Tonsil Stones Overview And My Experiences

My Experience With Tonsil Stones

Some time ago I found a white spot in my throat near the back. I did not realize it at the time but the spot was a tonsillolith. Tonsilloliths are more commonly known as a tonsil stones. Initially I assumed the tonsil stone was just a sore and perhaps I was coming down with strep throat. The strange thing was that my throat was not getting sore. I just had this odd sensation in my throat. It was more annoying than painful. I grew more concerned as time passed and the lump just got bigger and more annoying. Though I had been neglecting visiting my dentist, I made an appointment thinking he could offer information on what this annoying white spot was. I was glad to hear from him that the spot was just some "debris" and I should gargle to get rid of it. Upon arriving home I attempted this with no success. The spot remained.

For the next few weeks I tried to rid my of the menace without any luck. I finally fought the gag reflex and stuck my finger into my throat to dislodge it. My brief period of happiness lasted for about two weeks before my tonsil stones returned.

Researching tonsil stones

I decided to research the white spot online. I located a diagram with explanation. I learned the medical term for the white spot is "tonsillolith" also known as tonsil stones or tonsil rocks. Apparently it is not known for certain what causes tonsil stones. One possible cause of tonsil stones is the collection of mucous and bacteria in the tonsil crypts or tonsil pockets. Some people have deeper tonsil crypts than others and these fluids collect there forming tonsil stones. This made sense to me because I've noticed that one of my tonsil crypts is deeper than the other. This is the side that produces tonsil stones.

How to Prevent Tonsil Stones

There has been only one way I've found to prevent tonsil stones. After trying other tonsil stone home remedies and having no success, I decided to go with a product created by Doctor Harold Katz DDS. Katz specializes in bad breath remedies but addresses tonsil stones on his website as well. He has an article on tonsil stone prevention which is very informative. I am always somewhat skeptical about making online purchases but I ordered his tonsil stone kit anyway. For the first couple of weeks I was unimpressed with his tonsil stone remedy because at times, I went two or more weeks without tonsil stones without the tonsil stone kit. More time passed though and I became a firm believer in his methods. Since I started using his tonsil stone remedy, I have not experienced a single tonsil stone episode. I consider myself very fortunate because like others, I even considered removing my tonsils to prevent tonsil stones. I found a coupon code for his tonsil stone remedy. If you enter "A-TNS30" during your order, you will get the tonsil stone prevention kit for free with an order of $30.00. Otherwise, the tonsil stone kit costs about $36.00. With the code you'll be able to try his other products as well.

How to Remove Tonsil Stones

Before discovering Doctor Katz' tonsil stone remedy, I did figure out an easier way to dislodge tonsil stones than gagging yourself. I used a water pik or dental irrigator. These devices are powerful sprayers that clean between your teeth and are supposedly more effective than flossing. You will need one that is strong enough to dislodge your tonsil stones. The cheapest I've found (that works) is the Interplak Dental Water Jet I would not use any smaller water piks than this one. It is available at Amazon for about $39.00.

Your Tonsil Stones

Hopefully, by sharing my experiences with tonsil stones I have helped you in dealing with yours. I was pretty desparate when I finally figured how to 1)Remove tonsil stones and 2)Prevent tonsil stones from returning. I know desparation is not a fun feeling and I genuinely hope that you can find a way to deal with your tonsil stones if you are like I was.

TEXAS commented on 15 Nov 2009, 06:59:32
Hello all, wow! where do I start? First I would like to congratulate everyone for having the courage for sharing their story with us. I too have suffered with these little bastards since I was in 8th grade now I am 33 years old. I know what you are thinking why did I wait this long truth is I just found out what they were until 5 days ago (what an idiot). I could only imagine what my x-girls thought of me, dont get me wrong I was always prepared with a pack of mints and gum in my mouth. This is no way of living. I went to an ENT last week and scheduled to remove my tonsils for December 1st. I asked the doc about 50 questions before I gave him the ok to schedule my surgery. Please, make an appt. to see a ENT especially if you have insurance. My wife has been a great supporter all these years and she is about 70% the reason why am doing this. I guess we have to think about others too not just us because this nasty disease affects others too. I will let everyone know how the surgery went I am actually shaking right now because I am so excited I dont know what it is like to live with out having to speak to someone 5 feet away at all times or how about when I am in meetings at work and we have to sit close to eachother? I heard the surgery is pretty painful but truth is I would have it done to me 10 times if it guarantees my problem with bad breath going away. so good bye Tonsil Stones and hello nice long make out sessions with my wife. Good luck to all and GOD BLESS.
P.S. Many props to the creators of this website I feel like I have just unloaded a ton off my back that I have been carrying for decades. your friend TEXAS

guest commented on 26 Nov 2009, 13:17:01
I have had them for years, now my adult children get them. There the ones that told me there tonsil stones. I'd just be calling them gross. I am extremely diligent about cleaning my mouth and always have been. My Dr. Years ago told me that my tonsils are filters and the white junk is infection they stopped. That's why he would take them out or I'd get every cold I'd come into contact with. Thanks for the web site.

