Arghhh.....Where am I getting these tonsil stones?

[foxytaur (imported)]

Anybody have these at some point in life?

theyre annoying, they're smelly, theyre difficult to get rid of.

Ive tried picking at them with a clean sterile cotton swab and some do come out and theyre nasty as hell yet some are deeply wedged in there I can't remove them.

Any tips?

[KimiRhoze (imported)]

I've gotten good at digging them out w/ my tongue or sucking them out, it comes from food being trapped in the "crypts" of your tonsils, bacteria feasting on it etc, I actually suspect that frequent cleaning of these things (daily removal) can actually reduce occurrences of viral infections such as cold & flu, my own non-medical opinion, but I've only had 2 cold/flu episodes in 7 years. There are surgical options that destroy the crypts but I wouldn't go to that extreme to be rid of them.

Anybody have these at some point in life?

theyre annoying, they're smelly, theyre difficult to get rid of.

Ive tried picking at them with a clean sterile cotton swab and some do come out and theyre nasty as hell yet some are deeply wedged in there I can't remove them.

Any tips?

[butterflyjack (imported)]

Ugh, ugh, ugh...Never heard of this affliction...Sounds yucky..Just get a tonsillectomy (had one as a kid)..And I would imagine this would wreak all sorts of havoc with the upper respiratory system..Ugh..Jack

[tugon (imported)]

Tonsillectomies are tough on adults. I would keep doing what you are doing. As a child I fell for the lie that I could have as much ice cream as I want.

I am of the generation where the removal of tonsils and adenoids was a right of passage. A sore throat and off to surgery. I swore I was awake during surgery but my grandmother the nurse said I was not. Now I know that was my first out of body experience.

We also survived the childhood illnesses of chicken pox, measles and mumps. When I had the measles I also enjoyed pneumonia. We did say no to polio and smallpox.

[DeaconBlues (imported)]

I used to have these "tonsil stone" things you talk about, they started when I was in my teens, every once in a while I would hack and cough one out but had no idea what to call them... They smell horrible and I was so terrified that my breath must have smelled like baby shit. I don't know why, but they just stopped sometime in my late thirties. I really am not sure, but I think that what you eat MIGHT cause more occurrences of the foul smelling things, I did not conduct any "scientific studies" or anything like that, but I found that when I ate bread, especially plain white bread, there seemed to be more of them.

[foxytaur (imported)]

I used to have these "tonsil stone" things you talk about, they started when I was in my teens, every once in a while I would hack and cough one out but had no idea what to call them... They smell horrible and I was so terrified that my breath must have smelled like baby shit. I don't know why, but they just stopped sometime in my late thirties. I really am not sure, but I think that what you eat MIGHT cause more occurrences of the foul smelling things, I did not conduct any "scientific studies" or anything like that, but I found that when I ate bread, especially plain white bread, there seemed to be more of them.

I do think surgical option is redundant, I mean I know buds who've had them removed and they get sick pretty easily. When you think about it the tonsils do serve a function. To take a beating at external pathogens. I'll continue plucking them out but I'll consider surgical removal if they get progressively worse.

I saw some youtube vids where some dude took out a huge one and I was shocked these fuckers can get as big as those

NB = I wonder if these stones are a reason why some people have an unbearable bad breathe when yer just near the person afflicted with them?....Hehe....be tough french kissing yer loved one with them LOL

[JessicaH (imported)]

Breakthrough Treatment for Tonsil Stones

June 20, 2012 — The June edition of Ear, Nose & Throat Journal will include an article on a revolutionary new treatment that has been developed to treat tonsil stones, also known as tonsilloliths. Up until now, there has been no good treatment other than a tonsillectomy to get rid of tonsil stones for good. And, in some patients, tonsillectomy can lead to excess bleeding and complications.

