Is Your Bad Breath Caused by Tonsil Stones? Understanding the Connection

Confidence-crushing bad breath
Tonsil stones could be the culprit!

Even with meticulous brushing, some people may struggle with bad breath. While there are various causes of bad breath, about 90% originate from the tongue. However, if you still have bad breath despite thoroughly brushing your tongue, you might want to consider tonsil stones as a possibility.

Tonsil stones refer to a condition where stone-like formations develop in the tonsils, and they are often the main culprit behind bad breath, causing distress for many people.. Let’s learn more about tonsil stones, the primary cause of bad breath.

What are tonsil stones?

Roughness can develop on the smooth tonsillar surface, and in severe cases, food particles and bacteria can become lodged within these crevices. These particles can form stones that are soft enough to be broken by hand and have a foul odor. Sometimes, these stones can be seen with the naked eye in the mouth.

In other words, tonsil stones are rotten food particles stuck in your mouth, allowing bacteria to increase and become the leading cause of bad breath. As they stay lodged in the tonsils while you eat and bacteria continue to multiply, it can lead to persistent bad breath. The bad breath caused by tonsil stones is about 10 times worse than that of an average person.

What are the symptoms of tonsil stones?

Tonsil stones are about the size of a fingernail. Because of this size, they can cause a foreign body sensation in the throat. It can also feel like a lump in your throat, and if the stone grows larger, it can press on nerves and cause pain. As the condition worsens, throat pain can extend to the ear, but typically, it is discovered while investigating the cause of bad breath.

Additionally, pressure on the throat from sneezing, coughing, or brushing teeth can cause a yellowish tonsil stone to come out. People with larger tonsils or chronic tonsillitis have a higher chance of developing tonsil stones due to the increased likelihood of crevices forming.

How do you manage tonsil stones?

Although tonsil stones are a cause of bad breath, and you may want to remove them quickly, you should not forcibly remove these stones. Even in hospitals, they only remove stones that are slightly protruding because forcible removal can enlarge the crevices and cause inflammation, leading to more discomfort. Therefore, you should not forcibly remove them using tonsil stone removal tools available in the market, as stones can re-form in empty crevices even after removal.

How to prevent tonsil stones?

Using humidifiers to avoid dry environments and drinking plenty of water can be beneficial. Also, gargling can prevent the growth of tonsil stones. When gargling, tilt your neck so the gargle can reach the tonsils and create a bubbly foam for optimal effect. However, excessive gargling can dry out the mouth and have a counterproductive effect, so it is recommended to do it once a day.