Tonsil stones are white or yellowish deposits in tonsil crypts. They can cause an unpleasant odour, a foreign-body sensation and an unpleasant taste.
What should you not do?
- do not squeeze them with a sharp tool,
- do not manipulate a bleeding tonsil,
- do not use irritating rinses,
- do not assume every white spot is a stone.
When should you see an ENT specialist?
Seek advice for frequent recurrences, pain, fever, one-sided enlargement or difficulty swallowing. A clinician can distinguish stones from infection and other changes.
Tongue cleaning and complete hygiene may reduce other sources of odour, but oil pulling does not remove a deeply embedded stone.
FAQ
Do the stones come from teeth?
No. They form in the crypts of the tonsils.
Will mouthwash dissolve them?
There is no guarantee; a persistent problem requires assessment.