guest commented on 05 Dec 2009, 00:02:25
I've had these revolting stones for about 3 years. Everyone here talks about scraping them out, etc how do you do it. I need an instructional video. How gross! But what are we supposed to do? I wish there was some sort of device (like a vaccum cleaner) that we can put in our mouth which sucks the little bastards out. I just can't bring myself to do it because I think i'm going to damage my vocal cords or something. I usually wait for the stones to come out on their own. I've sneezed and coughed and the revolting creatures come out.
Sometimes they are hard and other times I've had them soft. I'm 41 years old and I've heard having your tonsils out at this age is not a good idea. Can someone please give some advice. Is it worth the risk?

guest commented on 06 Dec 2009, 18:00:12
I used a Water Pik today and about 6 or 7 pieces came out ( all varying in sizes). It actually works!! Word of advice when using the Water Pik: make sure the pressure is on low because I had mine on about level 6 out of 10 being the highest and my tonsils started bleeding. It did not bleed for long though so don't be scared. I was shocked that so many came out because when I looked at my tonsils I did not see anything white, so I guess these balls are hiding. Good luck!!!

guest commented on 13 Dec 2009, 03:54:31
I had them for the first time a couple of weeks ago. I thought it was cancer or something. lol I began scarping the tonsil stone out with my fingernail but some of it still remained. I realized that the tonsil with the stone had a small bump. I took a q-tip and pressed it against the side of my tonsil and the stone popped right out. I almost gagged. :x

guest_12 commented on 19 Dec 2009, 09:25:17
I have them too.
I just hate it.
No matter what I do, I just can't get rid of the foul breath.
Can't talk to people without noticing their reaction.
I feel so helpless.

hsrstud commented on 20 Dec 2009, 22:34:15
Vinegar dissolves calcium/magnesium deposits really well. Using a vinegar dilution is the best way to unclog small tubes that have built up calcium/magnesium deposits from water flowing through them. Hence, when my wife got one of these stones, I gave her a small amount of vinegar to drink. She said she felt a tingly feeling where the stone was and then it seemed to disappear. Give it a shot and see if it works for you, since a small dose of vinegar won't hurt you unless your allergic to vinegar or you have some other medical condition that prevents you from consuming vinegar.

guest commented on 26 Dec 2009, 13:53:57
I coughed up one of these first about 2 years ago, when I was 14. I had no idea what it was, and I basically dismissed it. However, over the last couple of years, I've coughed them up more frequently, and I currently can feel one in the back of my throat. It's becoming so irritating that I'm having trouble sleeping.. All I can think about is getting the stone out. I've looked down my mouth very carefully, but I can't seem to find it. I've also poked around thoroughly with a Q-tip, my finger, and scrubbed with a toothbrush. Can anyone recommend a way to find the ones I can't see?

Bryan commented on 01 Jan 2010, 22:53:11
this is just a big ad for Katz. Why don't you just admit it.

Anonymous commented on 10 Jan 2010, 17:50:28
I don't see why you get so bothered because if we have allways had them and they have been recently discovered I'm sure long ago it affected no one and why bother using q-tips because I managed to dislodge one the size of a tooth with my tongue.

guest commented on 17 Jan 2010, 21:41:21
Water Pik = fantastic
The first time you use it, you won't believe how much gunk just falls out of your mouth!

guest commented on 08 Feb 2010, 15:10:20
Hi Y'all,
I have had them for years too. At first I thought it was due to smoking.
I smoked for 10 years but I have given up and the problem persisted. Then I thought it might be due to drinking tea. I have learnt how to remove them. I use a dental scraper, which works well, but they re-appear every three days or so. I am so glad I read this site, there are loads of good tips on here. Has anyone tried the cheaper oxygen toothpastes or mouthwashes on the market?

guest commented on 22 Feb 2010, 17:49:21
I had a tonsil stone about a month ago and I didn't know what it was. I thought it might be some kind of cancer or something, so I saw a doctor about it. I had been messing with it with my tongue since I first noticed it and it just popped out right before the doctor was going to remove it with a q tip. I've had about 5 since then and I've gotten all of them out with my tongue in just a day or two from the first time I notice them.

