What Are Tonsil Stones?
- By Anna Rothschild
- Posted 07.02.15
- NOVA
If you’ve got white lumps in your throat, they could be tonsil stones or “tonsilloliths.” Find out what causes them and how to get rid of them in this episode of Gross Science.
Transcript
What Are Tonsil Stones?
Posted: July 2, 2015
I’m about to show you one of the most revolting pieces of footage I’ve ever seen. You’ve been warned.
Alright, I know that was deeply horrifying, so let me explain. What I just showed you was called a “tonsil stone,” or a “tonsillolith.” And they’re really common. In fact, you might have them in your mouth right now.
I’m Anna Rothschild, and this is Gross Science.
Tonsil stones often occur if you’ve had repeated bouts of tonsillitis, or if you just have large-ish tonsils with lots of nooks and crannies. You might not even know you have them, cause they can grow behind the tonsil where you can’t see them.
There aren’t great estimates for how many people have tonsil stones. But in one small study of 150 CT scans of people’s heads, about 24% showed signs of them. Though I’ve seen other studies with higher and lower numbers, as well.
There’s some debate about how exactly they form, but what we know is that dead cells, mucus, and food get trapped in the crevices of the tonsil and harden, or “calcify.”
Most of the time, the stones are so small that they don’t pose a problem. But when they’re larger they can cause sore throats, ear pain, and really bad breath. That’s because bacteria and other microbes will feast on the globs of organic matter, and the sulfurous waste products they release give off a deeply unpleasant scent.
If you have tonsil stones and they bother you, some people recommend gargling with salt water or other special mouthwashes, flushing them out with a water pick, or popping them out with something soft like your finger or a cotton swab. And if the problem gets really severe, your doctor might recommend a tonsillectomy or procedure to smooth out the tonsils.
On a personal note, I actually know what having tonsil stones is like. A bunch of years ago I kept coming down with tonsillitis, and along with it I developed some small tonsil stones. Because I’m me, I was kinda just fascinated by the whole thing. But, I was totally relieved when they went away.
Ew.
Credits
PRODUCTION CREDITS:
- Host, Animator, Editor
- Anna Rothschild
- Illustrator, DP, Sound
- Rachel Becker
- Many thanks to Dr. Chris Chang.
- Jaunty Walk A
- Music Provided by APM
IMAGES AND VIDEO
- 1 big hidden tonsil stone (march 2015)
- Courtesy ihatemytonsils
- Swollen tonsils
- Flickr/John Campbell
- Tonsillolith in mouth
- Wikimedia Commons/Glacko2021
- Tonsil stone on finger
- Flickr/Kaija
- The removed tonsils of our patient
- © 2008 Katotomichelakis et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
SFX
- Cockroaches
- Freesound/StateAardvark
(used with permission from author) - Squeak Pack/squeak_10
- Freesound/Corsica_S
- Slide Whistle Down 01
- Freesound/joedeshon
- Slide Whistle Down Fast
- Freesound/joedeshon
- Produced by WGBH for PBS Digital Studios
IMAGE
- (main image: Mouth)
- ©WGBH Educational Foundation 2015
Sources
Want more info?
NYTimes on tonsil stones:
http://nyti.ms/1fK3keK
Dr. Christopher Chang on tonsil stones:
http://bit.ly/1fK3dzZ
Study of CT scans:
http://bit.ly/1fK3cw0
Related Links
-
Gross Science
Bizarre stories from the slimy, smelly, creepy world of science.
-
The Amazing Barnacle Penis
Well-endowed barnacles can change the size and shape of their penises.
-
Bacon Bandages Remove Botflies
Everyone loves bacon. Even parasitic maggots that live under your skin.
-
What Lives in Cheese?
What makes cheese so delicious? It's the bacteria, fungi, mites, and maggots living in it.