Tonsil Stones - Simple Treatment Eliminates Tonsil Stones Without A Tonsillectomy

Tonsil stones (also known as tonsilloliths) plague roughly 85 million residents of the United States to varying degrees. In this ailment, microbes, post nasal drip, food particles and other debris accumulate in small crevasses in the tonsils called tonsil crypts, where the generally tiny white or yellow-white stones cause notoriously foul breath. Consequently, many commentators have called the smell of tonsil stones the "death aroma".

Besides halitosis, tonsil stones frequently cause the extremely annoying sensation of a foreign object being lodged in the back of the oral cavity. Many who suffer from tonsil stones are so bothered by these unwanted indications that they consider the extreme move of allowing their tonsils to be removed in an operation known as a tonsillectomy.

Once widespread, especially in children in the twenty year period between 1950 and 1970, tonsillectomies in this country have fallen to approximately 600,000 annually, down from several million each year in the operation's heyday. As tonsillectomies have gone down, the number of people who suffer from tonsil stones has risen.

Even though a tonsillectomy may relieve the symptoms of tonsil stones, the operation is almost universally regarded as an unnecessary and drastic response to the problem of tonsil stones. This is especially the case for adults, who are much more likely to suffer serious side effects from a tonsillectomy.

Happily, surgery is seldom necessary and treating tonsil stones without removing the tonsils is generally uncomplicated. Those who have tonsil stones can usually practice self-removal by coughing, massaging the throat, or with the assistance of a Q-Tip or oral irrigator like a Waterpik. Occasionally, however, those with a strong gag reflex may find it necessary to visit a dentist.

Even when they have been removed, tonsil stones can and do return. A handful of e-books now being sold on the Internet recommend different natural treatment methods for preventing the return of tonsil stones. Modifications to the diet, particularly those that focus on high fiber foods and eliminating the intake of dairy products, may also alleviate symptoms.

If natural treatment methods don't provide the relief you're looking for, try an oxygen-rich rinse and nasal sinus drops. These will stop the buildup of germs and mucous in the tonsils and help stop the recurrence of tonsil stones.

Looking for a trustworthy source of information about treating tonsil stones? Visit BreathAuthority.com today and download your complimentary copy of the "Bad Breath Bible"!

Why Do Tonsil Stones Smell?

Tonsil stones smell, something you've almost certainly noticed if you've ever coughed up a stone or accidentally bit down on one. But why do they smell?

According to Dr. Harold Katz, founder of the California Breath Clinics and an expert on bad breath, tonsil stones smell because of anaerobic bacteria that thrive in oxygen-poor environments.

Together with food particles and mucous from post-nasal drip, these bacteria collect in pockets in the tonsils called tonsil crypts. The putrefying odor comes from volatile sulfur compounds produced by the bacteria.

Bad breath produced by tonsil stones is some of the the toughest bad breath, says Katz, who recommends nasal sinus drops and oxygenating sprays and rinses as a way of combating the problem. The sprays and rinses kill the anaerobic bacteria, while the sinus drops eliminate the mucous that is a key component in the formation of tonsil stones.