worried commented on 01 Mar 2010, 09:45:16
am 15 with swellon tonsils and fever i used a flash light and a mirrow to look for them and i found little white specs on one tonsil i was apose to get my tonsils removed when i was 5 do you guys think it is time to get them taken out?

guest commented on 13 Mar 2010, 22:47:44
Buy a Waterpik and a small flashlight. Open your mouth wide and look into it with the flashlight. See your tonsils? See the folds in the tonsils? You're going to need to insert the Waterpik into those folds and turn it on with the lowest pressure.
BUT! Before you do I would seriously recommend taking one of the Waterpik heads to a hardware store and buying a drill bit that can open up the hole at the tip just a bit. A drill bit only slightly bigger is necessary, as you can work it around in the hole to make it as big as desired. I've opened mine up enough that I can clean out my tonsils without causing bleeding.
THERE'S MORE! This Waterpik tonsil exploration is going to take some getting used to. The first time I used it I made myself throw up. The second time wasn't much better. Don't try to get them all in one night. What I did was use the Waterpik until I had to refill it again, then called it a day. The next day I would explore my tonsils more and try to figure out where they all were hiding. On the FIFTH day I discovered a fold of skin on the right side of my throat, inserted the tip of the Waterpik, and let it rip. I was mortified by how many tonsil stones came flushing out. It will take a while to find them, but don't give up, it is worth it. I do it now every once in a while with minimal discomfort. Once you get the hang of it do it with Listerine to really blast the disgusting little bastards.
And I know the idea of buying a new drill bit (and an electric drill, if you don't have one) not to mention a Waterpiik is daunting, but come on, this is WAR. You owe it to yourself.

guest commented on 16 Mar 2010, 09:10:44
i have had bad breath for about a year now and just recently got to the bottom of the cause (tonsil stone). One night i coughed up a piece and like many of you i smelled it - wow! i have never smelled anything like this! I was able to remove a small stone with a syringe but my bad breath persists. I think there still must be some left but i can't seem to get it out.

Randi commented on 19 Mar 2010, 08:46:18
I've been getting these suckers for 15 years now. since i was 8. my first and biggest one was very detrimental to me being so young. i've had enlarged cryptic tonsils for what feels like my entire life. i get strep or other tonsil infections 3-4 times a year usually within only a 2month span. =\ luckily after my first stone i realized i can get them out with my finger. most of the time i'll get one, i'll remove it, and within minutes another will be in it's place. i've concluded that they must initally reside deep, and i can only get out 1-2mm bits at a time. they come and go. i'm having an outbreak now, after not having any for a year or so. so disgusting. *sigh* but nothing can be done.

guest commented on 24 Mar 2010, 07:09:58
Thank you, I am a mess right now. My social life is very limited because I am in constant fear that my breath smells like doo-doo. I am going to get my tonsils taken out. That is a sure fix according to most.

guest commented on 31 Mar 2010, 09:05:07
i took silica from 1-800-homeopathics.com and after about 3 days , my body started purging them to the tip of my tonsils, then i was able to suck them out with an eye dropper.

david commented on 04 Apr 2010, 13:10:08
the solution is
ACTIVE MANUKA HONEY!!
there you go, now go buy some. but make sure its the ACTIVE kind. This is a natural antibacterial solution, and is currently being evaluated for its properties, one if which has been to fight strep throat (antibacterial in throat)
ive been trying it for two weeks now and i felt my throat was less swollen after a few days use..! I would be careful of trying the other remedies here as some seem to be MARKETING specific products for sale!!!
any help, email me
schafer2004@hotmail.com
and no - im not selling anything!!

Powerpuff-gill commented on 06 Apr 2010, 01:48:20
I don't know if you'll know the answer but is it unusual or bad to be finding tonsil stones just sitting on my tongue, after which I will spit them out, usually about 3 times a day? It's not really bothering me too much it's just that my mum was shocked that I was getting them so frequently (I'm 16).
I'm NOT coughing them up at all they just turn up on my tongue and I spit them out.
:)

guest commented on 08 Apr 2010, 10:21:03
i have hade these for about 4 years now and finally went to a ent and he told me i would need surgery to remove them..its been a year now nad i'm still on the waiting list to have them removed, i just found out my doctor retired and now i have to see a new specialist...i have to go through the whole dame process again of appointments and tests..it will probably take another year to get my tonsild removed. what a jerk doctor! This has to be the worst thing i've every experienced....its ruining my live...ima gonna try these remedies and hopefully my shit breath improves.even after i brush my tonsils i can still taste the sulphur in my throat...im constantly brushing and always chewing gum. WHY ARE ENTs SO DAM SLOW?

guest commented on 17 Apr 2010, 07:09:47
Yes, they are hard, they are vile, and they do smell terrible. Early signs of them are usually bad breath and a yellowish, whitish coating on the tongue. Check out banstones.com for more info.

