42
I have had tonsil stones for thirteen years now and just today found out what they were. I thought I had some type of cancer until about one year ago when my sister told me that she gets them. I recently found out that I have at least two friends that also get them. I never taste them but do smell them coming up. Usually they feel lodged in the bottom of my throat and I dont know how to get them from there. The advise on getting your throat scraped sounds a litter better that having your tonsils removed. Thanks for the tip, I will surely be checking that out.

Hilary commented on 11 Aug 2007, 20:48:22
Thank God I found this site it is 4.30 am (Can't sleep worried sick) I am due to go for a barium x-ray on Monday and the following Monday I am due to go into hospital as a day patient for cancer tests and yes it is exactly the same as you folks although I knew deep down it wasn't the big C the mention of it scares you to death. I tried to tell the consultant food was getting stuck in a split at the back of my throat and was causing my sore throat which I have had for six weeks on and off and when it looseens and coughed up and it smells disgusting. I have taken to using match sticks to get the offensive stuff out.You are not going to believe this but they are going to put a camera down my throat and up my rear end and all for my sore throat the mind boggles!! and if I can see the white stuff in the split at the back of my throat why cant they???
Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!
Hilary xx

guest commented on 13 Aug 2007, 19:31:54
Oh wow. Im so glad I decided to look this up. I feel sooo much better. This just started to happen to me a few months ago, and I am 27. I smoke, so I thought for sure this was the cause. Mine occur only on my left tonsil, and I cant see where it is, I can only feel it with my tongue. Its deep and very difficult to 'wedge' free. I was mortified with my first 'discovery'. My description of this object matches other's descriptions on this site.
Now i notice it occurs in the same exact spot.. and I fear I will have to deal with this forever! Does anyone know of a better solution than sugery, or having to buy expensive rinses?

TB commented on 14 Aug 2007, 19:56:51
I have had one for about 2 months now. It is still under the skin so I haven't been able to remove it. Do these stones go away on their own? I am thinking about getting some antiboditics.

guest commented on 16 Aug 2007, 10:31:12
I also get these nasty smelly things usually after a nite of hectic smoking..That seems to just aggravate them to come out..The other day i coughed out about 8.Gross.Mine only occur on my left tonsil and i cant pop them out myself as i also cant see them even when i open wide..Luckily my boyfriend has also experienced them so he is very supportive..I also suffer from post nasal drip which is probably the main cause

A guest commented on 19 Aug 2007, 09:23:51
I finally got my toncsils out after insisting to my doctor that I had had enough! I was constantly seeing him with bad breath problems and he sent me away every time with mouthwash!! what a wast if time. I suffered with these stones and bad breath for approx 3 years, it always seemed to crop up before a night out, shattered my confidence. I was lucky my girlfriend was okish about it. Its been 2 years since they were removed and I havent had a problem since, not a single issue. If you read this insist that you have your toncils out to your GP, they cant keep putting you off if you say you get bad throats with it! it isnt that painful and 1 week of work is all you need. It is the only cure beleive me I tried everything.

Heather commented on 19 Aug 2007, 09:31:35
I too have these tonsil stones I did not know I had bad breath until my husband got really mad at me and told me I had killer dog breath, I was heart broken. I am a dental assistant and I feel horrible thinking I have seen many of my patients probably stinking with bad death breath. I have been picking these nasty things out of my tonsils for the last couple of years YUK! Yesterday I was so disgusted, I must have picked 15-20 tonsil stones out of my right tonsil. It was so nasty and stinky I couldnt believe I had that many in one stupid tonsil. No wonder my husband doesnt kiss me anymore. I am so self concious now I am going to try Dr. Katz tonsiloths kit and see if it works, best of luck to everyone

Kate commented on 23 Aug 2007, 18:34:22
Hi guys. I get a few tonsils stones every few weeks, and they lodge there and bother me incessantly until I can somehow get it out. Sometimes they lodge so deeply that no matter what I do, instead of coming out, I seem to just push them deeper into whatever pockets there are on my tonsils. I went to the doctor and he told me all about the various remedies that exist, but finally admitted that the only way to get rid of them for good is a tonsillectomy. After much thought and getting caught in the work bathroom scraping my tonsil with a plastic spoon, and after coughing one up onto my boyfriend's arm in the middle of the night, I made the decision to have the operation. It's happening in a few days now. I just couldn't stand the idea of being old and alone (because of the halitosis) and still standing around gagging and trying to dislodge these things. I am pro-tonsillectomy. I'll let you know how it goes.

Jason commented on 23 Aug 2007, 19:56:35
I recall having these after eating Life Cereal as a kid, over 20 years ago. Lately (I'm now in early 30's) they made a comeback. I went to the Dr. months ago fearing that I had throat cancer or something only to have them use a long Q Tip to get rid of them. They told me that I could use salt water to help stop them from forming. I use a small pen light to help navigate and scrape them from the bottom up with my finger... less irritation to the tonsil. I am thinking of having the tonsil removed...

guest commented on 24 Aug 2007, 23:18:53
OMG, I am 47 & had these things when I cough one would come out & when I looked at it for the first time I thought it was pieces of my brain because that is what it looked like to me as a kid. LOL. When I was a senior in high school I had a bad case of them & my tonsils looked hugh & I could see them & pick them off Yuck they smelled so bad like everyone says.Now I'm older my tonsils are deeper down my throat I seriuosly thought They ate away my tonsils Because when i would pick them off it left holes on them.
I did some research on the web and found out they had a name & seen other peoples pictures of them Yuck thats what I have had my kids have them it is gross! A few days before that I had horible bad breath my daughter & son told me about it & He suggested I brush & floss better. I allready am very good at oral hygene and get cleanings every 6 months.I told him its those things down in my throat that smell. But I went to store anyway and bought a tongue scraper and BreathX mouthwash.
I felt better that I was trying something new. Well guess what Stinky breath came back with a vengence and my daughter again said mom no offense but I'll sit over here on the couch, I apologized and said I dont blame you LOL.
Tonight I got a Flahlight & looked I never see them cause my tonsils are so low in my throat but guess what I discovered when i got a cutibe swabbed in peroxide on my right side where it was getting all white. I could see something white when I preesed down on my tongue with tonge scraper towards the side I stuck in the swab & it went in a crevous that I didnt know I had and I got a long handle oral tooth scraper dossed with peroxide and went in and out came a huge stone and then I seen more the second one was smaller & stuck & I got it out with some blood and then another one. I took pictures with my digital camera. I gargle and am thrilled to know where they are hiding I think thats it & I look one more time to show my husband I push on that spot & one more big one popped out on my tongue Yuck!!!!! But my throat feels much better or I should say gland My neck was sore on that side.
I said to my hubby Its like they are hidding ion a cve. I came on PC found this site read everyones comments and shared with my husband. After all these years I cant beleive other people have them too! Doctors & dentist never talk about this issue & I have complained about my throat for years! Today I was at the dentist and told the Hygentist I am embarresed that I have bad breath She asked if I have sinus problems & I do my whole life I had post nasal drip mucus in the morning I cough up like I smoke & I dont. plus indoor allergies these things must be a big cause of it.
I also believe the dairy or foods we eat contribute to this as well. I'm sorry I had so much to say But I feel like a burden has been lifted off my shoulders or should I say my Tonsils. :)
God Bless us all and the People we have to engage with on a daily basis. This last week I hid in my house because of these little retched bacteria "Tonsil stones". Now I have a Name to call them besides smelly thingyson my throat. Hee hee Cant wait to tell my Doctor about these & show her an article & pictures I printed out on the Web. Thanks for the space Hope I was able to shed some light to others as well as you all have. Peace, Annie :)

BB commented on 26 Aug 2007, 19:54:17
Thank You ALL!! I thought I was in this all alone. I too have those smelly stones and do what the rest of you do to try and get rid of them at least for a little while. Good Luck to ya all.

guest commented on 27 Aug 2007, 17:22:58
try "milking" them out with a cotton swap, rather than digging

Angie commented on 27 Aug 2007, 20:12:40
I thought I was the only one!!! I almost went to the doctor to find out what are those nasty nasty stank little white balls living in my mouth? I even began to give them names.At least once a week one comes ALIVE! My mom says to use WARM SALT WATER to flush them out. I forget to do this, but this remedy may help some of you.

To JP & others commented on 27 Aug 2007, 21:18:24
I've heard of cases where children have had tonsils out only to have tonsil problems again as adults - one guy told me he had his tonsils removed twice! Once as a child then again as an adult which is odd - I think it has to do with the fact ur still growing - to state the obvious! In his case, his tonsils must have grown back abit.
Tonsillectomy removal pain is far worse as an adult than a child - but it's less likely tonsil stones will re-occur. I had mine out at 27. I hated those nasty stink bombs! I tried everything to get rid of them and nothing worked. They always came back.
I felt better once the tonsils came out - because you're swallowing loads of toxins through your body as well by harbouring these nasty things. They made me feel sick and tired all the time! I often had abdominal nausea as well.
2 weeks of extreme pain is worth it rather a lifetime of worry and coughing these annoying things up. They now use harmonic scalpel now to cauterise the tonsils rather than the old blade/cut and stitch method. It's still as painful - but you get to go home on the same day. If anyone is considering a tonsillectomy make sure you eat a lot of prunes, drink lots of prune juice and water - the drugs are very constipating (panadene forte).

guest commented on 28 Aug 2007, 15:25:03
I just started using Dr. Katz's products and have noticed a difference in less than a week. Like the guy who uses the dental plunger to push hydrogen peroxide into the tonsil crypts, I've been using one to push the mouth rinse into these folds. My stones are very deep and don't just pop out. Would that they did! However, the mouth rinse and tongue scraping is helping. I'm so self-conscious of bad breath -- I hope it helps me resolve the problem.

guest commented on 28 Aug 2007, 15:27:03
To the guest who is 27 and wonders about solutions other than surgery or expensive rinses: Try the hydrogen peroxide tip. Didn't really work for me, but worth a try. Dr. Katz's rinse is worth the money if it helps you get rid of the problem! I've been using a lot of it but hopefully will use less eventually.

