Have you ever had tonsil stones? You know, the weird white clumps that cling to the skin in the back of your throat? I dealt with tonsil stones, also known as tonsilloliths, from January through May 2015.
It was not a fun experience, but I wanted to share it because I’ve heard of others with IBD who have dealt with tonsil stones. In this blog post, I’ll explain what tonsil stones are and how they might be correlated with IBD.
But First, What Are Tonsils?
Tonsils are the first line of defense in the immune system. More specifically, they’re lymph nodes that filter out the impurities that try to make their way inside your body.
Tonsils protect against respiratory, gastrointestinal, and throat infections by reserving antibodies, ready to send out at a moment’s notice to defend the body from foreign invaders.
What Are Tonsil Stones and What Do They Feel Like?
Tonsils are made of tiny pockets, which are perfect for storing antibodies, but also makes them an easy reservoir for mucus, bacteria, saliva, and food.
And that’s what tonsil stones are: whiteish-yellowish stones of accumulated calcified bacteria, food, and dead cells. Ew.
Strange enough, I didn’t even know I had them. And I wouldn’t have known, if not for the help of my dentist. During my routine exam, she pointed them out to me and handed me a mirror so I could take a look.
She thought they were tonsil stones, and I ran it by my GI to be sure. She agreed.
They caused no pain, itchiness, or soreness, and I could breathe perfectly fine. But I was determined to remove these uninvited guests. I absolutely didn’t want these blocks of bacteria suffocating what was left of my already-suppressed immune system!
I also wanted them gone because they can cause your breath to be stank. I was sitting in church with my mom and I whispered something to her; I remember her face squinch up from the smell (and this is right after brushing my teeth and having a breath mint!).
They had to go.
How Tonsil Stones Might be Related to IBD
There doesn’t seem to be hard evidence connecting tonsil stones to IBD, but I do know others in the IBD community have experienced them. There is one main theory for this potential connection.
Tonsil stones may be correlated with conditions or medications that decrease saliva flow. Examples include chronic dehydration, malnutrition, and medications that can cause dry mouth (which I have!) You can listen to gastroenterologist Dr. Rob Lerrigo discuss this more in this Q&A video, organized by Gali Health.
How to Get Rid of Tonsil Stones
For five months, I tried desperately to remove these nasty stones. Although they were not causing any pain, they were still affecting my quality of life by causing incurably bad breath and making me self-conscious when talking, laughing, and kissing. Here are the methods I tried.
1. Antibiotics
I visited an urgent care center, and the doctor prescribed me the antibiotic penicillin.
But, it was only after taking this for a short week or two that I found out antibiotics could only lower the number of bacteria. Meaning that the penicillin couldn’t make my current tonsil stones go away; they could just prevent new ones from forming.
So this was obviously not a solution.
2. Salt Water Gargledis
I mixed salt with warm water and swished and gargled twice a day, trying to loosen the tonsil stones. This didn’t work either.
3. The Waterpik
This machine is basically high-pressurized water-hose; it’s really meant for gums, but I tried using it on the back of my throat. It knocked down some stones and it was a real relief to see the flesh of my tonsils again in the spot a white tonsillolith once claimed.
However, I noticed that the stones would come back in the same places within a day or two.
4. Q-Tips
I dunked Q-tips in warm saltwater and gently scrubbed my tonsils, essentially trying to dig out the stones. This by far my least favorite method. It hurt and it made me gag. And it was so gross to see the stones come out as I went through about ten Q-tips to clear my throat.
It was nasty (and honestly probably not the best for my throat) but it was the most effective method for me. Though, after a while, the stones would still return.
5. Tonsillectomy
Eventually, I just decided to get my tonsils removed. Nothing else was working and I was sick and disgusted by these chunky, bad-breath-causing, unattractive calcified bits. I wanted to eliminate the problem at its source.
So in May 2015 (with the approval from my GI doctor) I got my tonsils removed. And it’s not that I didn’t try to tough it out. For over four months, I gargled, hosed, scraped, picked, and brushed. I was tired of gagging almost every day. I was tired of the constant stinky breath that I could do nothing about.
What Should You Do If You Find Out You Have Tonsil Stones?
If you find out you have tonsil stones, don’t freak out! They’re gross, but nothing more. Bring it up with your GI, dentist, and primary care doctor to chat about how you should best manage them. And in the meantime, maybe pop in a breath mints.
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