RJ commented on 24 Apr 2010, 04:13:56
Had them for YEARS....I'm 35 now..used to spit them out and nearly puke when one was naturally dislodging. However, now it's more difficult to get them out. I read about and tried a Waterpik but the force of it just cut a hole in my tonsil and bled everywhere.......so be careful if ur thinking of trying that! I'm off to the bathroom to try AGAIN to get the latest blighter out

DUTTIE commented on 24 Apr 2010, 11:53:08
I hate having these things! my son has them too and his breath stinks so bad when he has these, I tell him how I remove mine by using my finger and sliding up my tonsils but hes still too little to master the task. I dont recall too much about when i get them the most...but I never knew what i had I always thought it was cancer too. I gagle with salt water and I always make it a habit of squeezing my tonsils daily to remove the pus that causes these sick things...I wonder if the water picks works??? Im sick of asking ppl I know if my breath reeks. I dotn like being serlf conscious.

guest commented on 20 May 2010, 16:33:41
I first had one 35 years ago. I thought it was strep throat and my dr. removed it said it as food debri. I pop them out and they are gross and horrible, started using Katz formula this week and already when I had one come out it didn't smell as bad. I think these products help. I want to try the sinus drops because I get an off flavor sometimes and it seems to be coming from sinus area.

guest commented on 22 May 2010, 12:17:35
i discovered i had one of these just today, was totally freaked out, and been inspecting my tonsils every 5 minutes the whole day. ive found out from the web what it was, and this website has been great. ive felt before what i realise are now tonsil stones - but can anyone tell me how often they occur? and also im not sure if ive got it all out - how can you tell if you can't see it?? thank youu

guest commented on 03 Jun 2010, 00:02:21
i'm afraid to know the probable cause of having tonsil stones. i use sliming coffee for 8 days and after that there is this noticable feeling of having dry throat, a plegm everytime i swallow and a white coated portion in my tonsils which starts in a small dot and began to increase in size. it really bothers me alot, and i had these onset bad breath wherein i could not imagine i have. i'm a practically very O.C person and a very clean human being, i can't imagine that i had all these symptoms. so i went to a specialist (EENT) and he said i have tonsiloliths which he scraped off and he got 2 small hard dirty white substance that he said it contains a food particles stuck in my tonsil crypts. the first thing i thought before consulting a doctor is i acquired some viral infection or i had a tonsilitis but it's not. somehow i'm happy that it is not fatal nor serious. but the fact that since the day i had this every time i woke up my breath is really noticeable. thank God i'm not the only creature on earth suffering from this. how i wish there is a very intellligent person who could invent or think of a very effective way to be free from these. i read in some articles that we should prevent eating grain-product foods, food that is high in protien. i watched a video on how to remove your tonsil stones he used a Q-TIP, after watching it i tried and it works for me. it doesnt hurt but it can stimulate your gag reflex wherein it is difficult to control and it can make you suffer from being nauseus and vomiting. i also search the natural way to remove it but you have to purchase first the article. i wanna try it but i'm afraid it might be a scam. why are we suffering from these. having a tonsilolith for a month is sucks!. i can't imagine dealing with it for about a month and the fact that i have to deal it for my entire life. please anyone who could help me threat this in the most simple and natural way. im not pertaining to brushing, gargling, using a floss, or a Q-TIP. please bear with me. im a nursing student who is afraid to be with my patient talking about anything having a bad breath. please anyone help?. email me at infoisabighelp@yahoo.com thanks guys :)

guest commented on 05 Jun 2010, 08:17:27
i have my first tonsil stone and i can not get it out due to my VERY bad gag reflex. my husband tried for over an hour and i just ended up throwing up on him three times.....help

Ashley commented on 19 Jun 2010, 00:13:06
I've been getting Tonsil stones for a while, and I'm getting the white/yellowish spots on my tonsils, it hurts to swallow, and I have horrible breath :/ My left tonsil got them first and they all came off, and now I have holes in my tonsils. And my right tonsil is getting them and I just can't seem to dislodge them, I'm scared that they'll get infected or something. I need help :/ I don't have the money to do what you did :( What else can I do that's FREE?? :'(

Use this form to comment on an article. Your comments will be displayed below the article.