Chris commented on 28 Aug 2007, 20:10:04
I'm glad I found this site. I've had them for quite a while and just now used a water pick to remove them. The one I have has a tongue pick attachment and that seem to work the best to get of them. I'm hoping getting rid of these will help my breath. Good luck!

guest commented on 28 Aug 2007, 23:50:13
i have disgusting ones too and i finally bought a water pic- AND IT WORKS! I have to put it on the lowest setting because it hurts and sets off your gag reflex, but within two seconds FOUR came out- GROSS! It probably doesn't get them all, but at least it gets more than a Qtip and my finger.
I also started using a metal tongue scraper, and that seems to help to!
Good luck everyone- they're awful!

guest commented on 29 Aug 2007, 11:09:18
I too have suffered from tonsil stones for years despite not having tonsils but deep crevices where tonsils were due to resultant scaring from childhood removal. I am a Healthcare provider and use a rather Unorthodox method to remove- a cerumen stick which I place in tonsil crevice and manually extract. Have tried Dr Katz's products with poor results but have not used all the products-I am considering laser to close crevices- has anyone tried this ??

guest commented on 30 Aug 2007, 10:38:13
i have been having this problem for years now, it started with my left one and i used to get it out with the back of my toothbrush.then 3 years ago it went to the right side, and its giving me a hard time,its so annoying when u are siting in a tram and the person next to u can smell it, and u know that he/she does.last year i started experiencing my ears itching, and thats now when i know that they are there,when the left ear itches i check my mouth and i see the white thing on my left side,so its a sign...but its getting worse with my ears itching all the time and i cant helping scratching,does anyone have that too? i am thinking of getting them out,have tried almost everything which just works for weeks and comes back again.I hate it!

Dragon Breath commented on 31 Aug 2007, 13:11:55
I've been coughing these things up once or twice a year for 20 years, and had no idea that anyone else had them as well. I always thought they were coming up out of my lungs, and I've been worried that I had some kind of disease. It's really weird to cough hard, and see this little yellow-white thing go bouncing across the floor!
I'm very relieved to find out this is no big deal. They do stink, though!!

guest commented on 31 Aug 2007, 20:36:19
I have had these things since I was 12 years old(now 35). the sad part is I don't cough them up anymore. I feel a marble sized thing in my throat.I am so tired of having sh*t breath that I just feel like taking a razor to my throat and cutting out everything in there. Drastic? Well of course, doctor's know nothing about it and make you feel like your crazy.

tanya commented on 31 Aug 2007, 21:11:33
I had my tonsils removed when I was 3 years old. I'm 38 now and I've been getting these for the last few years, just on the right side. I use one of those dental picks to get them out. It probably isn't the best thing to do, but I need to get them out when they are there! I put a bit of pressure and they come out. They STINK!

guest commented on 02 Sep 2007, 16:15:00
I have had tonsil stones since I was 9. I thought my tonsils were loosing their "stuffing" and would eventually deflate. It was not until I was in my 20's that I met someone with the same problem. Neither of us knew what they were or what caused them. The stones reduced in numbers when my allergies improved. I use a magnified mirror and a flash light to locate them and remove them with a toothpick. I believe they begin in the large cripts behind the tonsillar arches. Once they fill that area, they expand out through the tonsil and appear in the holes on the surface of the tonsil. I can push on a tonsil stone through one hole and it will come out another. It is almost as if the tonsil have connecting canals. I have found if I remove the tonsil stones from the crypt behind the tonsillar arches, the stone does not grow and pop out of one of the surface holes on the tonsils. It seems to keep them under control. Since finding this site, I have asked other family members if they had them and referred them to this site.

Keanon commented on 04 Sep 2007, 15:33:50
Ive had stones for a few years now and have to clean them out about once a month, rather disgusting and annoying. Anyways, for those of you considering surgery I just read that you can have a laser tonsillectomy, instead of a regular one. The laser operation can be performed faster and it heals faster and is by far better than the regular tonsillectomy.

guest commented on 05 Sep 2007, 05:12:29
I've suffered with Tonsil Stones for the past 10 years, I thought I was the only one suffering from these nasty stinking vile things that make me gag. It's nice to know that Im not alone . I will go straight to my doctors to get them sorted now that I know what they are.

guest commented on 05 Sep 2007, 21:11:21
im 14 and i just got it for the first time and i was freaking out thinking i was gonna die!! but now at least i know its not gonna kill me

medstudent commented on 06 Sep 2007, 18:12:17
Hello my fellow Tonsil Stone Buddies! For as long as I can remember my brother, sister, and I have always coughed up stones. However, until tonight I never knew what they were called. I've asked EVERYONE- co-workers, friends, other family members. No one has ever heard of them (or at least they didnt want to admit it). I did jump for joy when I came across one co-worker who also shared this affliction, she jumped for joy as well. How many people will readily admit they share your problem of having unkown, white, doo-doo smelling balls in the back of your throat?? We were ecstatic to find each other although neither of us knew what they were, where they came from, or how to get rid of them. I can now tell her what they are called. I've worked in the medical profession my entire life and I find it disgraceful that Dr's dont have the first idea what you are talking about when you describe this problem to them. I was told I had calcium deposits and to lay off dairy. I don't think dairy is going to give me a sore throat! I am now a nursing student and I'm happy to have a name to go along with this afflication so that in the future when a patient should ask about this I can say more than just "Hey yeah I get those too"... Dr's really should know more about this because it isnt just physical its emotional as well. Constantly worrying about the freshness of your breath everytime you open your mouth and when the stones get really large you actually breathe the smell out through your nose...its very very embarassing. My sister digs hers out with a bobby pin...I don't have reflexes that can handle that. What I have found that works though is to gargle with a mix of Listerine and warm water for about 1 full minute to loosen it up. Then coughing as though something is stuck in your throat (because it is..lol) This works everytime for me. Takes time to perfect the cough but any long time sufferers will know what that means. I wish you all luck and let surgery be a last resort!

guest commented on 07 Sep 2007, 07:38:22
After months of feeling a tight sensation when I swallowed and then a bad sore throat, I made a visit to a ear nose and throat doctor. She removed a huge Mass from my left tonsil, about the size of a quarter! Doctor said it was the largest she had ever seen! It was instant relief and the pain was gone!She recommended having my tonsils removed of course.

sharon commented on 07 Sep 2007, 13:23:54
Im a dental nurse and I have had these since I was a teenager. I plucked up courage to ask the dentist I work with about this but she had never heard about them. Yesterday a patient came in and asked her about the stones he had in his tosills and she told him she did`nt know. Luckily I was able to tell him I had the same thing so both I and the Dentist looked on the internet and found out about them. they are really horrible and they make my tonsills itch if I scratch them with my tongue I can get them out sometimes

Erica commented on 07 Sep 2007, 23:34:58
Oh gosh, I didn't realize so many people had these things. I've been getting them since I was little, maybe 8, and nw I'm 15. Usually I have to wait for them to get big enough, and then I sort of gag with my tounge to push them out. I just read someone's suggestion about cutting off the swab end of a Q-tip and poking it out, and I'm feeling much better. Now I don't have to let time tell how long I'll have to endure that irritating scratch at the back of my throat. I usually get them in the right tonsil, and only a select few times have any grown in the left one.

Lori commented on 09 Sep 2007, 10:37:37
Wow. I am so glad to have found this site. I too have been suffering from these for years. My cousin does as well, but we both thought we were some kind of freaks! I have very large tonsils, but the right side is my worst. Like one person on here said, I have found that mine are mainly behind my tonsillar arches. I press down really hard on top of the arch and they will pop out. Sometimes I will pull out 3 a day. It is disgusting. Has anyone on here had a tonsillectomy that has cured this? I am willing to suffer the pain of that if it will get rid of these things. I am constantly gargling, flossing, brushing, chewing gum, etc. I hate that horrible taste in the back of my throat. I haven't been to an ENT Dr. yet, but am going to find one. I am going to print out the responses on this site to take with me to help explain what is going on. I find it hard to believe that no Dr. really knows what causes this and why it is more prevelant in some people than others.

Amanda commented on 10 Sep 2007, 10:28:39
I have had these hidious things since mid 20's. I am 31 now and today is the first day I decided to look it up. My husband thinks I am crazy. True, they do smell like ass!!! Do these things usually develope on one side or both sides of the tonsils? I have trouble seeing way back there, how do you guys do it?

guest commented on 10 Sep 2007, 21:26:31
I have had these things since the age of 6, glad to know they are not lethal. just a real pain to deal with. hang in there gang. thanks for support.

guest commented on 11 Sep 2007, 21:38:29
These stones are the worst! I am getting my tonsils out in the next 3 weeks. I am through with this mess. There have always been people who you can barely get near because they have "breath of death'. I never knew what it was. I just thought they didnt brush or floss. Now I know, they have lots of tonsil stones! I never knew that these stones could be so horriffic smelling. There was a man at work who I could not get near(at least 3 feet) without gagging his mouth stunk so bad the air around him was hot! The other thing I noticed is sometimes they kind of melt now down my throat and its the most disgusting taste! Also, I know I must swallow some, and I have now noticed that my poop smells like the stones!! So , so nasty. I am getting rid of my tonsils.

