Tonsil Stones They Could Be the Cause of Bad Breath, and They Are Easily, Naturally Eliminated

Bad breath, or halitosis, is one of the great unmentionables, despite the fact it affects a huge number of people – as many as seven million Britons – who spend more than £150 million each year on mouthwash alone trying to get rid of it.

The problem is often linked to smoking and not brushing your teeth properly – this causes the bacteria in the mouth linked to bad breath to flourish.

But for many people, no amount of brushing or sweet-smelling products seems to make a difference. That’s because their problem is triggered by a little known but surprisingly common condition – tonsil stones. We tend to associate stones with the kidneys or gall bladder, but it seems stones can also form on our tonsils, where they appear as small white spots.

Experts say tonsil stones are little understood by many doctors – indeed patients are often told there’s nothing wrong with them or that what they see on their tonsils is simply the remains of last night’s dinner. In fact, the problem affects thousands of people – it’s particularly common in those who’ve suffered from tonsillitis or who have a dry mouth as a result of medication such as painkillers.

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The tonsils are sacs of lymphatic tissue on either side of the throat. They are part of the body’s immune system and contain lymphocytes – cells that prevent and fight infections. The tonsils are meant to function like nets, trapping incoming bacteria and virus particles passing through your throat and preventing them travelling through the body.

Their location makes them the front line of defence against infections of the throat and upper airways. However, it also means they become a potential trap for food particles. Tonsil stones, or tonsilloliths, as they are also known, are actually lumps of calcified food, mucus and bacteria, explains Anastasia Rachmanidou, a consultant ear, nose and throat surgeon at University Hospital Lewisham, South-East London.

‘Once bits of debris get trapped, they attract bacteria, harden and start to decay, which is why sufferers can have bad breath,’ she says.

They can also suffer from a bad ‘metallic’ taste in the mouth. Adults are more at risk simply because they have bigger tonsils; the tonsils have a naturally pitted surface like the moon and, as we grow, these pits or crypts also get bigger, making them more likely to harbour food.

Anyone who’s had tonsillitis is also at risk, as the illness can scar the tonsil. Taking certain prescription medicines, such as high blood pressure tablets, painkillers and antidepressants, can also cause the problem, as a side-effect is dry mouth – if you don’t have enough saliva to wash food and bacteria away, this can trigger tonsil stones or exacerbate them.

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October 2, 2009