Post # 1
Member
1835 posts
Buzzing bee
For those that don’t know what tonsilloliths or calcium deposits are they are, “clusters of calcified material that forms in the crevasses of the tonsils.” <– Straight from wikipedia.
I started getting them in high school and only had to dig them out about every 6 months. Now that I’m pregnant, however, it’s been a weekly thing. Does anyone have any special cleaning ritual they do to avoid getting these? Mine are usually pretty big and sometimes make me gag when they come to the surface. I usually dig them out with a toothpick and they’re about 2-3mm at their widest point. Bleh.
Post # 3
Member
661 posts
Busy bee
I get them too! I usually just let them fall out on their own though. I’ve never had to dig one out.
Post # 3
Member
1553 posts
Bumble bee
@firsttimemom: They really are gross. I’m sorry you have to deal with them. My daughter gets them too and she uses a bobby pin or cotton swab to get them out…not as sharp as a toothpick. I have heard that you can use the spray from a WaterPik on the low setting, but as we don’t have one, she’s never tried that.
Post # 4
Member
1165 posts
Bumble bee
Blech, I have had these a few times and they are so foul! I’ve always gotten mine out with a Q-tip, never without gagging a few times though. As for preventing them, I really have no idea if you can. What about gargling with mouthwash every day, or salt water to get that area clean once a day? I have no idea if it would work, but might be worth a shot!
Post # 5
Member
561 posts
Busy bee
Ugh I get these. I have huge tonsils from Mono a few years ago. I try to gargle with listerine and cayenne pepper/salt/water (not at the same time!) and that loosens them. I rub the skin in front of my tonsil to get them out. So gross though I never get used to how sick it is! My ENT had no helpful tips for me either. Whenever I have post nasal drip I get them a lot so I try to avoid dairy or take OTC drugs for that when it’s an issue.
Post # 6
Member
336 posts
Helper bee
Ick. I used to get these all the time, along with really frequent strep throat before I had mine removed. Gargling, and doing the same thing you do, was how I removed them. They are gross and smell worse so monitor your breath too! It was embarrassing but I realized my breath smelled a lot better after my tonsillectomy- it wasn’t that bad prior to surgery but it was definitely noticeable to me, so I was always a little self-conscious about it.
Post # 7
Member
401 posts
Helper bee
Oh…my…goodness! I get these (and have gotten them since I was a teenager), and I just recently found out what they were (I just knew that I use to cough up these little things all the time). I have never known anyone else with this problem! Nothing has helped me (gargling, etc., although I’ve never tried to actually dig them out), but I’m going to an ENT on Friday. @twentyeleven: You are so right about the breath! Ugh…I really hope the ENT can help me out…
Post # 8
Member
336 posts
Helper bee
@JuneBride2012: All I can say is that if you end up getting them removed, it’s true about being worse for adults than children. (For me) It was a horrible, painful experience. But I would go through it all again because I don’t get sick nearly as often (and no strep) and I don’t have to deal with unpleasant things like tonsilloliths!
Post # 9
Member
2767 posts
Sugar bee
yes I always have these. I didn’t know that’s what they were called. Whenever I go to the dentist or doctor and I bring up this issue they just tell me it’s strep throat. I never really believed them though because I don’t think I can have strep throat as often as I’m getting these white sores.
Post # 10
Member
2871 posts
Sugar bee
I have them and Ive tried everything to get rid of them.
The best tool I have found is a whithead remover like this one
http://www.amazon.com/Tweezerman-Whitehead-Blackhead-Remover-Skin/dp/B0006PLPBC
The loops help you get in there and because its longer you can really control where you are poking at. Use caution though, you dont want to choke on anything.
When all else fails they usually pop out eventually.
Post # 11
Member
1835 posts
Buzzing bee
@panterapeach: I have seen these before! Never thought to use them for that. That’s kind of brilliant. Thanks!
Post # 12
Member
2606 posts
Sugar bee
LMAO! My hubby and I were having a converstation about this just the other day. We both get these, too! The first time I got them was in high school…I was in the library and felt something in the back of my throat…got up like, six of the darn things and thought something was seriously wrong with me!
My husband had never gotten them until a couple years ago…I happened to mention that I had them one day, and about a week or two later he got his first one. He claims he “caught” them from me. Silly husband!
I haven’t found a way to prevent them. I have HUGE tonsils, and I’ve thought about having them out several times, but I am too chicken because of the fact that the surgery is much more painful for adults. When I get them, I usually either work them out by wiggling my tongue/throat, or taking the back end of a toothbrush to kind of press on my tonsil until it pops out.
@amariem25: A tonsilith is like a solid piece of build-up…the word tonsilith means “tonsil stone” (another name for them); they should look like almost like a little whitish-brownish rock that comes from within your tonsil. They smell funny, and they are firm to hard, (you can squish them in your fingers, though that makes the smell worse). If you have an actual sore on your tonsil, that sounds to me like it’s something else.
Post # 13
Member
3 posts
Wannabee
You should try to find more information about tonsil stones.Why don’t you try to visit http://tinyurl.com/otlprgx Hope this will help!