Sarah commented on 12 Sep 2007, 00:27:26
Ive had tonsil stones for maybe 6 months now, but only twice. The first time I had it, I had no idea what it was. I thought my throat was just sore being caused by an upcoming Flu. So I was in the shower, coughing really hard like there is tomorrow and 'it' came out, and the pain was gone!!! i looked at my hand and something white was there. I smashed it! and it reeked of smell. I was like ewww wtf is this!? i haven't reserached on it til I just got my second shot at tonsil stones just this past week. When it came back, I never thought the stones woul have appeard again. So i excused it as a sore throat. but it was a bad decision because, i couldn't cough the stone out! Actually I dintk now what it was. I went to the doctor thinking it was an ear infection (bc the symptoms matched up) but he looked and said nothing was wrong. THEN i said oh yeah my throat is sore too .. so he checked, swabbed and tested for STREP throat. Over the weekend, my throat got really sore. the pain shot to my ear and i thought i was gonna become deaf then die! I researched on it again to find the proper name and it was tonsillolith! soo, i would take my LED flashlight and take the syringe or a qtip and try to bring it out because my tonsil because a damn crypt! i have an awful gag reflex so it didnt sound "good". I finally got it out, although I dont knwo where the stone went! went back to the docs and told him about it and compared symptoms (because I'm a Med student). so sure enough i got my antibiotics! about 4 hours after taking my first pill of antibiotic, the ear that had the pain, has now pain! feels like a pimple on the outter ear, and I was wondering if anybody knows what THAT is????

Lauren commented on 12 Sep 2007, 09:27:50
It's weird... I have had these for as long as I can remember, except I have never "popped" them, or seen them on my tonsils. They must dislodge themselves, because I notice them only when they're floating around in my mouth. I tried looking at my tonsils in the mirror, but couldn't really see them, or any tonsil stones. Does anyone else just get the "floaters"? Then I just spit them out, trying not to touch them. Don't want people thinking I've been touching poo... ;)

AJ commented on 13 Sep 2007, 09:25:30
Ok, so I'm not alone with this problem. I first noticed something very weird when I was 24 and at an all day meeting. I felt something in my throat and then I ended up coughing until this little awful white/yellow thing came out onto my hand. I had to hide it in my hand until breaktime because I was sitting in the front row! It was so awful (and humiliating). I figured that was the end of it until I took a flashlight and looked in my throat and saw the white color again near my left tonsil. It's been 12 years now and I use a metal tweezers and flashlight to guide the particulates out of my tonsil folds. No dental or medical professional has ever been able to address this problem when asked. However, yesterday, I finally asked my allergy specialist at Georgetown U Hospital. She stated that they were called tonsilloliths and were fairly common. She recommended an ENT for me to see. You know, I'll bet this is the same problem that my father and most likely my husband, because they both have horrible dragon breath. I just want to get rid of the problem and not have to deal with the bad breath issue. I'm sorry that we all have to hide this problem because people look at us like we're nasty or something when we describe it. It was difficult for me to even discuss with my doctor because of embarrassment. I just didn't realize how prevalent this problem was. Good luck to all.

guest commented on 13 Sep 2007, 19:47:04
Wow, this is defenitely a relief. I only recently started getting these things, and was starting to worry that something was wrong with my sinuses or something--I couldn't find information on them anywhere else! Much appreciated. But is it really a good idea to poke them out? And how do you see inside your throat that far?

EricaJ commented on 16 Sep 2007, 23:46:40
..maybe its something in the name??
It's really comforting to know other people get these most disgusting things, I tell me hubby when they're there and he says oh the biscuits are back!!
LOL
usually mine are easily dislodged but had one for 3 days that I only got out yesterday..such a relief like to doing a massive poo after being constipated!!
Ok enough gross talk off to have breakie..lol .
Erica x

guest commented on 17 Sep 2007, 22:24:36
I almost have tears of laughter and pain in my eyes as I read all of these stories. I seriously thought I was the ONLY ONE coughing up random balls of this Couscous looking crap...(I could never explain what it looked like, cos I always panicked and threw it away or spit it out) I actually brought a tiny piece (yes its gross but I was desperate) to my Allergy specialist, she said "oh that's normal"...UH NO IT'S NOT!!! It's gross. I talk to people and I almost gag cos one comes up in the middle of my conversation and I have to basically yack it up and take it out of my mouth like a freako! I have a bad gag reflex so using a bobby pin is soo not working for me, but I'll try anything. I wondered why right after brushing my teeth, my brother would come near me and say "Dayum, nice breath!" And I has JUST brushed my teeth...??? Anyway, I am sooo glad I found this website, I finally have PROOF that I am not crazy, other people have it and I can show them the picture of the hell I deal w/ on a constant basis! Thank god I found this site! Any new cures, please please write them on here!! THANKS...

guest commented on 19 Sep 2007, 10:56:16
I have suffered from tonsil stones since I've been about 14 years old. I'm 43 now and I've had enough of this. Its hard for me to swallow right now and my tonsils on both sides are swollen. I'm going to a throat specialist- saw my GP today with referral coming. People are making hints jokingly that I stink- but they are telling the truth because sometimes I can even smell them. I want my tonsils removed. I'm tired of wondering whether I am emitting a foul smell as these little white suckers REALLY STINK!!!! I want them to be gone for good!!!!

guest commented on 19 Sep 2007, 20:45:42
Smoking has alot to do with the occurance of these things. After quitting, I have yet to have one. I also remember getting them alot during the winter months (I think because of a consistant "runny nose") They are nasty but if you use common sense, you can get rid of them.

guest commented on 20 Sep 2007, 04:00:07
i'm glad i'm not alone. i hate those things and they're sometimes difficult to get out

Confused.. commented on 21 Sep 2007, 04:37:07
I coughed up a few of these before in my life and yes, they smell like fucking shit. I hated whenever I had them. I've gotten these things like 4 times in my life and I hate it whenever I do get em. I am 24 years now. Now EVERYONE here talks about white stones on their tonsils, that is what is confusing me to death. Whenever I get these "dookie balls" as someone here mention it, I get these weird sensation in my throat kinda like, I have something stuck there and no matter how much I swallow or drink watter as hard as I can I can't seem to get rid of the feeling that I have something stuck in there. Now, whenever I do cough one up it looks exactly like the ones in the pictures shown above. When I squish them betwen my finger tips they smell like uhhh I don't know they just smell REALLY bad. Anyways, my question is...what do I have? Right now I have them unfortunately, but like I said before I see NOTHING in my tonsils. I just have that weird sensation that something is stuck in my throat. So I ask again where in the tonsils are these things located? Cuz I don't see them :(

emma commented on 21 Sep 2007, 06:25:51
im glad i havent been the only person to suffer these dreadful things, i had my tonsils out wednesday and just hope this is the last of them. has anyone had theirs out and still get them?

guest-G commented on 21 Sep 2007, 12:36:39
These things are so gross, I just figured out today where they come from. I would cough or sneeze (usually sneeze) and they'd come out in my hand and smell terrible, I figured they came from somewhere in my teeth. After checking in my tonsil (as I've had a terrible sore throat) I found five or six of these disgusting little nuggets in there. I'm gonna see if I can find a waterpik to remove them, I also heard that an eyedropper can suck them out, that sounds like a good idea.

stinky breathe commented on 21 Sep 2007, 20:43:00
omg i had them 2!!
my mom always told me i stunk like s***!! it was embarrassing!
my boyfriend always said "baby, please your breath stinks like rotten milk!"
and then he wouldn't kiss me till he made sure i brushed my teeth!!
how nasty!!
u r not alone!!
:)

guest commented on 24 Sep 2007, 08:33:00
Wow. I can't believe that so many other people experience this as well. I am not interested in surgery or anything really invasive and would like to try "natural" methods for dealing with this. I just started using a NETI POT (as seen on Oprah with Dr. Oz) and I have been breathing easier. I suspect it will help - 1) to keep me breathing normally, instead of only through my mouth thus lessening bacteria, 2) to help prevent post-nasal drip, which is also a cause of the stones, etc. I am going to get a tea tree mouthwash. I also press them out with my finger and I have used colloidal silver, a natural antibiotic, which I hope will also help. I am going to avoid dairy and refined sugar too! Thank you for all the comments and ideas.

Scott commented on 24 Sep 2007, 12:52:22
It is strange that many MD's and DDS's don't know more about this condition. I have had this problem since I was 20... at least that I know of, and for nearly 22 years. The smell is very similar to the odor of those with Gingivitis. I can always tell when I get them because I usually experience one or more of three symptoms; Tightness in my tonsil, smelling it when I swallow hard and exhale through my nose, and sometimes foul taste. My remedy is to take a hot shower and gargle with warm water and inhale the steamy air. This seems to lesson my gag reflex. I then rub my tonsils with my pinky (make sure your nail is short) to extract any stones. Once I can no longer produce any, gargle again to rinse. Once out of the shower, I will dip a Q-tip into Listerine mouthwash and swap the crypts. Then, I finish it all of with a gargle of Listerine. This is only a control method. I am sure that if I did it daily, it would prevent it. I just haven’t made that a daily regiment.

guest commented on 26 Sep 2007, 07:59:27
I feel your pain, I've been getting this stinky things since I was a child & i'm now 38. I poke the stones out at least twice a week, it works on my nerves. & I'm always wondering if my breath smells from the stones.

guest commented on 26 Sep 2007, 09:48:06
Also, good to know I am not alone. I am 27 and have been getting them for years. Gross! I will definitely try gargling with salt water. Anything that might do the trick to stop these gross balls from forming!

