Has anyone ever heard of tonsil stones? They are little white colored particles that come up into your mouth from the tonsil crevices. How does one get rid of them???
Last edited by Dreamer555; 11-22-2004 at 03:04 AM.
Yes! I have had them for a couple years now and am getting more frequent and worse sore throats. I actually push on my tonsil with my finger and gross stuff (Doctor says it's decaying food!!!) comes out. He said it's fine to do that and follow with a good mouthwash. The only other alternative is surgery. So that's actually what I'm doing today - researching tonsilectomies (sp?). I also have frequent bad breath and it's not the sexiest thing to my husband. But it sounds like surgery is quite an extreme option. I'm not sure how long to wait before I go for it.
I've had these for around 2 years now, after getting them occasionally when I was quite young as well. I also get very frequent bad breath and have continual post-nasal drip that has lasted around 2 years (I think it sparked the tonsil stones). I seem to notice that my breath gets worse when I eat things like choclate, yoghurt and drink coffee or alcohol. The tonsil stones I have to push out of my tonsils about 2-3 times a week, which is always horrible.
I've been to an ENT about getting rid of the PND, as I think that could stop the tonsil stones as well. I was just getting over a cold and he had a look but said he didn't see anything. So, I think that was a waste of time, really. But he mentioned that if I wanted to get rid of the tonsil stones and (potentially) bad breath, I could get my tonsils removed.
Will getting my tonsils removed stop the PND and my bad breath at the same time? I'm considering doing it just to stop getting the tonsil stones because my patience is really wearing thin with them. Is it possible that my PND is being caused by allergies? I've never done any allergy testing but don't think I could give up chocolate and coffee! Advice would be great. My ENT certainly didn't seem to have much.
Look under the adult tonsillectomy section. I had my tonsils removed about 4 years ago Mainly ‘cuz I was really getting tired dealing with tonsil stones. I also suffered from horrible sinus headaches and after a really bad one, I’d notice my tonsils were even more productive. Prior to having my tonsils removed I took ibuprofen with a decongestant several times a day, practically every day. Was the only thing that seemed to work on my headaches or if I felt a nasty headache coming on, would nip it in the bud. I used to purchase my OTC sinus remedy at the wholesale club, by the bulk about every month, now I purchase a regular size package a couple times a year. However, having your tonsils removed is major surgery and the recovery isn’t a picnic. It’s horrible. But I wish I’d done it a lot sooner!
I used to call them white puss pockets. but tonsil stones sounds much nicer. and not quiet so nasty, I have been getting them for a while now my self. since I was about 14 and I am 25 now. until that started happening, I got tonsilitis every year and had to miss around 3 weeks of school. since they have started what I call rotting out, my tonsils are much smaller I literally have a huge hole in my tonsils. I usually take a q tip and push out the stones. If I don't, it causes my throat to be sore, because the stones are somewhat hard and your tonsils are tender. I plan to have my tonsils taken out soon rather than waiting for them to completely rot out.
Has anyone ever heard of tonsil stones? They are little white colored particles that come up into your mouth from the tonsil crevices. How does one get rid of them???
I just started getting them right before I had my tonsils removed luckily for me I always had really bad strep throats so they were already comming out ot there.
Sorry I don't know anything about addisons disease you might want to do an internet search.
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I've had these things for about 5 years maybe longer. Lately, I've been getting swollen glands or what feels like swollen glands to me, but my doctor told me I wasn't swollen. Maybe the word I'm searching for is sore glands. They ALWAYS come before I hack up the stones. Am I the only one who gets this symptom? Sore on both sides, just below my ear lobes and along my jawline sometimes underneath where my tongue is. (At one point I thought I was clenching my teeth at night to cause this pain but I don't think that's it) .My throat is not sore, most of the time, but I do have post nasal drip and congestion at times. Two days ago, I hacked up 8 or 9 stones and felt better, but now I'm trying to do it to relieve the pain but nothing is happening and I'm very sore.
