Sore throat on and off for months

cram315

I had a sore throat on and off for months, I finally gave in because my whole throat area wasn't feeling right. I went to an ENT. He put a scope down my nose and took a look at my throat. He said:

1. He saw white under my tonsils, he said it was bacteria and gave me antibiotics.
Q: What causes this and what is this? Is this strep?

2. He said he saw acid reflux damage around my vocal cords, he said to take an over the counter remedy and to come back in three weeks.

Q: My whole neck is sore and my sore throat is worse. Should he have done a strep culture?
Q: How does acid reflux get up to the vocal cords?

Thanks.