Chelsea commented on 26 Sep 2007, 22:58:54
Wow, I finally know what these little nasties are! I've been finding them for some time now. I only noticed them when I would cough them up when I was ill, thought it was just particularly nasty mucus. I found a huge batch of them last night and removed some ( I thought all, with a pair of tweezers) I checked again tonight and found more! Did some searching and found this website. When I had my wisdom teeth removes a while ago, my Doc gave me a "Monoject" syringe to irrigate and clean my sutures with. I still have it and used it tonight with some warm water in it. I can't believe how much came out, GROSS! But it worked really well. Its a very simple plastic syringe with a rubber plunger and a slightly curved, elongated cone tip. It was very handy! I recommend asking your dentist or oral surgeon, or even orthodontist for one. I'm going to check out the chemical remedy too!

Amber commented on 27 Sep 2007, 13:23:09
yeah im 15 yrs old...ive been looking in the back of my throat, it hurts at times and i have like wholes in my taunsals and idk y?? and also it seems like the vary back of my throat is getting torn up i smoke ciggs and stuff and i dont wanna tell my mom to take me to the doctor cuz she doesnt know bout me smokeing ciggs!!! i would really really apprisheat if u left me a e-mail tell me if i have this or not or is it from smokeing cuz i keep going to the doctor and they say nothings wrong....

guest commented on 28 Sep 2007, 18:53:49
I am SO relieved to finally find out that these are! You are not going to believe this, but I don't have my tonsils and have had these things for years. I even put some in a plastic bag and froze them to try and find out what they were. How many people have these and no tonsils? I have a pocket where they took my tonsils out as a child and this is where they come from.

guest commented on 30 Sep 2007, 20:43:58
i have had thses random smelin things comming out of my mouth i am 13 and dumb i thought i had throught cancer unntil i looked up this sight i hate havin to pop the poop smllin suckers out

lisa commented on 01 Oct 2007, 13:12:02
It is so good to know other people understand this awful problem!! I'm afraid to suggest this to my doctor in case they haven't a clue. Tongue scraping and Dentyl Ph mouthwash definitely help me keep it under control. It is so depressing constantly living in fear of knocking people out when you are talking to them. It really knocks your self esteem. This is bound to be more common than we think. We need a public awareness campaign!!!!

guest commented on 02 Oct 2007, 11:12:07
Wow, I can't believe how much info is on the net about tonsil stones, nor can I believe how relieved (and disgusted) I am to find out just what the hell the strange little funky white ball I coughed up last night was.
I only remember coughing one up a couple of times in my life over the past 10 years or so, but last night when it happened I got sufficiently freaked out and decided to go online and mess around with wording in a Google search until I could figure out what it was. At first I thought it was a filling (!) and then I thought maybe it was food that had formed in the shape of my tooth crevice or something. Lo and behold - tonsil stones!
I think my tonsils are too far down for me to get at them to manually remove the stones myself (not to mention it makes me a bit queasy at the thought), so I'm still trying to decide the best course of action.
I'm also thoroughly embarrassed at realizing that I've probably had horrible breath for most of my life because of these things and just never fully understood just how bad it is.

jess commented on 02 Oct 2007, 22:37:43
how do u know if u hav dem

guest commented on 05 Oct 2007, 03:39:45
I have been getting these for years, can never actually see them just suddenly feel it looses in my throat and taste a bad taste. I used to smoke very heavily and then stopped, found I got the problem even more when I stopped like there was loads trapped in my tonsils and was clearing out. Found after a while of stopping I stopped getting them at all. But then I started smoking again :_( After another 3 years I am finally giving up again, on my 5th week and getting loads of this horrible stuff again as if its been stuck there and finally clearing. Does anyone else suffering from this smoke???????

MisterBigs commented on 05 Oct 2007, 14:20:40
I was glad to see that I was not the only one with this problem (misery loves company, I guess). <br>
For as long as I have had these stones I've been able to squeeze them out by playing with my jaw and tongue. <br>
This was my dirty little secrete until I heard a friend talking about a bad smelling thing in her mouth. I right away joined the conversation and was happy to find out that it was not cancerous tissue that I was squeezing out.

Kari commented on 05 Oct 2007, 18:58:58
Ok guys. I've been dealing with this crap for about 15 years. I would pick them out with a toothpick. I even taught my mom. The bad breath is indescribable. Tonsil stones plus chronic sore throats are about all I can handle. At 28 I'm having a tonsillectomy in 10 days. I'm excited and nervous. I'll keep you posted!

Rod commented on 07 Oct 2007, 09:14:10
When i sneez i can smell them and i go right to the mirror and press them out....a lot of people breath smells like this and i wont to tell them but i dont want to offend them...i keep my own clear...

Nicole commented on 10 Oct 2007, 14:18:01
I have been getting these things for years now. This one time i got one so big, when it fell out it left a hole in my tonsil. I thought it was cancer. Scared the cr*p out of me. Still to this day, i have not spoken to my doctor about it.

MJ commented on 11 Oct 2007, 14:53:39
I get these all the time, it seems worse when I've eaten bread or pasta recently. I don't experience bad breath though. I have superb dental hygiene, and these tonsil stones don't seems to stink unless I mash one. They are nasty, glad to know I'm not alone.

guest commented on 11 Oct 2007, 15:31:45
My sister and I get them our name for them has been "doo doo balls"

guest commented on 11 Oct 2007, 18:39:38
i have been getting these things for about 3 years now, and just this week i coughed up 3 in a row. it is disgusting and i am so sick of feeling this horrible discomfort in the back of my throat. they are ugly, annoying and smell awful. they keep getting bigger, and i am just totally sick of it! i think i am going to try that doctor the other guy on this site suggested. good luck to everyone!

Dnt wanna lose ma boyfri commented on 11 Oct 2007, 19:36:39
im 15 and i get them so bad...okay maybe exaderation but i GET THEM at least. hehe im a girl and qirl and i feel bad cause it makes my boyfriend wander why i dont kiss him very often. they normally are on my tonsils and will pop right out but lastnight i realised their like on the sides of my throat and they arent budging its really pissing me off... please gimme some answers!!!

guest commented on 14 Oct 2007, 09:16:01
I don't understand why this problem is not more widely known to the medical and dental profession. I thought I was the only one with the problem. I was too embarrased to tell my dentist or my doctor. I told both repeatedly over the years that I was worried about my bad breath. They just tell you to brush and floss regularly. I knew my bad breath wasn't from my oral hygiene. I'm diligent in keeping my mouth clean.

Robin commented on 14 Oct 2007, 18:21:17
I put up with these for years, went to two dr. with "samples" who had no clue what they were, finally saw the ear,nose,throat dr. who told me they didn't meet the criteria for tonsil removal, I stood my ground, and questioned why quality of life was not a valid reason, and after being very persistant they agreed to do the surgery! Two years later and I have been free of all problems! Although the surgery and two week recovery were not fun, I would do it again in a heartbeat!! So if you have had it, demand that they remove your tonsils!! To think of all the time and energy I spent in the bathroom, digging and gagging, trying to look in there, plus having that nagging sore throat, only wish I had done it sooner!!!

guest commented on 15 Oct 2007, 06:04:18
Looks like no-one's posted here in a while, but I'm so relieved to find out I'm normal, I just had to chime in. I've gotten these things over the years, (my brother has too - we talked about them when we were young and in the stage of trying to out-gross each other) and boy do they stink. I hadn't gotten one in a long while, but I've had a very sore throat for the last two and a half weeks, and couldn't get rid of it. I got a throat culture, but it was not strep, and my doctor always tells me that if there's no yellow gunk, there's no infection, so he doesn't give me antibiotics, and tells me to drink hot drinks and gargle with salt water. I did all the right things and wasn't getting better. It was so frustrating! But then one of those tonsil stones popped out last night after gargling, and this morning I feel so much better! It's the first morning in 2 1/2 weeks that I woke up without major pain in my throat! I'll have to remember that the next time my throat is killing me. I'll start poking around for one of those stones.

guest commented on 15 Oct 2007, 19:54:25
I took my 5 year old daughter to the allergist for her yearly check up and the dr commented on her large tonsils. I mentioned I've always had issues with mine, and I've had weird secretions from them since I was 5 (now 32). She told me they were tonsil lithes, so here I am searching for them on the web. I am amazed at how many of you have the same issue. Some of mine get as large as a dime, and I can always tell when they are "ripe" and I need to squeeze them out of my left tonsil. I'd love to be done with these alltogether. The stones are mostly yellow, but every so often they look like a yellow tinted hunk of blue cheese--with a green or grey flecked appearance. I got brave and "disected" one a couple times. It's exactly like they described in the article. A few pebble-pearl like granules surrounded by a protective-cheesy-sheath. It sounds like a lot of you had tonsils removed and still suffer from these. Looks like that isn't the cure to ridding yourself of these awful tonsil-turds! It seems so trivial to hate such a minor affliction when there are cancers and other diseases out there people are fighting. But doesn't this seem like something that could be treated in a simple & effective manner? Until then...I will keep in tune with my potato-chip-is-stuck-in-my-throat feeling and my weekly dates with the 10x mirror mouth wide open to get these buggers out. Phhhlggh.