My primary physican is not reffering me to an ENT doctor and I desperately need to see one. I'm in pain and have not slept in two days. The pain/pressure comes and goes. Anyone else have this? No fever, nothing but this pressure and itchiness in my ears, sometimes a ringing in my right ear. If this soundsl like you, please respond.
Hi everyone, I used to get those awful disgusting things as well and my breath would be horrible !!!! So bad, I couldn't even stand it - it drove me crazy for YEARS (I'm now 35 and I would say it bothered me for almost 10 yrs) - I was also getting infections so I got my tonsils removed last Wednedsay Dec.16th - it has been a VERY painful recovery, but I know that after 2 - 3 wks I'll be 100% and the years of people backing up when I talk to them will be over. I'll keep you posted and let you know if the bad breath is gone once I recover. As crazy as it sounds - I had a huge gross tonsil stone stuck in my left tonsil that I couldn't get out before I went into surgery and of course I had bad breath - after the surgery - the odour was gone. (mind you it is back again simply because of the healing process) but, like I said, I will you keep you posted and in the meantime if anyone has any questions, let me know.
I too had my tonsils removed on December 15. The reason I had them taken out was because of tonsil stones. I was having to pick them out every night. When I would go a couple of days without picking them out, my glands would hurt and I would end up with an awful sore throat. The pain with the tonsillectomy is awful; however, I am looking at the big picture of No more tonsil stones!!!
Okay so I suffered from tonsil stones as well and had them out 5 days ago. I am not gonna lie tonsil stones was not the main reason for them coming out on top of tonsil stones I got reoccuring strep infections and suffered from chronic Tonsillitis. The Tonsillectomy was very uncomfortable but bearable. I had a much easier recovery than dompiz and nlh4msu so I would say If you are in pain from tonsil stones than I would have them out...you can read the Tonsillectomy and Adenoid Surgery II Board but I am warning you that there may be some things in there that may scare you because everyone in there has posted there recoveries and like I said some have had bad experiences and some like myself has had not so bad experiences so when reading it just remain open minded because I tell you that having them out is probably one of the best things you can do. Any questions or doubts read my posts on the Tonsillectomy and Adenoid BoardII... Well I hope that I was Helpful!
I've had these things for about 5 years maybe longer. Lately, I've been getting swollen glands or what feels like swollen glands to me, but my doctor told me I wasn't swollen. Maybe the word I'm searching for is sore glands. They ALWAYS come before I hack up the stones. Am I the only one who gets this symptom? Sore on both sides, just below my ear lobes and along my jawline sometimes underneath where my tongue is. (At one point I thought I was clenching my teeth at night to cause this pain but I don't think that's it) .My throat is not sore, most of the time, but I do have post nasal drip and congestion at times. Two days ago, I hacked up 8 or 9 stones and felt better, but now I'm trying to do it to relieve the pain but nothing is happening and I'm very sore.
My primary physican is not reffering me to an ENT doctor and I desperately need to see one. I'm in pain and have not slept in two days. The pain/pressure comes and goes. Anyone else have this? No fever, nothing but this pressure and itchiness in my ears, sometimes a ringing in my right ear. If this soundsl like you, please respond.
Hey Guys! Just wanted to update you and let you all know that while I do have tonsil stones..the pressure and pain I am feeling is from something called Eagles' Syndrome...it's named after the doctor who discovered it. Text book definition is: " Eagle's syndrome occurs when an elongated styloid process or calcified stylohyoid ligament causes recurrent throat pain or foreign body sensation, dysphagia, or facial pain. Additional symptoms may include neck or throat pain with radiation to the ipsilateral ear. In adults, the styloid process is approximately 2.5 cm long, and its tip is located between the external and internal carotid arteries, just lateral to the tonsillar fossa. It may develop inflammatory changes or impinge on the adjacent arteries or sensory nerve endings, leading to the symptoms described. Diagnosis can usually be made on physical examination by digital palpation of the styloid process in the tonsillar fossa, which exacerbates the pain. In addition, relief of symptoms with injection of an anesthetic solution into the tonsillar fossa is highly suggestive of this diagnosis. Radiographic workup should include anterior-posterior and lateral skull films. The treatment of Eagle's syndrome is primarily surgical. The styloid process can be shortened through an intraoral or external approach. We present two cases and review the literature. "
My ENT knew what it was right away..I think the tonsil stone really aggravate it though.
