Wow…first post as one of Cece’s loyal Teeming Millions.
quiver
Anyway…may sound a little odd. A few weeks ago, my boyfriend mentioned what a bad night’s sleep that he had had, and that in the morning, he had coughed up what appeared to be “little white chunks of brain”.
I was astonished (ugh?) to realize that I knew just what he was talking about, since I have experienced this unpleasantness firsthand.
Just what ARE these small, smelly, white, raisin-textured lumps of goo that lodge themselves in the back of one’s throat? (My fellow seems to experience them only in the morning on occasion)
Gawd…someone please tell me we aren’t the only ones…
Them smelly white things. I’ve had them before a few times. I don’t know for sure what they are, but I suspect they are some sort of tonsil smegma.
Your mouth and throat and your whole GI tract surface is composed of epithelial cells which slough off quickly and are replaced just as fast. So maybe some of the regular sloughing cells just get caught next to your tonsils for a while and harden a bit before you hack them up.
You want a real kick? Try cracking one open and taking a whiff.
As I understand it, they are called tonsiloliths, or tonsil nuggets. Truly, truly disgusting.
I believe they are a combination of undigested food and dead white blood cells. And once they’ve been percolating in your tonsil folds for a week or two, you can imagine the effect it has on your breath.
Probably dried phlegm from snoring. Terrible night’s sleep means he was in a bad position and snoring up a storm something fierce. Bet you weren’t with him that night?
Take your pick of the links here for more information about these horrible things.
I can smell “tonsils” on my kids from at least 10 feet away, and apparently there’s a scientific explanation for that too (I’ll see if I can hunt up the thread).
I’m suddenly very happy I don’t have my tonsils. And perhaps lack of tonsils should be more important in choosing my next girlfriend than smoking. :eek:
"Tonsils and Tonsiloliths: (Those white-yellow globs that
get stuck in your throat).
These bacteria can breed very easily in the back of the throat, and especially the tonsils (if you have them.) One important fact to remember: The bacteria never start off in the throat or tonsils. They only get there because the “bugs” originate on the back of the tongue – which contacts the throat & tonsils EVERY TIME you swallow. When someone has post nasal drip or allergies, it is possible to form little “white globs” – scientifically known as Tonsiloliths. They are a combination of sulfur compounds (produced by the bacteria) and mucous (from post nasal drip). Their smell (if you’ve checked them out) is very STRONG! Do not attempt to pick them out yourself – you’ll cause a lot of bleeding. Many dentists and physicians don’t know what they are – they are not food particles and it is not the sign of infection. Do not run out and have a tonsillectomy – because you will still have bad breath – because the bugs are still on the back of your tongue. (If you no longer have your tonsils, a similar reaction takes place if you have had a history of sore throats – your throat is much rougher)."
You guys are amazing! I’ve puzzled over this for years, and get the answer in under 10 hours, thanks to Straight Dope.
I guess I knew all along that Cecil and the Teeming Millions were the answer to all of life’s questions…this just proves it. (was first exposed to your knowledge at a very tender age by finding Dad’s “Book of Straight Dope”. His choice in reading material probobly explains a lot about me now.)
*note: it’s a rarity that I have bad breath, even in the morning, but I expunge these ‘tonsoliths’ with a vengance. DAMN YOU, cryptic tonsils…
I should bring it to my bo’s attention.
Thanks to everyone again. I’m just tingling with excitement. ~*~
I had those BAD! I once pulled out over 50 of them with a chopstick one night. Nasty, nasty, nasty things! I was always chewing gum to mask my breath (but gum causes gas, so I still stank to high heaven).
I had my tonsils out at 21, and have not had one since (10 years). So, yeah, they breed in the tonsils.
I still have my tonsils and I don’t ever remember having anything like what has been described? What’s the deal with that? Do I have them and just not notice, or what? Is it possible to not have them at all or are you destined to get them at some point? Do you usually get them if you’ve been sick?
“If you are having ear pain, this could be due to your tonsil stones… this is known as “referred pain”, in which pain in one area of the body is actually felt elsewhere. (Very relevant example: many tonsillectomy patients have only a mild sore throat, but complain bitterly about ear pain.)”
