Tonsilloliths

does anyone here suffer from these

A tonsillolith is also known as a tonsil stone, is a piece (or more commonly, a cluster) of calcareous matter which forms in the rear of the mouth, in the crevasses (called tonsillar crypts) of the palatine tonsils (which are what most people commonly refer to as simply tonsils).

Protruding tonsilloliths may have the feel of a foreign object, lodged in the back of the tonsil crypt. They may be an especially uncomfortable nuisance, but are often not harmful.


sometimes my Cpap helps bring these up/out in the morning. which any other time i would be gagging and coughing trying to get them out.

Nope. I've never even heard of them.

But I can see how the CPAP would help bring 'em up.

I have one or two -- usually at the same point.
Haven't noticed any CPAP effect one way or the other.

PAP therapy lessened mine. Used to be a big problem. Now, only occasionally.

I used to get them all the time. Stinky little buggers! In my experience, better oral hygiene and better eating habits made them less frequent to the point where I get surprised if I cough one out now (they are that rare).

If a person has a problem with these and in addition has sleep-disordered breathing, would it not make sense to ask a good ENT to evaluate whether a tonsillectomy should be undertaken?

(Glad my tonsils were removed as a child.)

tattooyu wrote:I used to get them all the time. Stinky little buggers! In my experience, better oral hygiene and better eating habits made them less frequent to the point where I get surprised if I cough one out now (they are that rare).

i garggle and brush every morning. garggle first then brush.

the only time i didnt have them was when i was in the hospital this summer and i was on two antibiotics. now i get them every two days

rooster wrote:If a person has a problem with these and in addition has sleep-disordered breathing, would it not make sense to ask a good ENT to evaluate whether a tonsillectomy should be undertaken?

(Glad my tonsils were removed as a child.)

One patient's opinion: No. A decision about whether to remove the tonsils, in the context of OSA, would not likely be affected much by a relatively minor quality-of-life consideration like tonsil stones. That decision would likely be made based solely on whether the removal of the tonsils would improve the treatment of OSA. Tonsil stones are not an infection or generally considered a direct source of significant inflammation, according to my understanding.

There are exceptions to everything, though, I guess.

I never heard of this. I learned something new today!

Brown Eyes,
I had these when I was still a college student....many, many moons ago! I used to take a bent paperclip and scrape out my tonsils to remove the 'stones'...and it would help some. My low grade fever would go away for a few days...and I'd feel better. But eventually, the inflammation and stones would return. During summer break one year, I had my tonsils removed as the doctor said they would never get better...and I didn't want to be on antibiotics forever. Maybe you are in the same boat...and should have your tonsils taken out?

T.

I get these a couple of times a year. I haven't had any since I have been on CPAP, but it has only been a couple of months so that may not mean anything. Why would CPAP affect this one way or another?

I have them occasionally. I have never been able to see them on my tonsils, just become aware of something in my throat and cough it out, but they are not yet calcified. They are usually a dark yellow small kernel that stinks when smashed. I've read that some tonsils have more crypts than others, and the crypts accumulate food particles, saliva, and phlegm that hang around and get downright nasty (and germy). We all know that bacteria from gum disease is reported to have cardiac risks, so I have to wonder if having these things could be hazardous in that respect? Maybe they'll chime in later, but one board member has mentioned using a particular model of those dental water piks to clean their tonsils.

The only way I can see cpap helping them come out is if the blowing air makes them dry out quicker, maybe decreasing their size thus loosening them so they pop out easier. That's my best guess.

kteague wrote:I have them occasionally. I have never been able to see them on my tonsils, just become aware of something in my throat and cough it out, but they are not yet calcified. They are usually a dark yellow small kernel that stinks when smashed. I've read that some tonsils have more crypts than others, and the crypts accumulate food particles, saliva, and phlegm that hang around and get downright nasty (and germy). We all know that bacteria from gum disease is reported to have cardiac risks, so I have to wonder if having these things could be hazardous in that respect? Maybe they'll chime in later, but one board member has mentioned using a particular model of those dental water piks to clean their tonsils.

The only way I can see cpap helping them come out is if the blowing air makes them dry out quicker, maybe decreasing their size thus loosening them so they pop out easier. That's my best guess.

i can see mines in my tonsils. i get a mirror and VERY GOOD LIGHTING and i can see them. look like little pieces of popcorn. they vary in sizes too.

i am used to sticking my finger or toothbrush back there to literally pick them out cause it seems like they be stuck inside the tonsils.

i dont know what the CPap does, but the air the CPap pushes down in my throat, along with me coughing, makes me cough them out quicker. instead of coughing and gagging sometimes for 2 days to get one or two out.

and you mentioned "Cardiac Risks" i have Congestive Heart Failure and i never thought about this

Thanks