What are those white things in my tonsils?I appologize to anyone I may gross out with this question.
Sometimes I have these whitish "balls" in my left tonsil. It has a hole in it, and I have to gently press on it with a q-tip to get them. Usually it's just one. Whatever they are, they are small and smell of sulphur. (Eww) I can tell when I have one because it makes my mouth taste bad. I've had them for about a year or so. My throat doesn't hurt and I haven't been sick. I get maybe 1 or 2 a month.
What in the world are they?
latterdaylady
It might be food stuck and because of the bacteria it makes it smell like that. Sometimes people have tonsils that are larger than most, and not because they're sick, it's just the way they are. My husband had such big tonsils naturally that he could close off his throat! But because they were big, he often had bad breath. So he had them removed and never had to worry about the problem of food getting caught in them and having to use a q-tip to get it out, same as you. And his bad breath went away! Go to the Dr and see if that would help you too and see what he thinks. Good luck!
hoonette
Sounds like a really really mild case of tonsilitis. Next time there's one there, go see your GP and explain the situation to him/her. I'd definately say its an infection of some kind.
sparticle
They are tonsilloliths, also called tonsil stones or tonsil calculi.
See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonsilloliths
Nasty, aren't they? I get 'em too. Lots of folks do. Harmless but not too pleasant.
Teresa A
I had that once and was really worried about it. Go to your GP and they will give you an antibiotic. He said it was a bacterial infection and nothing to worry about. That should clear it up.
mushill222
this is kinda gross, but its food that just gets stuck in the holes in your tonsils. I have gotten them too. I don't think they will do anything bad, just be aware and clean them out to keep your breath smelling fresh
weirdo_n
These things are called tonsilloliths ("tonsil stones.") You have described them perfectly. They are typically white, or whitish-yellow, irregularly-shaped, foul-smelling, and usually smaller than a pea. The tissue lining the tonsils (oral mucosa) is fairly sensitive, so people with this problem often report that they feel an irritation in the back of their throat and are able to pick these critters out of their tonsils.
Like your skin, oral mucosa sheds continuously. The dead cells become incorporated in your saliva and then you swallow them. Yum! One more anatomical fact that you need to know: the surface of your tonsils is pockmarked with deep pits, appropriately called "crypts" (since dead stuff accumulates in these pits.) Oral mucosa lines the crypts. Under normal circumstances, as this mucosa sheds, the dead cells leave the crypts and are swallowed. In some unlucky people, the dead cells accumulate and glom together to form hard little balls. All of this dead stuff makes great food for bacteria, and of course your oral cavity is colonized by all kinds of bacteria. Consequently, the tonsilloliths are ripe with bacteria. This accounts for the smell.
The only sure-fire method for ridding yourself of this problem is to have your tonsils removed (tonsillectomy), but there are nonsurgical alternatives which you should certainly pursue before you ask an ENT to take out your tonsils:
– You could try gargling frequently with warm salt water (1 teaspoon of table salt mixed with one pint of water– gargle with about 1/4 cup of this mixture three times per day, after meals.)
– You could also gargle with a mouthwash called Alkalol, which is essentially salt water combined with a variety of natural aromatic extracts; some people prefer Alkalol to plain salt water. Most other commercial mouthwashes contain sugar or alcohol, which are pleasant-tasting but are, in the long run, fairly irritating if used frequently.
– There is a doctor in Los Angeles, Murray Grossan, who markets a water-jet device for "hosing down" the tonsils. Relative to gargling, this device provides a more aggressive technique for clearing out those nasty crypts.
– In the hopes of avoiding tonsillectomy, I will often put my patient on a long (3 to 4 week) course of antibiotics in the hope that this will allow the tonsils to "settle down" (become less inflamed.) I must admit that antibiotics are not a very effective cure for this problem.
If I had this problem, I would try all of these things before resorting to a tonsillectomy. You should also discuss your problem with an ENT, since he/she may have other suggestions to help eradicate these nasty critters, and could also give you information on what to expect from a tonsillectomy.
Carol H
The white things means you have a tonsil infection. I use to get them before I had my tonsils out at 33 yrs old. Wash your mouth out with salt and water and gargle with it too. Go see a doctor as soon as possible.
lnay69
you need to see a doctor and i wouldn't pop them any more. you either have tonsillitis or strep throat. strep usually the throat is red some white,headache,stomach ache,nausea and sometimes all over body pain and a fever. but kinda leaning towards the tonsillitis you may need them removed. good luck.
LS158
I only see them on my children's tonsils when they are sick. But I was told by the Pediatrician that it was the tonsils responded to my son being sick.
Good Luck and Have a nice Day...
venom_n_lace
They are called Tonsillotliths!
They are a build up of shedded mucosa tissue that RARELY builds up in the crypts of the surface of the tonsils in some people. These little white balls are also known as "tonsil stones". Think of them as kind of a sort of throat plaque.
Most people who get them, are also more prone to getting more serious throat infections...but, you don't have to be sick to get them. A lot of people who have to deal with this condition usually end up getting their tonsils removed...just because of the increase in ear, nose and throat infections.
You might want to try gargeling as often as possible with warm salt water to help rid the shedded tissue off the surface of your tonsils.
There is also a mouthwash made just for this condition called ALKALOL. You can get a 16oz bottle of the stuff right online for under $ 6.
To order this online- see:
www.anyotc.com
What do you think? Answer below! Tonsillitis explained | Better Health Channel
Links to information about tonsillitis , including tonsillectomy.
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