Poor oral hygiene is another factor. If you haven’t been regularly brushing, flossing and cleaning your tongue, it can “lead to an increased buildup of bacteria and food debris in the mouth, which may settle in the tonsillar crypts”, said Dr Gee.
Other factors, he added, include a decreased saliva production, repeated bouts of tonsilitis, allergies, sinus issues and frequent colds. They contribute by either lessening the flushing out of bacteria, causing inflammation that enlarges the tonsils to trap more debris, or creating post-nasal drip where mucus can accumulate in the tonsils.
Even your diet can play a part. For instance, foods such as milk, cheese and yoghurt can contribute to the buildup of calcium-rich debris, which may calcify into stones, said Dr Gee. Meanwhile, sugary, sticky or processed foods can “fuel bacterial growth or leave behind small particles that can easily get trapped in the tonsillar crypts”.
DO I NEED TO HAVE THE STONES REMOVED?
It depends on how much the stones are bothering you; if they don’t, nothing needs to be done. Generally, “patients do not need treatment, unless they have bad breath or discomfort with chronic infection”, said Assoc Prof Ngo.
Even better news, tonsil stones can be dislodged by a doctor with a long, blunt-tip instrument. However, stones that are dislodged this way “very quickly reform”, he said. “The only way to prevent reformation is to remove the tonsils with surgery.”
He cautioned: “We do not recommend self-removal as it is difficult to do it in front of a mirror and can cause bleeding from local trauma”.