Kristy commented on 16 Oct 2007, 12:38:51
I have always been embarrassed to talk about it. The only people that new were my mom and a doctor. I got tired of hearing "it could be this, it could be that" so I took it upon myself to do some researching. I never knew how common it can be. I have been getting them for YEARS! I went to an oral surgeon and he suggested removing my tonsils. I think I might take him up on that since I hear it works very well.

guest commented on 18 Oct 2007, 10:08:51
Ive been dealing with them since I started smoking cigarrettes when I was around 13.To extract them, I stick out my toungue as far as it will gotilt my head to the side as far as it will go, and then hack as hard as I can into my hands.Huge ones will pop into my hand or onto my tounge. then I smear them in my fingers and smell them which seems to make more appear. I usually get about 3 or 4 large sized ones and multiple little ones from every day to sometimes many weeks in between. Due to my roomate situation now, I cant do it as often for fear of embarrassment, so sometime they will build up so bad I can taste them. Sometie they just pop out on thier own. GROSS! I like to stck em in my cat's face and gross him out too!

guest commented on 18 Oct 2007, 19:48:00
tonsil stones lick balls ... and they smell of balls too!

george commented on 18 Oct 2007, 23:45:33
i had this problem since childhood. my mum took me to a doctor but he only said it was an enlargement of my tonsil. I pick this tonsil stones with my finger and this stinks really bad. it is chronic. i need to undergo surgery

guest commented on 19 Oct 2007, 13:21:21
I had had tonsil stones for 19 years. Just last week, my 5 year old daughter said she wanted to show me why her breath always stinks in the morning. I almost fainted when I saw a tonsil stone at the end of her finger tip. I just made her an apt with her doctor. I DO NOT want her to be self concious about her breath like I have been for the majortiy of my life. Well, gotta go, its time for me to go clean out my own tonsil stones. GROSS

guest commented on 19 Oct 2007, 13:50:46
I didn't know the nature of my tonsil stones until I made a worried trip to the doctor, prompted by my girlfriend dumping me because of her mistaken belief that the hard white lumps lodged in my throat were symptoms of some rare STD. Fortunately I now know that was not the case. Unfortunately she never spoke to me again.....*sigh*

Dan31uk commented on 21 Oct 2007, 14:57:32
Ive just found out what these are called after suffering for 15 years! Im 31 now and the problem is getting much worse, im going to the docs tommorow and demanding my tonsils are removed, but.... is this a definate cure?????

guest commented on 23 Oct 2007, 06:17:19
water pik sounds like a great idea....these little things hurt my tonsills....like an annoying pressure.....i hate them so!

guest commented on 27 Oct 2007, 13:14:01
I have had these on and off since I was young. I never knew what they were and thought that It might be an infection in my tonsils. Has anyone ever noticed that they actually became physically tired alot around the time before they show up on the outside of the tonsil? I haven't had them for years until yesterday. I have since had around 10 or so come out of a hole in my tonsil . It freaked me out!! The big C? I found this website and was releaved. I had never heard of tonsil stones only kidney stones. I have never had anyone tell me that I have had bad breath. I would hate to think that my husband of 10 years wouldn't have told me!! I'll ask him tonight to make sure now!

guest commented on 27 Oct 2007, 14:34:49
ive been geting them since i was 12yrs old now iam24 i have noticed in the past 3 days i have been hacking them up more than usual but my question is if i get my tonsils removed will they keep comeing back?

guest commented on 27 Oct 2007, 20:12:31
if you leave this things to dry they turn red

guest commented on 01 Nov 2007, 23:58:01
I am SO glad there is information about this on the internet! I've been getting these for almost 20 years now...started when I was in grade school. I just found out yesterday what they are. Nice to know you can manually extract them yourself and not wait until they pop themselves out. For me, there are periods of time when it almost seems they attack - as in, I will get at least 3-4 huge tonsil stones a day. Then sometimes I will just get a few small ones a month. Very strange. Oddly enough, I am completely fascinated by these smelly things. Seems like I'm not alone, though!

sneaker commented on 03 Nov 2007, 21:30:56
Wow! I have had these since I was a little girl, and it was like my dirty little secret. Now my five year old son just coughed one up, and it's funny, because he's the one child of mine whose the most like me, poor kid! I hate it when I can't get them out. I have a bad gag reflex, so I can try to poke around, but usually end up gagging.

Noah commented on 04 Nov 2007, 13:50:48
i have been finding these little balls since i was about 13 they taste nasty and they smell terrible, i never knew exactly what they were but stumbled onto a page about them on the web and wow, i didnt know anyone else had this problem...

guest-ykr commented on 04 Nov 2007, 19:28:07
I've always had these and once when i was younger i took one to mom and asked her what they were and she said she didn't know but she smiled and smashed one up and said, "but smell it" it was horrible... i've hated them ever since... i guess she got them too... Today I coughed out three huge ones and decided it was finally time to figure out what these things are... i had no idea that they had a name! let alone a way to get rid of them!

guest commented on 05 Nov 2007, 02:06:21
Crazy girlfriend.
I have these, too. (I had asked a few of my friends if they got them, and a few did!) I had them for years before going to a throat specialist and finding out what they were. I was told to gargle with this concoction of water, vinegar, and salt. After a while, they just went away.
It was about two years later that I got my tongue pierced, and they came back! I don't know why that would happen - I guess because of how I had to eat afterwards.
*laugh* Oddly enough, I didn't know that they smelled bad until I started researching them. Then I took a wiff one day. Oh my. My. My. My. That wasn't good.

Kathy commented on 05 Nov 2007, 07:42:54
Having originally commented on tonsil stones back in June, I find it fascinating and humorous to read how many people actually suffer from these things and how they cope with them. We can't take all this too seriously. It's so true what they say though...laughter is the BEST medicine :)

Relieved commented on 05 Nov 2007, 23:30:11
Hello and praise the LORD. First and foremost I wanna say Heraolda you are NASTY. Who eats their kidney stones??? You are disgusting!!! Just pop those bad boys out and throw them into your 'Fish Tank!!!' Wow, I seriously thought I had HIV or AIDS. I'm not kidding around I'm serious. But I was tested a few times and the results were negative. But I was still freaked out in mentioning these "White Balls on my tonsil's to my doctor. I first discovered this at the age of 18. I am now 26. They would appear every now and then. However I haven't experienced the problem in a while until tonight. After giving myself a routine check up, which I do everyday, since the first discovery several years ago. Fed up, I went online and finally have come to the conclusion that they are 'kidney stones' which stinks when popped out. Looks just like the photo above. I'm walking in my doctor's office and will address this matter. Thanks yall, I feel a whole lot better knowing that many people have had to face this issue.

guest commented on 06 Nov 2007, 00:47:38
A good quality, smooth, varnished, or plastic reusable chopstick with a gently rounded tip has been very helpful in poking, proding, and extracting these little buggers. Because they're long and I'm dexterous, I can hold a small flashlight in one hand to better see what I'm doing, and the use the chopstick in the other to work them out.

samantha commented on 06 Nov 2007, 15:01:01
Omg im so sick of these tonsil stone things.. ive been to like 4 different doctors and they keep on saying its excess food getting stuck. i dont believe that because if that was the case it wood most like hapen to more people. i didnt know anyone else who had it until i googled my problem yesterday. im sick of it and doctors dont take me seriously. it really kills your self esteem down thinkig your breath is continouly stinkin and worried there gna pop out when your talkin to other people. i have to stand in front of the mirror nearly every day pikin them out with earbuds or my finger to get rid of the stench. its like im abnormal or something. i need help but i feel my only alternative it to have the surgery to get them taken out.

Prayer Warrior commented on 07 Nov 2007, 18:33:54
I am a victim of having tonsi stones since I was 15 years old. I have gone to the ENT doctor and I didn't get any results, I gaugle with vinger, salt, and water and the situation still didn't help. However, the "ONLY" solution that help for me was "THE POWER OF PRAYER." My advice to everyone who is currently experiencing having tounsil stones that have a horrific foul smell, which can be embarrassing and annoying is to make PRAYER as your number one thing to get rid of this devastating "thing". I prayed and ask God to deliver and get rid of every yellowish foul tonsil stone that developed into the crypts of my tonsils, and HE DID!!! I now are not a victim of this issue any longer. To God Be the Glory, and remember that NOTHING IS TO HARD FOR GOD!!! In Christian Love, Prayer Warrior

Prayer Warrior commented on 07 Nov 2007, 18:41:18
I am a victim of having tonsil stones since I was 15 years old. I have gone to the ENT doctor and I didn't get any results, I gargle with vinegar, salt, and water and the situation still didn't help. However, the "ONLY" solution that helps for me was "THE POWER OF PRAYER." My advice to everyone who is currently experiencing having tonsil stones that have a horrific foul smell, which can be embarrassing and annoying is to make PRAYER as your number one thing to get rid of this devastating "thing". I prayed and ask God to deliver and get rid of every yellowish foul tonsil stone that developed into the crypts of my tonsils, and HE DID!!! I now am not a victim of this issue any longer. To God Be the Glory, and remember that NOTHING IS TO HARD FOR GOD!!! In Christian Love, Prayer Warrior

guest commented on 09 Nov 2007, 10:17:26
big weight lifted of my chest. thought i had a terrible disease for almost 15 years dealing with it. glad i finally know what the nasty little buggers are and looking forward to possibly removing them for good

guest commented on 11 Nov 2007, 23:30:03
HAHA! Why is it that every one of us have smelled these things? LOL I've had tonsil stones for a while now and I pick them out with a toothpick. It's almost a fun little game since mine can get HUGE! LOL For those of you who worry so much about these things... don't. Just pick them out when you see or feel them and you'll be fine. It takes a lot of them to make your breath stink.

