Tonsil Stones

[orion]

I've had those white spots on my right tonsil for over 10 years. They came and went. I have never noticed that they immediately respond to antibotics or antifungal medications. I have read that they are related to food getting caught in pockets in your tonsil. But I no longer believe that is true.

I have watch my spots develop very carefully and it is now clear that these spots begin under the skin of my tonsil and slowly work there way out like a blood blister does on your finger. I think these tonsil stones are actually dead cells that have calcified because your tonsil has been fighting an infection. When they break onto the surface some food particles stick to them, but I think that is just incidental. If you break them open they are soft and sometimes smelly just like the stuff you sometimes get out of a rather large zit that is healing over.

In both cases I think they are the debri of a fight your body had with an infection. I had a 10 year battle with tonsil infections that finally stopped when it was discovered I had low thyroid and my immune system was screwed up. Since that time, my tonsil has been slowly shrinking in size and as it does so I get many of these white spots coming out of the tonsil. When the spot drops off, it often leaves a hole that goes some considerable distance into my tonsil. That hole slowly closes and disappears.

So if you have those white spots I think it represents an infection that you had or currently have. If your tonsil is even the least bit swollen then you need to first have your thyroid checked to make sure you have a normal immune system and then to on some long term antibiotic like doxycyline for a month or more to kill and eliminate what ever infection is causes your problem.

In my case I had to take 3 different antibiotics (penicillin, zithromax and cephalexin) one after the other followed by 3 months of Sulfatrim and an antifungal to kill the yeast that started from all those antibiotics. But my infection is clearly gone now and as my tonsil steadily shrinks it is showing more and more of those white spots. Which I think is a good thing because it is the residue of past infections.

Hope it helps.

[candycandy]

hmm... maybe i shouldn't rush into a tonsillectomy just yet. i know i don't want to be water-pikking for the rest of my life, but i wonder if the grapefruit seed extract or antibiotics will work. i think i'll give it a shot.

[marcen]

I agree that these stones represent infection, the tonsils being lymphodal tissue. However, I do not believe that long-term antibiotics is the way to go, as it will only serve to weaken your immune system further. A natural product such as GSE is a powerful germacide and at the same time, an incredible immune booster. Everyone has crypts to some degree (the tonsil holes) but they are larger in some people and are also stretched by the stones. Also, a good indication of whether or not the environment in your mouth is suitable for stones is the coating on your tongue...if it is thick and whitish-yellow, you are more likely to have stones.

To answer the previous poster, I dilute about 6-8 drops of the GSE in 2 oz of water and swish and gargle 3 times a day, as well as dilute 6 drops in 3 oz and take internally 2-3 times a day. Then when the infection is gone you can lower it to 2 times a day if you want simply as a prevention and good health aid. It is a great breath freshner because it kills the bacteria rather than masking the odour.

[HSJay76]

"Hello. My name is Jason. I'm a tonsilolith sufferer."

Wow. I never imagined so many people had this! I've had tonsil stones since I was 13 or 14. I am now 27. I always thought it was something that I had to 'deal with' as my family doctor told me the same story that may of you got -- "It's just food..." I refused to beleive this, but decided to try and cope with it.

For over ten years I've been picking them out spitting them out and sometimes, in the absolute worst situations, having to SWALLOW them. (your cue to gag) I simply could not put up with it anymore, so I went to see an ENT about a year ago. He told me it was...you guessed it... f.o.o.d. and that my tonsils were healthy, that I shouldnt be concerned.

I found this site last week and immediately printed out the entire contents (for 'backup' or PROOF). I made another appointment with a different ENT; a somewhat younger and more hip doctor. She immediately recognized the fact that I had TONSILOLITHS (amen?) She diagnosed me with chronic tonsilitis and said that the tonsils need to be removed. I agreed. I get them removed in 3 weeks. I know that recovery will be more difficult because I am older, but it's either that or pick, gargle, swab, spit, pick, every day until death. I opted for removal thank you.

Oh, by the way. I gave my wife a flashlight and showed them to her. Her eyes got huge and she dropped the light. Now she gets freaked out when I kiss her. Perhaps I should have waited until a few days before surgery to show her. Oh well.

I hope the rest of you fair well your tonsil stones, aka tonsiloliths, aka vomit varmints, aka puke fluff, aka tonsil rocks, aka "WHATTHEHECKISTHAT!"

I'll post more during and after surgery recovery.

Later
JJ

[orion]

I wouldn't to the surgery thing before trying multiple or long term antibiotics. Not only are they cheaper they are way safer as well. Your tonsils are useful despite what the doctors say.