Suffering with a Sore Throat & Bad Breath? You Might Have Tonsil Stones

You’ve heard of kidney and gallbladder stones, but have you heard of tonsil stones or experienced their formation yourself? The symptoms of tonsil stones may include:

• Bad breath
• Sore throat
• Difficulty swallowing
• Ear pain

None of these are pleasant, so your dental team at White Spruce Dental is here to tell you ways you may be able to treat them at home as well as offer advice on how you can prevent them from returning. 

Leave the Stones to Sisyphus

Tonsil stones are the result of bacteria and debris accumulation in what are called the crypts of your tonsils, so your best defense is—surprise!—a diligent oral hygiene routine! 

Your tonsils are an important part of a strong immune system; in fact, the American Academy of Otolaryngology (ear, nose, and throat doctors) refers to them as your “body’s first line of defense.” That’s just one example of how your oral health is linked to your overall wellness, which is something we work hard to convey to our dental family because we want you to feel as fantastic as possible!

So, what should you do if you suspect you have tonsil stones? You may be able to see them if you open your mouth widely and stick out your tongue (like doctors ask you to when they use tongue depressors)—they may be white, yellow, or gray nodes on your tonsils, or they might be burrowed within your tonsil and thus out of sight. 

Whether or not you see any, you may be able to dislodge them by gargling salt water or using a water flosser to flush the debris from your tonsils. Or, better yet, why not contact your Rochester dentist at White Spruce Dental today to schedule a visit? We can perform a thorough and gentle examination and get you back on the road to optimal oral health!

The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.