Have you ever heard of tonsil stones?
According to the Mayo Clinic, tonsil stones are small, hard white or yellow formations that develop on the tonsils. While they’re typically not painful or harmful, they can often be treated with simple home remedies.
Tonsil stones form when materials and debris become trapped in the tonsillar crypts—those small pockets found in the tonsils. These oval-shaped tissues at the back of your throat play a role in fighting infections. The trapped materials can include minerals like calcium, food particles, or even bacteria and fungi.
Tonsil stones are more common than you might think, though they often go unnoticed without causing symptoms. When they do make their presence known, the signs can include bad breath, coughing, earaches, and sore throats, among other things.
In fact, around 3 million Americans experience tonsil stones each year. Fortunately, removing them is usually a simple and easy process. A variety of home methods, like gargling with salt water or using a gentle tool like a cotton swab, can help dislodge them.
Interestingly, even a strong cough can sometimes be enough to loosen the stones and bring them up.
In the video below (which has garnered plenty of views), you’ll see someone in the process of removing a tonsil stone. Fair warning—it’s pretty graphic!
