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Tonsilloliths, commonly known as “tonsil stones”, are accumulations of bacteria, debris, mucus, and food particles that become trapped within the tonsil crypts where they harden or calcify. Tonsil stones, although harmless to human health, can sometimes be difficult to cure. Here’s how to treat tonsil stones effectively:
How To Treat Tonsil Stones
The way to get rid of tonsil stones is by preventing them in the first place.
If you know what’s causing your tonsil stones, you’re in luck! All you have to do is avoid whatever is causing them. That may mean cutting out a certain food or drink from your diet, quitting smoking, taking allergy medicine to prevent allergies or whatever else you think would work best.
But most of us aren’t that lucky.
If you have absolutely no idea what’s causing your tonsil stones, the best answer I can give you is to keep your tonsils as clean as possible.
Why? Because if your tonsils are clean, the tonsil stone-causing bacteria can’t accumulate meaning the tonsil stones can’t form!
Keep reading for all the details on treating tonsil stones whether you know what’s causing them or not.
Tonsil Stones Treatment
If You Know What’s Causing Them…
You have to avoid/eliminate/fix the causing factor. Here’s a list of some of the most common causes of tonsil stones:
- Dairy Products
- Sugar and/or Processed Foods
- Coffee
- Allergies
- Cold/Flu/Other Illness
- Excess Mucus/Post-Nasal Drip
- Dehydration
- Smoking
- Alcohol
- Inadequate Oral Hygiene
If you believe one of the above factors is causing your tonsil stones; take the necessary steps to avoid, eliminate or fix the problem. For example:
Do you consume a lot of dairy products and think it’s causing your tonsil stones? Cut out dairy products and replace them with non-dairy options.
Do you seem to get tonsil stones during allergy season? Take the necessary steps to avoid experiencing allergy symptoms such as talking to your doctor about allergy medication.
Do you smoke often and think your tonsil stones are caused by smoking? Try cutting back, searching for alternatives or quitting altogether.
Are you neglecting your oral hygiene routine? Get into a more consistent routine or try new products such an oxygenating oral rinse.
So on and so forth.
Treating tonsil stones like this takes a bit of time, so be sure to give it a couple of weeks before deciding if what you’re doing is working or not. Example: If you think your tonsil stones are caused by consuming dairy, cut out dairy for at least 2 weeks and take note of whether or not your tonsil stones are going away.
If You Don’t Know What’s Causing Them…
This is where most tonsil-stone sufferers land, which is understandable since there are so many possible tonsil stone-causes.
Here are the most effective ways to treat tonsil stones if you don’t know what’s causing them:
Keep Your Tonsils Clean (BEST WAY)
Click HERE to see the Waterpik Water Flosser on Amazon
Keeping the tonsils clean is my top recommended way for treating tonsil stones. The tonsils can be kept clean by irrigating them with a device called a water flosser (shown above).
A water flosser shoots out a stream of water that is meant to be used to floss between the teeth. The stream of water can also be used to gently irrigate the tonsils and wash away bacteria.
How To Use A Water Flosser To Treat Tonsil Stones:
- Shine a light into your mouth and look into a mirror to locate your tonsils/tonsil stones
- Point the tip of the water flosser as close to your tonsil/tonsil stones as you can
- Lean over the sink to avoid mess
- Turn on the water flosser and allow the water to flow out on a gentle setting
- Irrigate the tonsils
- Repeat daily, weekly or as needed to wash away bacteria and prevent tonsil stones from forming
This is a well-loved treatment among tonsil stone sufferers (myself included!). I’ve written about this treatment in more detail on my website: Click here to learn more + to see a smaller, travel-friendly water flosser.
Use An Oxygenating Oral Rinse
Click HERE to see TheraBreath Fresh Breath Oral Rinse on Amazon
Tonsil stones thrive and grow in dry spaces. Because of this, an oxygenating oral rinse may be used to treat tonsil stones. Oxygenating oral rinses use oxygenating compounds to target bad breath and tonsil stone-causing bacteria. In some cases, using an oxygenating oral rinse on a daily basis can cure tonsil stones!
Gargle Salt Water
Gargling a salt water solution is a great option if you’re looking for a natural tonsil stones treatment. Gargling salt water will help loosen and dislodge stuck tonsil stones. It will also help clear away tonsil stone bacteria.
How To Use Salt Water To Get Rid Of Tonsil Stones:
- Pour 8 ounces of warm water into a glass
- Mix in 1 teaspoon of salt
- Gargle the solution vigorously until you finish the solution
- Repeat as often as needed
Use A Tonsil Stone Removal Kit
Click HERE to see TheraBreath Tonsil Stones Deluxe Kit on Amazon
The Tonsil Stones Deluxe Kit by Therabreath comes with products specifically meant for treating tonsil stones! The kit comes with 6 different products, 12 in total: Specially formulated oral rinse, toothpaste, serum, throat spray, nasal-sinus drops and dry mouth lozenges.
I’ve personally used this kit before and had great results. I still buy some of the products that come in the kit separately, but I prefer using the water flosser method (mentioned above) to treat tonsil stones.
Check out what reviewers on Amazon have to say about this kit by clicking here.
Final Thoughts
Treating tonsil stones may seem difficult, but there are a lot of options to choose from. Whether you know what’s causing your tonsils stones or not, irrigating the tonsils with a water flosser is a very effective way to remove and prevent the stones from forming. If you know what’s causing your tonsil stones, avoiding or fixing the causing factor should get rid of them quickly.