BEAUTQ commented on 12 Nov 2007, 19:53:54
i have suffered from bad breath since i was a child.Im now 34!My parents brought me to the doctor when I was small and were advised to stop giving me milk and dairy products.these "white/greeny smelly clusters(like a cauliflour)"have appeared to have taken over my life.I find it very embarassing to discuss this with anybone, yet i know i have disgutsing breath as i can feel and taste the smell in my mouth.I adhere rigously to oral hygiene to the extent where i find im becoming obsessive regarding the cleansing of my teeth!!This has taken over my life and like others i work in the caring profession and find this extremely embarassing and im forever chewing gum or sucking mints.Please post back and let me know if you would recommend getting my tonsils out.I really would consider anything at this stage of my life if i thought i could live a normal,worry free,paranoid life.Thanks so much for posting your comments and letting me know that this problem is so much more common than what i ever would have known.

hannah commented on 12 Nov 2007, 22:00:44
i just started noticing these. at first i thought they were little pieces of oatmeal, but i aat oatmeal very rarly so i started getting suspicious and once you smell them whoo! they definatly smell like poo. i showed it to my mom and she thought it was the most disgusting thing in the world and then a week later she started noticing them in her mouth! its just something i never thought to look up until now, i never thought they were anything. im so glad i found out it makes it that much more funny :]

grossed out... commented on 14 Nov 2007, 22:15:15
reading all these stories has me laughing uncontrollably... i thought i was dying of some creepy stinky throat ball disease, and to hear that everyone here has the exact same experiences just makes it so much easier to deal with!! it is the most horrendous feeling when you're talking to someone and all of a sudden you start to smell/taste one...i just want to crawl into a hole because i can't even imagine what they're thinking! gross... thanks for all the stories...y'all are great!!!!

guest commented on 15 Nov 2007, 12:38:36
I just started getting them. Mine seem to be related to post nasal drip from my allergies. I went out of town and my allergies cleared up along with the post nasal drip and no bad breath! I can't see them though... where exactly are they? I can feel them in my throat, sometimes I can taste the bad breath from it. What do I do if I can't see them?

chongo commented on 16 Nov 2007, 22:10:04
uhh, this morning i stuck my tongue in the back of my throat and touch my tonsil ( it's a habit of mine ) and found that there was a hard substance. I looked in the mirror and found a white thing GROSS! so i went through the whole day with it and at the end i decided to poke it out with a cue tip.

Jasmine commented on 17 Nov 2007, 04:22:50
I get tonsils stone here and there and they are very annoying. I can tell when I have one becuase I can not only feel it in my throat, but I can smell it. There are little pockets in the back of my throat & I can see them sometimes, so I use a Qtip to get them out. The smell of them may still be on my breath so I soak a Qtip in listerine & swab the pockets & the back of my throat. My friend would always make fun of me because I over obsessed about my breath, carrying a small bottle of listerine & rinsing my mouth every so often. She gets tonsil stones as well, sometimes they fly out of her mouth while she is talking or lughing (lol). About every 5 min. we do a "Mic check" meaning we check to see if each others breath stinks.

angie commented on 17 Nov 2007, 21:51:35
hey guys, so good to hear i'm not alone. you all rule. :-)

guest commented on 20 Nov 2007, 19:02:19
ah ha ha!! im so glad of this site! i am 13 and been getting them for a few months, but didnt care about them for awhile, they didnt hurt, and i could barely feel them but then, lately, well, acutally yesterday...i felt this weird thing on back of my throat with my tounge. so i went to the bathroom, and sure enough, there it was, staring back at me. it didnt hurt, but i almost asked for a clinic pass. but i didnt incase she made me go home. but today, after lunch i noticed that my left tonsil hurt. so i asked my teacher for a clinic pass. the school nurse said it was puss on my tonsils and that my tonsils were infected. i started to freak out cause she called my parents and i hate going home early. luckily no one answerd. but when i got home, i went into my room and took some tweasers(i disinfected them, dont worry) and poked at it untill it came out .then i looked on the internet and here i am.

guest commented on 20 Nov 2007, 21:53:23
I've had these since I was five. I just now decided to see what the hell they were and I'm 32 now. Basically, I didn't stress too much over them, I push on my tonsils with my finger to get them out, but the other day I had blood. Freaked me out and it hasn't happened since. So, I think I"m good. I personally don't have a problem with them.

Gem commented on 23 Nov 2007, 17:22:52
And here was me thinking that I was some kind of freak... I've had these things for a long time, however I don't get them particularly often, and I certainly don't have any other symptoms like a lot of other people seem to have. No sore throat or anything going on for me, thank goodness. I don't have to ram anything down my throat either, thankfully; I can manage to maneuver them out with my tongue (somehow), spit them out and flush them away. I've never been informed of bad breath, but I'm definitely going to be a lot more self-conscious of it now! At least there's a name for these vile balls, I'll be taking the matter up with my GP and seeing if there's a preventative measure proven to work! Good luck to everyone else!

guest commented on 24 Nov 2007, 21:13:59
I have the same problem when I first seen these white thimgs in my tonsils I thought I had a throat problem but one day I got on the computer and looked it up and they said it was Tonsil stones, I hate these things I get them all the time and they mell really bad I am always constantly brushing my teeth,rinsing with mouthwash I have very good oral hygeine but i am thinking about geting my tonsils out I am 26 yrs old and I have been getting these suckers for 7 yrs now and I am so tired of picking them out. I am glad that I was not the only one

guest commented on 27 Nov 2007, 19:49:08
I've had these disgusting little balls for years now and wondered what it was till I found this website. They are gross and disgusting and they do smell bad when you cough one up and rub it between your fingers. I coughed one up while driving and it fell on the floor of the car I had to pull over to search for it just to see what size it was. They are all pretty much the size as in the pic above but boy o boy they smell bad like a sewer. Hubby tells me its the crap I eat but then he started getting them too. haha I will try and fish them out with a qtip to see if it helps.

Mike commented on 28 Nov 2007, 20:52:35
I am 16 years old and i have had these stupid things for about 3 months. At first i thought that my tonsil was "breaking appart" or "Breaking down (internally)[Like how food breaks down]". But now i know what they are. As of getting them out, i use a very bright light on a mirror (like a big makeup mirror, i dont know what they are called) and i get two popsicle sticks and litterally put one stick behind the tonsil and on on the side and squeeze it out (i have big tonsils with very deep holes thats why i use two). ive done it with one stick but i dont get as much out. my gag reflex thing is sensitive also but this works for me. this website has a method of curing this without tonsil removal (also located on this website)
http://www.therabreath.com/art_tonsilstones.asp?AID=3084&AffID=3084
im going to start it today
hope this helps

JC commented on 29 Nov 2007, 04:18:37
This thread is like a passive support group... I love it. I've been using the Internet since the early Mozilla days (pre-IE/pre-Firefox/pre-Netscape days!) and wonder why I never seeked out information about this tonsil stone issue. I've been self-conscious about my breath since I was 12 and now I'm 32... mainly because I could "taste" my bad breath from time to time. I first experienced the white ball when I was in my early twenties. I was talking to someone and then all of a sudden, I felt something come out of my throat -- as if it were a food particle that had been lodged in my throat for a few days. I instantly tasted the foulest taste in my mouth and had to excuse myself from the conversation. When i reached in to pull out this white ball I thought was a week-old food particle, I immediately got a whif of the thing from afar. It was nasty! I couldn't believe it so I brought it closer to my nose and dang... it smelled super foul! But it would only come out of my throat a few times per year... but I always suspected I had some sort of chronic halitosis cuz I could taste the bad breath. I started doing obsessive stuff such as rinsing with Listerine 3-4 times per day and brushing 3 times per day.
TODAY, after finding this site, I decided to shine a flash like towards my throat and what do I see? white stuff lodged in my right tonsil. I took a q-tip to it and much of that white stuff stuck itself to the q-tip. I brought it to my nose to take a smell and sure enough... smells just like those white balls I get! I'm so glad I found the source of where these white balls are coming from. I took a few qtips and swabbed out the rest of it. Then I took another qtip and dipped it in hydrogen peroxide and wiped around that deep pitted area in my tonsil. I'm soo glad I got that crap out. I wonder how long all of that stuff has been stuck in there? Geez... my breath must have been really foul all these years.
Now I wonder if this tonsil stone/bacteria-build-up is the source of my foul morning breath!? I'm sure it's the key perpetrator to my bad morning breath!
I read through half the posts in this thread and saw no mention of people's morning breath. How bad is your moning breath???

guest commented on 29 Nov 2007, 07:23:58
I'm concerned. I hear it's based on the shape of one's tonsils, but before this year, I'd gotten them a few times in my entire life, always during a drastic weather change or sore throat. However, since February I see a few a week. What has changed about my throat??

amelia commented on 30 Nov 2007, 14:48:12
Has anyone heard of or had any success with lasering off the "pockets" around their tonsils? I've heard that Univ. of Chicago and Johns Hopkins were places experimenting with this. If so, I'll be their guinea pig -- this problem has plagued me for years (I'll never forget the copius amounts of gunk that came out the first time I discovered them). It has changed me from free and fun-loving to nervous and self-conscious. I would pay BIG money to take care of this problem...do you hear us doctors? BIG money.

guest commented on 30 Nov 2007, 22:46:37
I posted here a while back im the guy who sticks em in the cat's face haha. i havent gotten any in weeks until tonight. I can taste them and feel them in my throat for week or so but havent been able to hack em out. I cant see them, I wish I knew how to dig those little f**kers out! Finally I had success but only could cough up peices I know theres a lot more left I can taste eem! Whats the best way to pick em out? I cant EVER see em but usually if I tilt my head and stick out my toungue, and thenhack or cough really really hard, they fly out. Ive had them be the size of a fingernail before, but couldnt see them back there... I wish I lived alone right now I would be hacking like crazy to get the rest of these bastards OUT!

guest commented on 30 Nov 2007, 23:01:12
oh yeah forgot to mention 2 years ago I had a huge build up and couldnt remove them. I got sick and got a sore throught with high fever, it was a blizzard outside and the temperature dropped really low. my tonsils swelled up so bad i was chocking and suffocating on my own spit. went to the emergency room and was on an ivy for 4 days - no insurance very expensive. I felt like i was dying a slow death. they said im too old (34) to get them removed as its very traumatic for an adult. I think it was because I couldnt get them out an they caused an infection. I didnt discuss it with the doctors mostly cause I lost my voice and they spoke lousy english.

