Wow. Learn something new every day. Never heard of tonsil stones until today! Are they a hereditary tendency, maybe? Really don’t want to google…
I never had any problems with them until my late twenties or early thirties. I asked my dentist and he told me what they were, and said some people could do a trick in the chair of popping them out. I have no hope of doing that because of the aforementioned problems.
I don’t think there’s any cure short of removing the crypts; i.e., removing the tonsils.
They do eventually work their way out on their own - when they get big enough.
And you can avoid the smell if you just don’t break it up. If you can get it out of the crypt whole, it doesn’t smell nearly as bad. If it breaks…all bets are off.
I can say this without a bit of hesitation. YOU NEVER want to experience what I’m experiencing now. I been up all night researching how to get this little bastard out my mouth. I JUST CAN’T. It’s literally lodged in my upper throat and is extremely frustrating. I wish I could just cut my neck off and get it out then put my neck back on my shoulders. I have 1 on each side and can’t get to them because a genius from above came up with the “Gag Reflex” idea. Gun Cock (SHOOT!)…
How did he type “shoot” after he shot himself?
I had to chime in since I get tonsil stones ALL the time. They’re really annoying, it feels like when you’re eating popcorn and a kernel shell gets suctioned onto the back of your tongue and you can feel it when you swallow…
Anyway, I have a super sensitive gag reflex, I can’t stick anything back there like a toothbrush or a q-tip. The best way I’ve always found to get a stone out is to go to my kitchen sink, turn the water on full blast, and I use the sink hose as a sort of water pik. I shoot it straight into the back of my mouth, with my tongue blocking my throat the way it would at the dentist. It works like a charm every time, the blast of water from the kitchen hose knocks it right out.
I just will say, I’ve learned to disinfect the kitchen hose before doing this–I’ve done it MANY times–but one time I gave myself an infection of tonsillitis after doing it. So now I always disinfect the nozzle of the hose before doing this.
I was wondering when I saw this thread again! Thanks for the update. How the hell do you get your head under the sink in the right angle? You mean the sprayer? You shoot the sprayer down your throat?
This is getting more and more indiscreet.
I have the opportunity to get mine out. Repeated tonsilitis, and gross stones. Should I do it? The ENT said she would OK the procedure for me, but warned that in adults, the pain afterwards is awful.
I’m a trial attorney so I have to talk for a living. I would obviously have to take atleast a week off for recovery, yes?
These work wonders. Really, any pointed tip tweezers. I’ve had tonsil stones since my early twenties. My dr said whenever I’m ready to have my tonsils out, just let him know.
Looks like a recipe for bleeding tonsils. You don’t bleed when you use something that pointy? I sure do!
I think I posted earlier in this thread, but I find that a plastic syringe works well. Squirt water at the stone and it will often come right out. You can often get them free from pharmacies if you ask.
Yeah I took one look at those and thought “no way I’m sticking that down my throat.” One twitch and suddenly I have open wounds in my mouth. Bleh.
Recovery was seriously very much not fun; I would counsel at least two weeks before any trial dates. I would say only 1-2 days before you could be doing research and prep from home. For me, I needed to keep my mind busy, but was weak because I couldn’t eat properly.
But keep in mind that this is planned time off. Each one of those stones is pus from an infection. It’s only a matter of time before you get a really agressive bacteria in there and one goes septic. Do you really want that to happen the day before you are scheduled to be in court?
Can you provide a cite for these claims? This goes against my understanding of the composition and prognosis of tonsilloliths.
Ok, so those are a little pointy. I just did a basic search for “pointed tip tweezers” and posted a link. Mine are significantly rounded on the ends. They work great for grasping and extracting. Just make sure you disinfect before and after using!
Not really
“…are clusters of calcified material that form in the crevices of the tonsils…They are composed mostly of calcium, but may contain other minerals such as phosphorus and magnesium, as well as ammonia and carbonate.”
Very true… and I am out atleast four times a year with some form of tonsilitis or other. The stones are mostly just nasty and suck. I thought the recovery from getting my wisdom teeth out was a breeze, and needed no pain killers. Maybe I will go ahead and schedule it.
From your cite:
This is in agreement with what my internist and surgeon each explained to me when I had my tonsils removed.
:eek: Now that’s a tonsil stone. My tonsils produce mere pebbles compared to that.
Note that the presence of bacteria doesn’t equal an infection. Many parts of our body, including the mouth naturally have non pathogenic bacteria that do no harm to the tissue they’re found on.
Interesting…I am 31 and only started getting them a few years back. It seems seasonal, but I can’t really place a specific time on it. It only happens on the left side of my throat. And oh, by the way, did I mention I got my tonsils out when I was like 7 years old!!!
This is the first I have heard of them. I had a stone under my tongue once.
Use a little gauze to hold the tongue out of the way. It’s less slippery.