What is Tonsil Stones

  Your tonsils are glandular structures located at the back of the throat. They are made of tissues that consist of lymphocytes, or the cells in the body that help in fighting and preventing infections. Tonsils serve as a net and trap the bacteria to prevent it from entering the body, as well as viruses that pass through the throat. Most medical practitioners agree that tonsils are not good in performing their job. In some cases, it is more of a hindrance than an aid in the protection of the body. People who have their tonsils removed are no more vulnerable to viral or bacterial infections compared to those with intact tonsils. So, what is tonsil stones then? Everyone's tonsils are filled with crannies and nooks where bacteria and some other materials including mucous and dead cells are trapped. The debris are concentrated within a white formation that grows in the tonsil pockets. Commonly called tonsil stones and medically termed as tonsilloliths, this condition happens when there are trapped materials in the tonsil that calcifies or hardens.
 
   Mostly, this condition happens to people with chronic inflammation of the tonsils or to those who have recurring instances of tonsillitis. Most people may develop small tonsil stones. There are rare cases of having them grow significantly larger which can result in immense discomfort. What Are The Symptoms? Usually, people will hardly notice any symptoms of small tonsil stones and sometimes even if they grow large, they are only discovered through incidental CT Scans or X-Ray. Although, larger tonsil stones have several symptoms. Common symptoms of tonsil stones include the following: Chronic Bad Breath One of the top indicators that you are suffering from tonsil stones is an extreme halitosis or bad breath that comes along with tonsil infection. In a study of patients who have chronic tonsillitis, researchers perform tests to learn if the volatile sulfur compounds are present in the patients' breath. The existence of the foul-smelling compound will validate the cause of the bad breath. As a result, 75% of the patients with an abnormal concentration of the compound also develop tonsil stones.