Mike-Jack commented on 01 Dec 2007, 23:54:56
I'm 18 and I've been getting these things for about five years now. It's on and off, and never linked to actual illness or seasonal change--just seems to happen whenever. The worst it got was about a year and a half ago when they started popping up on my tonsils two to three times a week; at one point I stopped "seeing" them on my right tonsil, which I figured was a good sign until I noticed it was swelling and it looked like there was a lump inside it. I literally had to take spoon and break open the tonsil to get to it, and when it popped out, the thing was (I-crap-you-not) the size of a pea. Has anyone else had the ingrown lump thing, particularly in that size? Is that like really bad, because it actually left a crater in my tonsil that had never quite healed.
O, and in regard to the bad breath, I actually haven't had a rpoblem with that. I've always been kind of worried because the lumps smell and taste so bad, but like I ask my family and friends and they say my breath smells fine, so I guess it's not a problem.

guest commented on 04 Dec 2007, 10:53:47
i'm sooo glad i'm not alone. and that this is normal.

KP commented on 04 Dec 2007, 20:19:58
Hey everyone alike alot of you i thought that i had some weird disease that was a SERIOUS problem. I'm happy to see that alot of other people have what i have and that its just annoying and nothing seriously damaging to my health.

Heather commented on 05 Dec 2007, 16:25:37
omg these thing are annoying...i never new what there were until my friends sister got them and she told looked it up and told me they were tonsil stones..im 14 and ive only had them for about 3 or 4 months but they are discusting and smell like poopoo

home sick AGAIN commented on 06 Dec 2007, 07:38:31
Hi, has anyone who reads this had chronic strep throat? I've had it 3-4 times a year since I was quite small (I'm 24 now) and have noticed tonsilliths since I was 8. My doctors always said, "If you get it one more time, we'll take out your tonsils" and of course, in true Murphy's Law fashion, I'd not get it again till the next winter. I'm wondering if the bacteria from the tonsilliths can trap strep in there and cause it to come back so often. I get tonsilliths so often that if I push around my tonsular cavity they come out in floods, some tiny and some significantly larger than the pics here. l I'm going to the doctor today to beg to take the tonsils out (I'm a teacher and this is the 2nd time already this year I've had this, it's so annoying-- not to mention unprofessional to call out so much.) Any ideas??

guest commented on 07 Dec 2007, 02:12:31
i love them... getting them out is like finding buried treasure.. and i cant stop smelling them. it makes me high... i also collect them in a jar in my room.

guest commented on 08 Dec 2007, 14:19:34
My tonsil stone problem seemed to be getting worse at age 57. I felt like my one tonsil was a popcorn machine. Gross!
I had alot of old fillings in my teeth that needed replacing and a low-grade infection under a crown. My dentist replaced all the old fillings and removed the crown and the roots underneath.
Now I have not had even one tonsil stone for 4 months where they were continuous before. Obviously, the general level of bacteria in the mouth must contribute to how big tonsil stones are and how often they occur.
I now brush my teeth three times a day. I imagine the bacteria count is dramatically lower than it was 4 months ago.

guest commented on 10 Dec 2007, 18:25:22
I am so glad I found this article. Now I know I am not alone. I have had what apperently is called "Tonsil Stones" for a couple years now and has caused me a great deal of embarrasment and frustration as my family doctor really had no clue what it was. I shrugged it off and dealt with it, but now I am going to get ride of it. Thank you for all your help everyone!

disgusted commented on 13 Dec 2007, 14:44:34
ive had these things and i take the end of a flosser, bend it with my teeth, and scoop the suckers out. releif!

ML commented on 17 Dec 2007, 15:28:44
I have been coughing this stuff up a while.... getting worried that it's some kind of cancer. In reading the posting, I went straight to look at my tonsils and sure enough there was 1 white spot. I scraped it right off and all is better. The Web RULES!

Alex commented on 22 Dec 2007, 00:35:46
Wow, I've been having these for years and never even knew it! I knew on occasion, I'd feel like some food was stuck in the back of my throat, and pull out this white-thing, but that was it. Earlier today, sine I've felt like food was stuck to the point I couldn't stand it, I used my fingernails to try and get away this white thing I saw on my tonsils.... and I saw small craters on the other side, as well as more white stuff. It came out, and I came down to the computer to figure out what on earth this smelly thing is! Now I know why I have never been able to completely conquer bad breath! I'm gonna have to see if I can find the stuff reccomended here to see if it cures it. Thanks!

guest commented on 23 Dec 2007, 11:11:18
I never noticed them until a couple years ago. I thought I was the only one! My husband thinks I'm nuts! I tried to explain that they came from my throat and he seriously thinks I'm loony. I will make him read this now!!

guest commented on 23 Dec 2007, 12:37:03
JC... I think morning breath is a different subject. You might consult your doctor? Also, you should never use hydrogen peroxide... not in your tonsils, or anywhere for that matter. As a general rule, "If you wouldn't put it in your eye, don't use it anywhere." That's what Dr. Oz says. ;)

guest commented on 30 Dec 2007, 04:31:22
I have these. They only want to come out either in the morning, or after I brush my tongue. They do not bother me, and call me weird but I almost like them. They do smell for me, but ONLY if i break them open. When my diet was poor, they smelled much worse. I eat a very healthy strict diet, so maybe this is why they are so mild. I have never had problems with my breath, with or without them and I only brush before bedtime. They only occur maybe a few times a month. I also have mild allergies. Try atleast drinking more water/tea and stay away from fast food and soda. I also suggest staying away from white bread, because that stuff is garbage and much more "glue like" when wet compared to wheat bread (also for overall health benefits).

guest commented on 30 Dec 2007, 14:26:15
ya i think I may have tonsil stone. Last week I coughed up what seemed to be one.

guest commented on 01 Jan 2008, 18:49:08
I have had them for years. I push them out with a bobby pin or my fingers. Sometimes they are actually crunchy and hard--once in awhile. I am used to them, and I even look forward to having them now and then.

BLOWN AWAY commented on 09 Jan 2008, 04:39:56
This is the most/hardest I have probably laughed in I don't know how long, I actually went to another site just to read the post there and laughed all the same like I had not just heard it from somewhere else. The thing that is funny is I've been trying to figure this out since I was 10 now 27. When younger it felt like a hair in my throat and now it has no feeling I just notice it in the back of my mouth sometimes, actually I hadn't seen them for awhile and ask my mom of course sometime ago where they came from the dr told her colds, so I decided that whenever I had cold like symptons to look in the mirror and whala there lied the mysterious little ball that carried such a big horrific smell. I never told anyone other than my mom because I was too embarassed and thought people would think I was gross which I am not I am very big on hygiene which mines don't make me have bad breath, I just know they smell from when I was younger I smelled it out of curiousity of the thing comig out of my mouth but after that horrendous smell I have never had the guts to put it up to my nose again just the thought akes me want to puke actually I cough mine up sometimes not even realizing that there is one lodged in the back of my throat, I will get a piece of tissue and throw it away trying to not look at it or have it anywhere near my face not to mention is I did pick one I try to keep coughing so that it does not rest on my tongue for even a second. Now I do have a friend whose breath smells like a toilet but she has a sickness and I always thought that it came from that and would never mention her breath, but then the other day at 27 she asked me what those were of course I had to say I did not know, I laughed so hard then eventually told her my situation how I only get them after a cold/sinus anything causing mucus but very sporadic no one else I have ever discussed this with but now I've came to the conclusion that if you have a mouth fool of shit balls then that could be the cause of bad breath and maybe thats why her breath reaks so bad and I never have the breath problem because it comes sporadic. It is 627am I was on my way to bed at midnight but after all this info I can't sleep and I'm sure the laughs have something to do with it, I want to start calling people now asking them if they have ever experienced which I can without the embarassment the only thing now is that I'm going to be more self conscious and probably look more often making it a bigger issue than I would have usually I cough one up that be it not I'm about to go see if they are resting...please though I am looking for a cure to not that they interfer with my daily life, not its a mind boggler that can drive me more nuts just thinking this is something I will be dealing with forever...huhh! That really sucks but you guys have definitely enlightened me...wow wait til 8am I'm going to call my friend and tell her to refer to this site. I'm studying to be a dental asst and you best to believe I will speak out on this because it is wild how dr are aloof of this situation, well good luck to all the doo doo ball contenders out there and Good Luck! I have the guts to ask my ex about them now.

guest commented on 09 Jan 2008, 10:56:48
I used to get these when I was a teenager (I'm 37 now) and I'd dig them out with a round-capped eyeliner pencil. I've asked several doctors about them, but nobody seemed to know what they were. I hardly ever get them anymore, thank God, but they do seem to come loose when I'm swimming. Weird.

