Tonsil Stones FAQ 2

Following the positive feedback received after publishing the previous FAQ section that was put together to provide quick fire answers to questions I’ve been sent I wanted to add part two (and part three will be coming soon) answering more of your questions, there are more detailed blog posts earlier in the blog but my current focus is on answering the 30ish question that keep appearing in my inbox:

How To Prevent Tonsil Stones Naturally

The key part of this question, as this entire blog is basically about treating/preventing/getting rid of tonsil stones is the word “naturally”. More and more people are looking for natural cures and treatments for any ailment that they suffer and there is an increasing distrust of traditional medicine. Fortunately almost everything discussed on this blog regarding tonsil stone remove is a natural treatment, by the very nature, the process of dislodging is completely natural and the “unnatural” options, which basically include anything you cannot do yourself at home are actually the extreme treatments in this case.

For more details on how to prevent tonsil stones naturally take a look anywhere on this blog, you will find natural treatments and cures on almost every page.

How Long Does It Take For Tonsil Stones To Form

As we have established elsewhere in the blog tonsil stones are a very under researched condition and because of this there is not always a credible medical source that I can point to when I make statements, however, I do have considerable experience and that is what we will fall back on here.

The speed tonsil stones form varies, however, I do know that the condition of your mouth as a breeding ground for bacteria can greatly impact the speed at which they can form. I’ve noticed that under extreme conditions tonsil stones can form overnight and in this short period they can actually form to a size much larger than I would normally experience. For me, extreme conditions would be on a bachelor weekend away where a poor diet is been consumed, Im going to bed drunk and perhaps not keeping up as strict a routine as I would at home.

To help understand how quickly a tonsil stone can form consider that they are forming all the time when they conditions are right, when you ask how long it takes for tonsil stones to form what you are actually wondering is how long it takes the tonsil stone to form to a size that you identify and recognise it.

Tonsil stones are likely forming in your mouth all the time, the inside of your mouth and especially your tonsils are the perfect breeding ground for bacteria, however, the stones will start off small and grow over time. Just because they start small and need time to grow does not mean someone with tiny almost unnoticeable stones does not have tonsil stones… So the answer to this question could actually be “a few seconds”.

What Do Tonsil Stones Feel Like

This question has a few answers, in the interests of trying to get back on track with the quick fire FAQ format I’ll answer by saying:

Small stones in your throat may feel like nothing, you might not even notice that they are there.

Larger stones may also feel like nothing but you may find you have associated problems like ear ache.

Large stone could feel like you have something stuck in your throat (these are usually the easiest to remove).

Once you remove a stone from your tonsils and it is in your mouth it feels a lot like a piece of rice.

Once you spit the tonsil stone out in your fingers it will feel like a soft sticky ball, you could crush it very easily and it will turn to what feels like damp powder, however, this will emit a smell like nothing you have ever smelt before.

Can Tonsil Stones Cause Ear Pain

Yes, to all degrees from a subtle bunged up feeling to actual serious pain depending on placement and size. I used to have a lot of ear pain as a child and while the focus was always on what was inside my ear (80s medicine) as I have got older and know my body more than I did as a child I am almost certain that my childhood suffering was down to tonsil stones.

Why Do I Keep Getting Tonsil Stones

Some people are just more susceptible to them than others, the general opinion is that people with more cracks, dips and wrinkles in their tonsils are the most susceptible to tonsil stones and people who have fairly smooth tonsils are almost completely immune.

The reason you likely keep getting tonsil stones is that:

• You unfortunately are naturally susceptible to them
• You are not doing all that you can to combat them naturally

If tonsil stones have been a reoccurring issue for you then I would advise you to invest in waterpik, you can pick up a manual syringe style one for under £10/$15. Using a waterpik to gently clean the tonsils a few times a week after an initial more intense cleaning period.

Can You Have Tonsil Stones Without Tonsils

Basically, yes. A purist would argue that they are not actually tonsil stones because they do not form in the tonsils but the exact same bacteria lives in your mouth and if left uncleaned the stones can form in your mouth not just your tonsils. It is highly unlikely that you will get tonsil stones if you have had your tonsils removed because, the tonsils provide the perfect breeding conditions for the stones. To get tonsil stones after having your tonsils removed you would have to have a remarkably disgusting level of oral hygiene.

How To Get Rid Of Tonsil Stones Home Remedies

Unlike most medical conditions where standard advice would be that you must consult your doctor tonsil stones are actually something that you are better treating at home 95% of the time. I use the term “at home” loosely as many of the treatments that you have at your disposal could be done anywhere. As people become more familiar with their tonsils, oral hygiene, the back of their mouths along with what seems to increase tonsil stones growth rate (dairy products/protein etc) you can actually become skilled at removing them anywhere with a flick of the tongue or by tensing your throat. I’ve removed and spat out stones as soon as I found them while driving/walking on many occasion.

Why Do Tonsil Stones Smell

The stench of tonsil stones is so bad that just having a small stone at the back of your mouth can seriously affect the way your breath smells. The one positive with the smell of tonsil stones is that the small is so distinctive that it becomes fairly easy for someone who knows the smell to identify what is causing it.

The reason that they smell the way they do is because of how they are made and what they are made up of.

Tonsil stones are ball of bacteria that ferment in the tonsils, all the germs, dirt, bacteria and other unholy contents of your mouth and throat work in harmony to ferment into these stinking stones, need I say more?!