Tonsil stones are caused by the accumulation of food debris, fungus, bacteria, and mucus that collect in the crevices dotting the surface of the tonsils. As the stones begin to grow, they put pressure on the tonsils which can cause some symptoms, such as a sore throat, trouble swallowing and bad breath.
However, they sometimes don’t grow big enough to cause things like this which means you can leave them alone. Eventually you’ll shake then loose and cough them up, or swallow them – don’t worry, they aren’t harmful.
You can get rid of tonsil stones using various home remedies. However, some of the larger ones will require medical intervention. The first step in reducing the severity of the symptoms caused is removing the tonsil stones, which is what I’m going to show you in this article.
1. Oral Irrigator
A very effective way to get rid of tonsil stones is to use an oral irrigator, especially for those stuck deep within the tonsil. For those that don’t know, they are small devices that produce a small stream of water, like a dental syringe but at a higher pressure.
They are intended for cleaning out the small spaces between the teeth (like floss) but they can be great for this cause too.
However, be aware that the pressure of the water can be quite strong, to the point where it can be painful. Make sure you test out the irrigator beforehand to prevent any more damage or inflammation to your tonsil tissue.
Also, it is advisable to use an irrigator that connects to the sink since you can adjust the water spray by regulating the faucet.
2. Cotton Bud
Because of their short and narrow dimensions, cotton buds can be great at removing tonsil stones. You’ll find reaching to the back of your throat much easier than you would with your finger for example. If you have a sensitive gag reflex then this will be the perfect method for you.
When you’re using, put pressure against the bottom of the stone to pop it out of the tonsil crypt that they’re stuck in. Also, wet the end of the cotton bud as this will make it easier for the stone to stick to them.
3. Mouthwash
Gargling with mouthwash helps break up the phlegm that settles in the back of the throat. Mouthwash and oral rinses are incredibly effective at preventing tonsil stone formation. It is advisable to use natural mouthwash for this to be sure that they don’t contain ingredients that may worsen your problem.
For this I recommend using either salt water or apple cider vinegar. Both have antibacterial properties which will help fight against harmful bacteria found in the tonsils and break down the stones themselves.
Also, the act of gargling could shake a few loose.
If you have quite a severe case of tonsil stones then you’ll want to use a mouthwash like this a few times per day.
4. Dental Irrigation Syringe
These are great little devices and can be found pretty cheap on amazon. You might have seen them (or devices that look similar to them) being used in your dentists to clean out teeth or by paramedics to clean out wounds.
They’re like the oral irrigator but require you to work them manually. They produce a similar stream of water but at a lower pressure, so they might not be able to remove the stones stuck deep within the tonsils, they are still very effective.
These syringes have a bent tip which means you’ll also be able to reach the stones stuck behind or underneath your tonsils. You usually won’t be able to get these ones with your finger or any other devices which is one of the reasons why these come in handy.
5. Garlic
Within garlic is a compound called Allicin, and this compound can be very effective in the fight against tonsil stones as it has antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral and antioxidant properties. This means that taking garlic on a regular basis can help you get rid of the infection and prevent it from coming back over the long term.
In order to release Allicin most effectively, garlic should be chopped up into small pieces. It is for this reason why I think you should make a garlic/water solution and swirl it around your mouth. This way the garlic (or Allicin) which make its way to your tonsils easily to fight off bacteria and break down the stones.
If you have a pretty bad case of tonsil stones then I would do this daily.
6. Tonsillectomy
Tonsillectomy is perhaps the most drastic way to get rid of tonsil stones, but it is the only 100% cure for them. It’s a surgical procedure that also involves the removal of adenoids due to their close proximity to the tonsils.
Both the adenoids and tonsils play a role in immunological health and their removal is only recommended when a patient experiences frequent infection, tonsillitis and (although much more rarely) tonsil stones.
As it’s been well documented, I’m sure you’re aware of how intense the recovery process is after a tonsillectomy. It is for this reason why you should take some serious consideration and have a serious conversation with your doctor before deciding to go through with it.
You could be looking at 1-2 weeks off from your work so you need to make sure that this is worth it.
Prevention
Prevention is always better than cure when it comes to tonsil stones. You don’t want to be removing them on a regular basis so taking measures to fight off harmful tonsillar bacteria every day is necessary.
To do this I recommend gargling one of the solutions I mentioned above (salt water, apple cider vinegar or garlic) at least once daily. To learn more about this check out https://www.howtogetridoftonsilstones.org
Final Words
Now that you’ve read through this article, you should understand what you need to do to remove and prevent tonsil stones. Just follow what I’ve spoken about above and the infection will begin causing you fewer and fewer problems.
Author Bio:
Lyle is a student currently working towards a degree in International Marketing. While he is doing this he wants to share some of the knowledge and information that he has picked up over the years about health and infection to help others. Hopefully you enjoy his content!