Tonsil stones, medically termed as tonsilloliths are actually a very common disease but it is seldom reported. This is because the tonsillolith causes are just like as recurrent tonsillitis with the addition of stubborn bad smelling breath. They can become visible as beige, whitish or yellowish spots over the tonsillar tissue and sometimes are coughed up. Tonsilloliths are formed after recurrent episode of tonsillitis and there may be pain in the throat, fever or malaise. Fecal smelly breath occurs when the stone is large and there is putrefaction in the central part of the tonsillolith.
Tonsils are a pair of tissues present over our throat. They act as a first line defense of our immune system. As the invading organism comes into contact of the tonsil, they are captured by the tissues and lymphocytes are released straight away. Lymphocytes can kill the organism and in this process, some of the healthy tonsillar tissues are also destroyed. There is also excess secretion of mucus from the salivary glands present around the oral cavity. All these are aggregated and deposited in a tonsillar crypt. Sometimes, small food particles are also entangled within the debris.
Next the minerals come into play. By the action of calcium and magnesium salts (calcium apatite and magnesium oxalate), they are organized to form a solid mass. Smaller tonsilloliths do not produce significant bad breath. But as the size of the stone increases with time, the central part goes under putrefaction by the action of some sulfur producing bacteria. The putrefaction process releases some gases (like methyl mercaptan and hydrogen sulfide) as part of the reaction. These gases smell like rotten cabbage and rotten eggs respectively. Together, they are responsible for the bad smell coming out from the smell.
Bad oral hygiene is the chief tonsillolith cause. Inadequate brushing of your teeth helps in rapid bacterial growth. The food particles left in the oral cavity may enter to the tonsillar crypts easily and help in multiplication of bacteria. Some congenital defect in the oral anatomy like cleft palate and bifid uvula can attract bacterial colonization. Maxillary and frontal sinusitis are common causes of recurrent tonsillitis and in turn for tonsilloliths.
Patient having weak immune system are more prone to develop any infection. Bacteria can grow freely in their body. Over activity of the salivary glands can produce excess mucus. This can also lead to rapid formation of tonsilloliths.
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Learn how to remove tonsil stones for good - without surgery or more read about prevent tonsillitis
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