You have probably had tonsil stones without even realizing what they were or why they were in your body. Even though you probably do not realize what tonsil stones are, you should know that it is important to make sure that you deal with them properly so that you can properly take care of the problem before it gets out of hand. Even though the tonsil stones are not something that is going to be dangerous to your health, they can cause problems with bad breath and can irritate the already sensitive skin that is in your tonsil area. Since they can cause so many problems, knowing how to get rid of tonsil stones is something that is important to anyone who has ever suffered from this troubling malady.
What are Tonsil Stones?
However, in order to get rid of them you should first know exactly what tonsil stones are. If you are someone who has every experienced tonsil stones then they are a nuisance that you are not likely to forget. They are found at the back of the mouth near the tonsils, and they are often lodged in the soft tissue in this area, and they appear to be small white stones that are known as tonsilloliths. These stones are formed in the small pockets of the tonsils when bits of food, bacteria, dead white blood cells, and mucous collect.
Removal Options
The mouth is the perfect area for bacteria growth. It is dark, moist, and warm, so this means that it is the perfect place for this material to collect and grow into a formed tonsil stone. This is important to know if you are looking to find out how to get rid of tonsil stones. This is because the easiest way to get rid of tonsil stones is to remove them with your fingers, a Q-tip, or a toothbrush. Once you have pushed the stone from your tonsils, you can quickly spit it out, rinse, and be done with the stone; however, this will not work to help prevent the overall cause of tonsil stones, but it is a way to put an immediate end to the discomfort. Another problem some have with this removal procedure is that if you have a strong gag reflex you could have difficulty getting the tonsil stones out without throwing up.
A second way to get rid of tonsil stones is by using a water jet treatment system. A water jet is a small device that shoots water out of an opening. This water can be used to move water over the tonsilloliths, and once the water gets behind it with enough pressure the stone out of the hole. These water jets can be either manually operated or mechanically operated, but either way something to remember is that you do not need to have the water flow come out of the nozzle at a high rate of speed. Too much pressure on the stone by the water can actually inflame the tissue while at the same time pushing the stone further back into the hole. Make sure that the water is released in a constant steady stream.
If you are looking for a more clinical way to find out how to get rid of tonsil stones, then one approach is antibiotics. This is because the stones appear to be a collection of bacteria, and some doctors have considered prescribing antibiotics as a way to cope with this problem. The main concern is that unless you stay on an antibiotic regimen permanently it is possible that the tonsil stones will reappear once you have finished taking the medicine.
Preventing Tonsil Stones – Tonsilloliths
While these examples are ways of knowing how to get rid of tonsilloliths, there are also ways that you can work to make sure that you do not get tonsil stones in the future. One of the most popular methods of prevention is to use nasal irrigation to help clear out your sinuses. By flushing out the bacteria and mucus that can clog up your nasal passages you can reduce the risk of tonsil stones because you are removing two of the factors that help to build these stones up. Most people do not have a problem with nasal irrigation, but there are some who find it uncomfortable.
One drastic, but guaranteed, way to never have to worry about tonsil stones again is to have a tonsillectomy. Since you no longer have tonsils this method is one way to make sure that you will never have to deal with the troubling stones, but as mentioned above, it is also a rather drastic method because it is a surgical procedure that requires anesthesia. Not to mention that most people are not affected by tonsil stones until they are adult and a tonsillectomy is something that is most commonly done when before adolescence. So, if you are an adult who is having problems with tonsil stones surgery is probably out of the question because of the high risk of complications that this procedure raises in adulthood.
A second surgical procedure that is used to get rid of tonsil stones is known as laser cryptolysis. This is done when your doctor burns your tonsils with a laser. This burn will cause the tonsils to build up scar tissue in the area where the stones are formed. This scarring will then close up the holes, thereby taking away the most common location that stones are found. Even though it is considered to be a much safer procedure than a complete tonsillectomy, it is still a surgical process, so you will need to make sure to discuss this thoroughly with your doctor if it is something that you are considering.
Author: CRUVINEL,Aila R.
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