Tonsil Stones – Causes and Treatment
August 7, 2010
Tonsil stones, or tonsilloliths, are caused when anaerobic bacteria and other debris, including dead white blood cells and mucous from post-nasal drip, accumulate in the tonsils in tiny pockets called the tonsillar crypts, where they build tiny, calcified stone-like objects. Tonsil stones are usually off-white or cream in color and while usually small, can reach the size of a peppercorn.
While people who have tonsil stones often complain about the sensation of having a foreign body trapped in the rear of the throat, the most common complaint associated with tonsil stones is that of chronic bad breath. This bad breath is caused by volatile sulfur compounds like hydrogen sulfide and methyl mercaptan, which are produced by the anaerobic bacteria in the oral cavity. These compounds typically produce a strong odor reminiscent of rotting eggs or old, unwashed socks.
Because these anaerobic bacteria thrive in an oxygen-poor environment, targeting these anaerobic bacteria is one of the most effective treatment methods for tonsil stones and the odor they cause. The use of an oxygenating rinse or oxygenating spray usually neutralizes these anaerobic sulfur-producing bacteria on contact. Nasal sinus drops can also eliminate the mucous caused by post nasal drip, eliminating a food source for the bacteria as well as the mucous that contributes to the formation of the stones.
BreathAuthority.com recommends this Tonsil Stones Starter Kit as an effective way to combat tonsil stones and the bad breath they cause. The kit contains oxygenating tablets and an oxygenating rinse that neutralize anaerobic bacteria in the mouth and tongue, as well as a nasal sinus spray that is effective against post-nasal drip.
According to an article by Dr. Harold Katz, founder of the California Breath Clinics, clinical tests conducted at his Clinics in Los Angeles and San Francisco resulted in a significant reduction or complete elimination of tonsil stones in patients following the Starter Kit treatment regimen.
