You may know your tonsils as those things in the back of your throat that your doctor swipes to see whether you have strep throat. Beyond that, do they even serve a purpose?
Turns out they may be responsible for a whole host of issues.
This article in Women’s Health Magazine includes a whole list of things you may not have known your tonsils caused:
1. Bad Breath
Good oral hygiene, but still have bad breath? Tonsil stones may be the culprit. When you get debris stuck on your tonsils they calcify and become stones that can cause bad breath. The fix is good oral hygiene and gargling an antiseptic.
2. Painful Swallowing
If you feel like there is something painful in the back of your throat when you swallow, larger tonsil stones may be to blame. If coughing and gargling salt water don’t work, you may need to see an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist.
3. Snoring
Enlarged tonsils partially block the airway causing you to snore. It’s not dangerous unless paired with sleep apnea.
Are your tonsils to blame for any of these issues? Find a board-certified ENT to help you diagnose any issues and look at all of your options.
