How to get rid of tonsil stones
What are Tonsil Stones?
Tonsil stones refer to clusters of materials that form in tonsils crevices. They mostly occur in the palatine tonsils, but they may also appear in the lingual tonsils. Tonsils stones are mostly composed of calcium, but they also have other minerals such as magnesium, phosphorous, carbonate and ammonia. They may feel like objects that have been lodged in the crypt and cause a lot of nuisance (By TonsilStonesAdvisor Help Guide). Despite that they may be rare, some areas concentrations or calcification are common among many people.
How they are formed
Tonsil stones are filled with crannies and nooks where dead cells, mucous and bacteria get trapped. When this trapping occurs, the debris gets concentrated in white formations that occur in those pockets. They are formed when the debris that is already trapped when the debris calcifies and hardens. This occurs among people with chronic inflammation in the tonsils or frequent bouts of tonsillitis. They are usually less than two millimeters in thickness, but can cause sore throat, swallowing difficulties, and it may also cause ear pain.
How to get rid of the Tonsil stones
Home treatment
Home treatments act the most efficient, affordable and quick ways to get rid of the tonsil stones. You can dislodge the deposits by using a toothbrush, clean finger, toothpick or an ear bud. However, you should avoid poking the stones in an aggressive manner to avoid bleeding or even cause more damage to the tonsil. There are also droppers that are also effective in sucking out the tonsil stones from the crevasse. The above methods work effectively if you do not have the sensitive gag reflexes.
Pressured dental irrigation
This method also referred as water piking or just gargling using saturated salt water is also effective on getting rid of the stones. The mechanical movement of the salty water helps in dislodging the nasty deposits. However, it is good to put into mind that these methods offer temporary reprieve for a long term treatment. You may also be advised to take antibiotics to clear the infection that is inside your tonsils.
Medical treatments
Medical treatments for tonsil stones are more effective because they help cure the root cause of this problem. This is the only way that you can be assured that you will get rid of them completely. The tonsils are removed in a surgical process known as tonsillectomy. However, despite the effectiveness, this procedure is painful and may not be appropriate for older patients. It is also good to note that this procedure do not help in treating bad breath. The bacteria leading to halitosis must be treated because the stones may lead to the problem.
You can also get rid of the tonsil stones by adding more water to your diet and avoid soda and other alcoholic beverages. This helps in making the stones to disappear. In addition, you should also limit the dairy products that you take because most of them have high calcium content. Remember that the tonsil stones are calcium deposits, so you do not have to add more.