I have what is a small slit on my tonsils, I noticed it over xmas period and i touched it with my finger little white things came out. It actually looks as if my tonsils are falling apart.
My breath isnt too bad, but maybe I hadnt noticed it!
Chewing gum will be on hand at all times now!
Any easy cure to this
I used to have stinky tonsil stones a couple of times a week. I got rid of them by scraping my tongue morning and night with a tongue straper, and doing a nasal flush each morning. I flush my nose out with warm distilled water and salt in a netti pot. These clean out the goo that accumulates on the back of the tongue (post nasal drip, food particles, bacteria). I believe the stones are formed from that goo which gets into folds of the tonsils and hardens/rots there. I also take allergy/sinus tabs to reduce post nasal drip.
Although this is controlling the problem, I wonder if the tonsilectomy would end it completely. To those that had the surgery, did it permanently end the tonsil stones and did it end bad breath?
Well, I promised to keep you posted and the results are AMAZING the bad breath is GONE !!!!! I'm now 5 wks post op and I feel great ! No sore throat, no bad breath - my confidence level has increased considerably, I was always worried people were being grossed out by my breath and now I know it is no longer there and they have no reason to take a few steps back when I talk to them !!!! The surgery is 100% worth it for that reason alone !
Dompiz, I'm so happy that the awful bad breath plague is out of your life! Could you explain to me what the smell of your breath was before you got your tonsils removed?
While I've never encountered tonsil stones, I'm sure they're probably there. My tonsils are super tiny and I can't even get halfway past my tongue without gagging. So, picking them out isn't even a option for me because I have the world's worst gag reflex. But I wonder if getting them removed would help end my chronic bad breath that I've had since I was 10.
I too have tonsil stones though not that my doctor or ENT consultant could care. Due to get tonsils removed on March 7th. I am hopeful that this will end the symptoms I have been experiencing since last summer. My ENT consultant thinks I have GERD and looking at the symptoms of LPR then it seems to fit. I am awaiting endoscopy and PH monitoring to get to the bottom of this. However, I personally feel that the tonsils are contributing in a significant enough form to my breath condition. I would be interested to hear from other sufferers if they experience the following symptoms and if so were they eradicated following surgery.
Symptoms
Frequent horrible breath and taste (fetid)
Semi-permanent white coating on back of tongue
Raised white spots on back of tongue which appear to sit on papillae
Globus sensation of something stuck in throat and throat clearing
Excess mucous
Tonsil stones now removed by finger and flashlight ...gag reflux gone
Frequent blocked nose in either nostril but rarely both
I have tried Therabreath et al but I feel they only benefit those with minor breath problems and not those that are systemic. I have used the Grossan HydroPulse but the sinus draining was sometimes painful which indicates no real sinus problem. The throat irrigator was unsuccessful though again for minor problems and general well being it no doubt has its uses.
I stopped alcohol for 5 months, monitored my dietand increased my water intake but to no real effect. I can highlight about 4 or 5 occasions in the last
7 months when I have felt OK usually for no more than a few days at a time. During these periods there is no taste or breath problem, no thick white coating on tongue, no globus, no throat clearing ...and no tonsil odor or stones. These periods do not seem related to any foods being omitted, medication taken or change to oral regimen.
Essentially I would like to hear from anyone as to whether they feel that the tonsil stones are a by-product of some other bacteria putrification process which would produce the same symptoms or whether the stones and their secretions actually cause the symptoms above and the problem.
Tonsil Stones! Sick! 
Tonsil stones/ear pressure/sore glands 
Re: Tonsil Stones! Sick! 
the bad breath is GONE !!!!! I'm now 5 wks post op and I feel great ! No sore throat, no bad breath - my confidence level has increased considerably, I was always worried people were being grossed out by my breath and now I know it is no longer there and they have no reason to take a few steps back when I talk to them !!!! The surgery is 100% worth it for that reason alone !
