Tonsils have several nooks and crannies filled with bacteria and other debris. The debris might include dead cells and mucus. All these foreign materials and debris bond together. Minerals like calcium, food debris, and bacteria or fungi are often trapped in the tonsils.
Tonsil stones form when the debris hardens and calcifies. The stones often occur in people with long-term tonsil inflammation. People dealing with repeated tonsillitis cases are also at risk of tonsil stones. Some of the symptoms of tonsil stones include;
Bad breath is one of the most significant signs of tonsil stones. It is also known as halitosis. This condition results from the stones, which are nothing more than a collection of bacteria. Tonsil stones occur due to failure to brush your teeth. The bacteria buildup on the tongue and teeth gives off an odor and causes bad breath. If the bad breath persists even after regular teeth brushing and tongue cleaning, it might be a sign of tonsil stones.
The tonsil stone can appear at the back of the throat as a lump of solid white material. Tonsil stones are not always visible because they are often small. But, some tonsil stones can be big enough to be noticed by the naked eye at the back of the mouth. The white lumps are one of the most evident signs of tonsil stones. Yet, not all tonsil stones are big enough to be visible by the naked eye.
Tonsil stones can lead to sore throats. It can be hard to figure out what is causing pain in the throat. The tonsil stone itself can result in pain and discomfort. Tonsil stones can potentially irritate the throat and result in a sore throat. It is not always easy to tell whether the sore throat is because of an infection or tonsil stones.
The tonsil stone's location and size can result in difficulties swallowing. Individuals with tonsil stones might feel like something is obstructing the throat. And this makes eating and drinking difficult.
As the stone forms, it can result in reactions and changes in some people. And this can lead to inflammation or infections, which might result in your tonsil swelling.
Tonsil stones can develop anywhere in the tonsil. Due to the shared nerve pathways, the tonsil stone pressing on a nerve can result in ear pain. Ear pain can occur even if the stone is not touching the ear. And this indicates that the tonsil stone is touching or blocking specific nerves that connect the ear and mouth.