If you think the only kinds of stones that can form in the human body are kidney stones, think again.
Tonsil stones are white formations that occur in the pockets of your tonsils when bacteria get trapped in their nooks and crannies.
Usually, saliva in your mouth or taking a drink of something will wash out that bacteria, said Dr. John LaCount, a pediatrician with St. Elizabeth Physicians’ Florence office, but in some cases, the bacteria will collect so much that it’s too big to wash out.
When that happens, he said, tonsil stones form. And they’re not uncommon, particularly among adolescents. “Adolescents often have large pockets in the tonsils as the tonsils are becoming smaller,” he said.
“Patients say they feel like a foreign body is stuck in the back of their throat,” LaCount said. “Generally, it takes some time for them to develop. When they become large enough, patients are usually trying to clear their throat to get it out.”
Luckily, in most cases, a simple solution like gargling a teaspoon of salt with a glass of water will help dislodge the tonsil stone enough so you can spit it out, LaCount said, and other people can brush it out with a toothbrush.
For those patients with a hyperactive gag reflex, medical intervention can be necessary, but it’s usually not, he said.
It’s also worth noting that if you have problems with bad breath, tonsil stones could be to blame.
“Bacteria is what causes the smell,” LaCount said. “If you have tonsil stones and get rid of them that oftentimes will take care of the bad breath.”
