People with tonsil stones may not know what they are. Tonsil stones can become a home for bacteria and often have an unpleasant smell.

According to a 2007 study, these mostly harmless growths are fairly common, having been identified on about 6 percent of CT scans.

Contents of this article:

    How the tonsils work
    Causes and symptoms
    Treating tonsil stones

How the tonsils work

The tonsils are two small mounds of tissue that lie at the back of the throat, one on either side. The tonsils are the body's first line of defense against infections that enter through the mouth. They trap bacteria, viruses, and other foreign invaders and then "teach" the immune system how to fight these germs.

Specialized cells on the surface of the tonsils, called M cells, trap germs. This stimulates the immune system to respond. The immune system produces B and T cells that attack the germs before an infection develops.

If a person's tonsils do become infected, they might develop tonsillitis. This usually makes the tonsils swollen and painful, and it may make swallowing difficult. Chronic tonsil infections can cause the tonsils to become permanently swollen.

Removing tonsils to prevent tonsillitis used to be a very common procedure. Now tonsillectomies are considered a treatment of last resort.

Causes and symptoms

Tonsil stones develop when bacteria and other debris get trapped in tiny crevices on the tonsils. Because tonsillectomies are less common now than they once were, more people have tonsils and therefore more people are vulnerable to tonsil stones.

Symptoms of tonsil stones include:

    A very bad smell when the stones appear. Tonsil stones provide a home for anaerobic bacteria, which produce foul-smelling sulfides.
    Sensing that something is stuck in your mouth or in the back of your throat.
    Pressure or pain in your ears.
    Swelling and redness in your tonsils.

Tonsil stones can look like small white or yellow flecks at the back of the throat. A large stone may be visible. Some are large enough that they jut out of the tonsils, resembling tiny rocks trapped in the mouth.

Are tonsil stones dangerous?

Tonsil stones are mostly harmless, even when they cause discomfort.

They may, however, signal problems with oral hygiene. People who do not brush their teeth or floss regularly are more vulnerable to tonsil stones. The bacteria that cause tonsil stones can also cause tooth decay, gum disease, and oral infections.

Left untreated, tonsil stones can become a breeding ground for bacteria. One study has found that tonsil stones are similar to the dental plaque that causes cavities and gum disease.

Treating tonsil stones

Tonsil stones can usually be treated at home.
People can use a cotton swab to loosen the stone and gently press on the tissue immediately surrounding it. They should position the swab behind the stone and push forward, pushing the tonsil stone toward the front of the mouth instead of into the throat.

If tonsil stones hurt or make it difficult to swallow, people can try gargling with warm salt water.

A doctor should be consulted if:

    A person has symptoms of tonsil stones, but no stones are visible
    Removing the tonsil stones at home is not possible, or only a portion of the stone can be removed
    The tonsils are red, swollen, or painful
    Pain is felt after removing a tonsil stone at home

The doctor may treat tonsil stones with laser resurfacing. A process called cryptolysis involves reshaping the tonsils and reducing the number of crevices in which tonsil stones can grow. However, tonsil stones may grow back again.

The only way to permanently prevent tonsil stones is to have the tonsils removed via tonsillectomy. It is possible, although very rare, that the tonsils will grow back.

A tonsillectomy is safe but it can cause throat pain for several days after surgery. Like all surgeries, tonsillectomy carries some risks. These include bleeding, infection, swelling-related breathing difficulties, and, very rarely, life-threatening reactions to anesthesia. If tonsil stones are only a minor irritation, the risks and stress of surgery might outweigh the benefits.

Preventing tonsil stones

Preventing the growth of tonsil stones completely is almost impossible. For people who have chronic tonsillitis, a tonsillectomy may be the only way to prevent tonsil stones.

However, good oral hygiene, including frequent brushing and flossing, can help. Irrigating the tonsils and mouth with a water sprayer can remove debris and bacteria, reducing the risk of tonsil stones.