Can I take my tonsil stones out myself?
The short answer is yes; you can remove them yourself. However, if you’re going to use this method, you will always want to keep in mind that your tonsils should be treated with care and gentleness to avoid damaging them.
How to make tonsil stones fall out can be a tricky business because they can be hidden, but tonsil stones at home removal can be simple. The best part about removing tonsil stones at home is controlling the treatment and frequency.
What Are Tonsil Stones
Tonsil stones are known to have different shades of color, but most people report them to be white, gray, orange, or light green-colored and are a pebbly substance in your tonsils. They’re about the same size as a grain of sand, but their texture isn’t smooth. They can look like small white-colored pebbles or grains of sand, and they can also be soft and feel like grains of sand.
Common Causes of Tonsil Stones
A variety of factors commonly causes them and can be traced back to tonsillitis, chronic inflammation of the tonsils. When the tonsils have become chronically inflamed, they begin to build up and harden, and the body produces a type of hardened substance that is referred to as a tonsil stone. This substance is made up of calcium and other minerals.
They can also be caused by problems with the body’s ability to absorb calcium. Some people are more likely than others to develop tonsil stones, and other factors include being older than age eight and having a history of allergies. In some instances, people have also been known to have them in the absence of tonsillitis.
Are they causing your bad breath?
If you have tonsil stones, you might be experiencing bad breath because the stones block the odor-producing glands in your tonsils. The smell is your body’s way of letting you know something is wrong.
Can they cause more severe problems?
However, if you do have tonsil stones, they could be causing some other problems. If the stones become ulcerated, they can cause your tonsils to swell and irritate the surrounding tissue, leading to a bacterial infection.
Tonsil stones can also cause your tonsils to become infected with strep or another bacterial infection. If these infections spread to your lymph nodes (small swollen glands) or your blood, it could lead to sepsis.
What are the symptoms of tonsil stones?
Tonsil stones can lead to an irritable cough, earache, sore throat, or a bad taste in the mouth. Tonsil stone symptoms are often not noticed until they become a problem, and children are more likely to see a lump in their tonsils.
In general, these are the typical symptoms you will see with tonsil stones:
- Bad breath or halitosis
- Visible white debris, on the tonsil’s
- Swollen tonsils
- Sore throat
- Difficulty swallowing (if you have a large stone)
- Pain when touching the outside of the throat
How long do tonsil stones last?
If they result from an infection or inflammation, they will usually disappear once the debris is removed. For example, tonsil stones will usually disappear in a few days after the infection is cured if someone gets strep throat. The same thing goes for tonsil stones that are caused by chronic tonsillitis.
Tonsil Stones at Home Removal Options
There are a few different ways to remove tonsil stones at home. You can use a special tool called a tonsil stone remover, which is inserted into the back of your throat and used to break up the stones. You can also use a liquid diet and drink lots of fluids to soften the stones and then remove them with a spoon or doctor’s help. If you do not want to visit the doctor, you can try using over-the-counter products or drinking water mixed with baking soda.
Here are some removal tips:
Use a cotton swab
One way to remove tonsil stones is to use a cotton swab dipped in warm salt water to gently dislodge them. This is an excellent way to move or loosen them, but you need not press too hard on your tonsils.
If the stone doesn’t move quickly and you press down too hard, you can damage your tonsils and increase your chance of infection. Never press too hard or in a painful way.
How to remove a tonsil stone with a Q-tip
Dip one end of the q-tip in warm water and gently press on the substance of the stone. You can move the q-tip gently to remove any debris that has fallen away. Rinse and gargle with water.
Use a toothbrush to remove debris
A bent nose or angled toothbrush is an excellent way to gently brush the surface of the tonsils, as this method may help to loosen it up and fall out. You can also use a regular straight toothbrush to try and dislodge it if you don’t have this type of toothbrush, and the key is to use gentle pressure.
While a regular toothbrush may work, you will have better success with an automatic toothbrush. If you do have an electric toothbrush dip it in water, turn it on, and gently rub the bristles over your tonsil area. At first, this might be difficult as it will either tickle or cause slight pain if your tonsils are swollen. However, if you are using a manual toothbrush, you might want to dip it in saltwater first. This will help soften the debris that is stuck on the bristles.
Use a dental pick to remove tonsil stones
If you have a dental pick, this can also be used to gently press on the stones to see if they will dislodge. Make sure the dental pick does not have sharp edges if you use this method. This will require some patience and finesse, but it should work if done correctly. If that doesn’t work, you may need to see a doctor.
Use a water pick
This method works with great success! With a water pick, you will need to ensure that the water pressure is at its lowest setting and with a nozzle with the largest opening. When I first tried this method, I used a nozzle with the tiniest opening, and the water pressure was so high that it tore my tonsils. This method works but requires low-pressure water.
Another term for a water pick is a low-pressure irrigator or a water flosser. Physically rinsing the back of your mouth with a light, gentle water pressure may be enough to lift a tonsillolith from a tonsillar crypt.
What is great about this method with tonsil stone removal is that it can find hidden tonsil stones.
Gargle with warm saltwater
If you have tonsil stones, gargling with warm water and salt will soften the debris and help them to come out naturally. While this method takes several tries, it has proven to be an effective method. This is a simple solution that will not hurt you in any way. However, you will have to be persistent about it because it takes a lot of time and effort for them to fall out eventually.
Gargle with a cold drink
If the above methods don’t work for you, you can try gargling with a cold drink. Sometimes, the water temperature when it is cold will cause the tonsils to shrink, leading to the stones breaking apart. While this method is the least effective, it has been proven to work from time to time.
Use apple cider vinegar
Dilute with warm water and apply it to the tonsils. This is another safe way to get rid of tonsil stones. Vinegar is a popular folk remedy that has been around for a long time, and there’s some scientific evidence that it can help.
How to prevent tonsil stones
It’s important to note that they are not contagious and unrelated to your body’s immune system, so you cannot get them from someone else.
Good oral hygiene
One of the best ways is to keep your mouth clean. Greate oral health means brushing your teeth at least twice per day.
Use mouthwash
Using a mouth rinse can also help keep your entire mouth clean after meals or throughout the day. Some mouthwashes can be strong, and if you are the type who cant gargle with mouthwash, then dilute it with 50% water.
When to See a Doctor
If your tonsils are large, swollen, infected, or you have difficulty breathing, you will want to see an ear, nose, and throat doctor to get suitable recommendations to treat the issue. If you’re at this stage, home remedies may not be proper for you.
Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy Surgery
In some cases, your doctor may recommend surgery. Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy operation is a surgery that removes the tonsils and adenoids to treat an excessive amount of tonsillar tissue. Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy can be done as an elective or urgent operation, or an emergency.
Dentists can remove them
If you are visiting your dentist, you can ask them to gently press their finger against the back of your throat to help dislodge the stones, or they can use a water pick to dislodge them gently. The great thing about a dentist is that they have a suction device that removes both water and debris from your mouth simultaneously.
Antibiotics
Use any antibiotics you’d typically take for a dental infection prescribed to treat tonsil stones. These include metronidazole (Flagyl), bacitracin (Zyrtec, Z-Pak), ciprofloxacin (Cipro), and erythromycin (Erythrocin), or amoxicillin (Amoxil). Before taking any anti-biotics, consult with your doctor.
Why home remedies really do work
When it comes to removing these nasty little things that are in the back of your mouth, home remedies can usually work just as well as doctor-prescribed treatments. Granted, some of these remedies may not be ideal for everyone, but they are generally safe and effective. If you are looking for an easy way to get rid of them without having to go to the doctor or spend a lot of money, then using a few home remedies is your best bet.