Is swallowing tonsil stones harmful?

Is swallowing tonsil stones harmful?

Tonsil stones are usually not dangerous, and don’t always need to be removed, but they can cause bad breath, the sensation of an object being stuck in the back of the throat, or difficulty swallowing. In these cases, patients may want to get rid of them.

What happens if tonsil stones get too big?

Large tonsil stones can damage and disrupt normal tonsil tissue. This can lead to significant swelling, inflammation, and infection. Tonsil stones linked to tonsil infections may also require surgery.

Can you choke on tonsil stones?

Trying to dislodge a tonsil stone in a child can cause choking. A person may require antibiotics and rest to treat an active infection.

Can a tonsil stone get stuck in your throat?

When the white blood cells are done, they leave small calcifications behind. Usually, these small stones are swallowed but sometimes they get stuck in the tonsillar crypts and continue to grow into tonsil stones.

What causes large tonsil stones?

Your tonsils are made up of crevices, tunnels, and pits called tonsil crypts. Different types of debris, such as dead cells, mucus, saliva, and food, can get trapped in these pockets and build up. Bacteria and fungi feed on this buildup and cause a distinct odor. Over time, the debris hardens into a tonsil stone.

How big can tonsil stones get?

Tonsil stones aren’t always easy to see and they can range from rice-sized to the size of a large grape. Tonsil stones rarely cause larger health complications. However, sometimes they can grow into larger formations that can cause your tonsils to swell, and they often have an unpleasant odor.

Can tonsil stones cause enlarged tonsils?

Large tonsil stones can cause swollen tonsils and give you trouble swallowing. Tonsil stones can also sometimes trigger infections.

How do you get deep tonsil stones out?

When stones form, you can remove them either by gently pressing them out with a cotton swab or the back of your tooth brush, or by washing them out with a low-pressure water irrigator. You can use this device to aim a gentle stream of water at the tonsil craters and rinse out debris that may be caught in them.