guest commented on 09 Jan 2008, 22:50:29
this sucks.i have had these gross little buggers for years now. i am 28 years old and have been to many docs concerning this and from what i hear they are not dangerous for you in any way. i have been told to use the water pik, gargle with salt water, and thats about it. the doc said it those dont work and i keep on having tonsilitis, then i should just take them out. i am diagnosed with chronic tonsilitis. my mom actually told me that garlic is a natural antibiotic and said it will kill the bacteria back there. i started taking some garlic pills and it worked. i was not consistent with taking it, so then it came back. i have a system where i use a toothpick to dig it out and a q-tip to hold the hole/crevice open. my tonsils have all kinds of hiding places for these things. i actually place one of those magnifying mirrors on my window when the sun is shining through and gives me a good amount of light...i take a q-tip in the left hand and a toothpick in my right (right handed), and begin the neverending process. it is so additive and annoying. sometimes i have tons of q-tips lying around and i stop whatever i am doing to get them out. however, i have been told by the doc that this is very dangerous and only could make an infection occur and make it worse. they just dont know how annoying they are. i have been doing this since i was like 12. good luck

Lis commented on 11 Jan 2008, 06:50:46
I've had these for a few years now - thought they were particles of food first off as they fell out into my mouth - eergh! I've seen my Dr since and he says they are due my immune system being in it's adolescent stage still (I'm now 28!) and usually the immune system takes over from the tonsils when you hit the teenage years, but mine is obviously not there yet - hence the tonsils fight infection and gather the bacteria there. Pretty clever, but really disgusting!!!

guest commented on 11 Jan 2008, 11:52:07
Hi everyone so i went to an ENT yesterday and my doc told me a totally different explanation than this doctor katz dude trying to sell stuff.He says having cryptic tonsils is typically the first problem and that its not from food and sulfer mixing together and than getting stuck! I stopped eating cottage cheese a while back because this website misinformed me! My throat doc said that the stinky cheese balls come from inside the tonsils themselves from the tonsils shedding dead skin cells. which for most people get flushed out normally but for people with crypts they just get stuck and then bacteria start eating the cells and creating waste which is why they smell like poop!

Veronica commented on 12 Jan 2008, 15:00:13
Well, I am 67 and have just discovered what these are! Isn't the Internet wonderful. However, I made an appointment to see an ENT surgeon and on Friday I am having my tonsils crypts lasered off. The surgeon will do it in his office under a local anaesethic and I will be sedated. My tonsils will still remain in place he is just going to laser off the crypts/openings. "I will polish them smooth" he said to me. It used to cost $2,000 to have this done because it was considered cosmetic surgery but now under the Canadian Health Plan it is free. I guess it's cheaper than having to go into hospital to have your tonsils taken out!

guest commented on 17 Jan 2008, 12:18:43
have had these for a long time, i pick them out every night before brushing my teeth and they return every morning. they do stink and it seems they are continuous ( i can squeeze mytonsils till the cows come home and it never ends) the holes in my tonsils are big and so too are my tonsils they take up most of my mouth. only thing i can do is pick and squeeze away. thank goodness you are all suffering the same as i thought i was a stange and freakish person. mouthwash, salt water, picking and squeezing hasnt worked as as soon as i remove them more appear, its like my tonsils are made of this stuff.
paddy

DJ commented on 17 Jan 2008, 14:02:05
Whoa...my tonsil made a zit! At least that what I first thought when it produced the first one I noticed. That tiny little white thingy peeking proudly out at the back of my throat. Maybe it was some leftover mashed potato or something from the night before that got caught. I'll take a jab at it. I'm all for doing self-surgery but attempting to poke at it with the end of my toothbrush brought on the gaging so bad I thought I was going to loose it. I just about had to strap myself to a chair and force my way in to tackle this obtrusive visitor but with each attempt to pass the gag forcefield my eyes would water and my last meal threatened to reappear.
It was another intelligent life form residing in the back of my throat. It could see me coming at it and it knew just what nerve to tweak for protection but I was determined to evict this unwanted guest. Hmmm, the Shop-vac! I'll surprise it. The hickies on my tongue weren't the worst of it but the taste of the cat litter from the last vacuuming made me abandon that tactic. Back to poking at it with the toothbrush.
You know, after several weeks of meditating and getting lock-jaw from visiting with this stranger it started letting me get closer until finally it came out of hiding. Let me tell you, what you see is just the tip of the iceberg! Those suckers are huge and they are not alone. They have families. Ya, the gaging still comes and goes (Depending on the visitor.) but it gets easier to extract them over time. Others have commented that they smell like poo. I'd say that is pretty close although I don't make a habit of smelling that stuff but they are pretty foul. One sniff can bring on those gag reflects again and a lot of spitting...and to think that thing was in my mouth! Bleh!
Maybe I should seek some professional medical or psychological help but now I actually look forward to these little guys. Kind of a fun challenge to get them out. Heaven forbid you should swallow one though. Yuck! But whatever you do...don't smell it!
Cheers.

Jen commented on 18 Jan 2008, 13:48:00
I have dealt with this problem for years and the only answer is to get your tonsils removed!!! You will be in pain for a few days, but you won't have to be embarrased about bad breath again. Life is too short to spend your time hiding from something that is fixable. You might be scared to talk to your doctor about the problem but if you see a ears nose throat doctor, believe me it's not the first time they have seen this problem. Hope this helps

Dominique commented on 20 Jan 2008, 21:21:54
My name is Dominique and I am 8.I get these tonslestones all the time and I have 2 stick my hand all the way into my throat and try to scratch it out.My mom taught me another way to try and get the tonslestones out and I tryed 2 do it that way and I puked.I HATE these tonsil stones, doesn't everyone?

guest commented on 23 Jan 2008, 19:08:44

I had been gargling after I brushed my teeth like mad for the past year because I thought something was in the back of my throat. Felt like gravel in my throat. I did a google search for the 1st time today for "stuck in throat", and after ten minutes of searching finally came up with tonsil stones. The wikipedia link (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonsil_stones) is very informative, plus has links to other sites. I took a flashlight and after about ten minutes of contorting my mouth I saw a small white speck on the right side of my mouth in the tonsil area. I was able to pick it out with a clean index finger. That was a relief!! The left tonsil seems a lot bigger than the right. I used the flashlight and could not see anything, but I could feel it. I used the index finger again and felt around the left tonsil but could not dislodge anything. Has anyone tried to 'massage' the tonsil to extract stones? I've heard that works, but have not had results myself.

guest commented on 24 Jan 2008, 19:43:57
I am 24 yrs old and have been getting tonsil stones and having HORRIBEL breath for the last 2 years. I am having my tonsils removed in 4 days and I CAN NOT WAIT!!!!

dm commented on 24 Jan 2008, 20:09:09
DJ - i was sitting here with the laptop and wife watching tv in the background and i came across this page. I had to laugh out loud, bringing a questioning look from my wife across the way. I discovered these tonsil stones in my mouth just last summer - but who knows, they may have been here for such a long time without me knowing.
i spoke to my m.d about the white spots and she didn't know anything about it.
at first i though it was pieces of popcorn sticking in the back of my throat, until i actually got my hands on one, and WHOA! the SMELL! I have never thought of myself as one with bad breath, but now i wonder if people were just being polite! :D
so anyway, it became my mission to get these things that seemed to appear like pimples at the back of my throat. I tried a few things at first - water in a syringe, q-tip, toothbrush...i have a pretty strong gag reflex, so i've been kind of breaking myself in with this stuff.
it wasn't until i tried putting pressure on the tonsil that i discovered a whole cluster of these things!! some of the same things i have already seen in this page went through my mind too. infection, cancer, and even thought it might be some form of parasite! bizarre!
very thankful for this site - thanks everyone for sharing their stories - it is certainly comforting to laugh about this issue.

Jackie commented on 25 Jan 2008, 21:47:50
I started getting these when I was six years old. I remember telling my dad that something was stuck in my throat. It hurt badly. When I got the flashlight and looked, it was this HUGE white thing sticking out of my tonsil. My dad used a q-tip to scrap it off. I can remember how painful it was the first time I got one.
Up until this year 2007, I had no idea what they were and never heard of anyone else having to deal with this issue. For years I used a sterile bobby pin and flashlight to remove them, now I found an even better tool. I use this little cuticle scalpel type thing every morning that looks and acts like a hook. I clean the tonsil pocket out until there’s not more white stuff in that particular place. It takes a few minutes and practice, but it’s just like brushing your teeth. You have to do it.
I'm 34, I’ve dealt with this issue for so long, and refuse to have my tonsils removed. Tonsils are areas of lymphoid tissue on either side of the throat. They act as part of the immune system to help protect against infection, as with other organs of the lymphatic system. They help fight off pharyngeal and upper respiratory tract infections. If God intended us to not have them, we would have been born without them. There’s a reason these stones come out of our tonsils, it’s a way to filter bacteria.
Every morning I wake up, go to the bathroom grab my flashlight and clean my throat. Daily cleaning helps to keep the stones from building up. I have experienced other pockets in my throat where I never had them before. I just clean them out, rinse my mouth with Listerine and go about my day. I don't recommend having your tonsils out, unless it's absolutely medically necessary. Hope this helps.
May Jesus bless you and help you deal with this difficult issue.
In his love,
JT

Katie commented on 26 Jan 2008, 17:21:41
I'm 15 and just shortly after christmas my throat started hurting in just one spot on the left. it wasnt too bad but day after day it hurt worse in that one spot. it hurt when i talked or swallowed. so eventually i got really tired of the pain and decided to look at my throat. i saw a clump of white things and i flipped out! it looked like something laid eggs in my troat. i had no idea what it was and i couldnt stop looking at it even though it was so discusting. during the last look i took it made