Christopher Y. Chang, M.D., with Fauquier Ear Nose & Throat Consultants in Warrenton, Virginia and Richard Thrasher, M.D., with The Ear Nose & Throat Centers of Texas in McKinney, Texas, came up with a novel and effective approach to eradicate tonsil stones. Dr. Chang is associated with Fauquier Hospital in Warrenton and has become internationally known for his expertise in throat surgeries.

The technique, known as coblation tonsil cryptolysis, is unique in that it can be performed in most adult patients without sedation and using only local anesthesia, much like laser tonsil cryptolysis. As with laser cryptolysis, pain is significant for only a few days and most adults resume a normal diet and activity within one week. This is unlike tonsillectomy, which entails a recovery of several weeks. However, coblation avoids the potential risks associated with laser use, including potential airway fire, retinal damage, oral and facial burns, as well as high equipment costs.

Coblation uses a controlled, FDA-approved, non-heat driven process that relies on the use of radio frequency energy to excite the electrolytes in a conductive saltwater medium.

The numbers of adults with tonsil stones is on the rise due to large numbers of people who still have their tonsils; unfortunately, the condition is often misdiagnosed. What happens is that mucus, dead cells, and other debris collect in the deep pockets of the tonsils and gradually condense into small blobs. Bacteria then feed on the collected matter, causing an unpleasant odor. Most stones are about the size of a pencil eraser, although doctors have found some to be more than an inch wide. They lead to throat pain and the feeling that an object is stuck in the throat. They can cause a variety of side effects, including ear pain, in addition to a sore throat. The stones are also a significant source of halitosis, causing personal and social problems for patients. Some physicians believe that certain prescription medications may contribute to the problem by causing dry mouth which, in turn, causes anaerobic bacteria to go into overdrive.

Up until Drs. Chang and Thrasher's breakthrough, patients were instructed to gargle with a non-alcohol based mouthwash and use tools such as a Waterpik to dislodge the stones (which they had to do on a regular basis), or they had surgery.

"We were delighted to hear about the acceptance of our article in the Journal this month," stated Chang. "This means that so many people who suffer from tonsil stones will have a safe mechanism for relief, and primary physicians will be able to more easily identify this sometimes misdiagnosed condition and refer patients for treatment."

[foxytaur (imported)]

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?feature=re ... dhpNzXUfK0

Thanks, this is awesome news. So calcified pus pockets. All the more reason why they stink. God, I have one completely hidden up there and its a big fucker.

Not as big as the link above (smaller) but biggest one im having so far

NB = Once in a while It's easy to remove the exterior portion of the tonsolith but its so hard to remove the left overs. I usually wait till it grows yet again. process is a nevernding cycle.

It doesnt cause me pain nor discomfort but i feel embarrased when im kissing someone.

[JessicaH (imported)]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonsil_stones

This is a very informative article. I had never heard of it until I read your post which I found fascinating although I have great sympathy for you and others suffering with this condition. I enjoy research so I spent a little time last night to se what I could find for you on it. I hope it helps!

[janekane (imported)]

Perhaps I can play the role of the fool?

Tonsils, I guess, are part of a person's immune system, and some person's immune systems seem to go amok.

I understand that tonsil stones start out being soft, and, not completely unlike dental calculus, harden over time.

When I was younger and perhaps more likely than now to accept social nonsense as having possible aspects of reality, there were some folks who attempted to teach me that it is impolite to cough. I would not regard their attempts to have been successful.

Then I studied biology. Then I came upon a physician whose speciality was respiration, and who insisted that coughing was a necessary part of living a healthy life.

I decided to test that physician's view, and learned that proper coughing would release small soft precursors to tonsil stones before they became the slightest sort of bother.

So, when no one can catch me doing it, I routinely use some deliberate coughing as a way of possibly improving my overall state of health.

Since I began doing that, I have never had a tonsil stone precursor develop enough to much notice. I surmise that deliberate, limited coughing may free such things when they are not large enough to be noticeable.

What works for me may not work for someone else; and I may be entirely mistaken in my understanding of the health benefit of limited, deliberate coughing, done so as to not bother other people.