Tonsil stones are white bumps of food particles and bacteria that attach themselves to your tonsils and the areas around your tonsils (tonsillar crypts). Tonsil stones can cause horrific bad breath and a constant feeling of irritation in the throat. Tonsil stones should not be confused with tonsillitis. Tonsillitis is an infection found in the tonsils. It can be either viral or bacterial. Viral infections can not be treated; they simply must be allowed time to go away. Bacterial infections need to be treated with penicillin or some other kind of antibiotic.

Tonsil stones, however, do not need this type of treatment. You can use one of several home remedies to treat this irritating throat bumps. Tonsiloliths, or tonsil stones, can be dislodged. One of the ways to do so is to use a toothpick, cotton swab, or the end of a toothbrush to scrap it off. If this does not work, try using a syringe to blast away the bump. Sometimes, even coughing or squeezing the throat can cause them to become loose.

If the tonsils stones cannot be removed, you may want to speak to your doctor to see if laser tonsil surgery is for you. This removed the ridges that collect the tonsil stones and leave a surface that nothing is able to attach to. However, try the home remedies first, as any invasive surgery has risks and is very expensive. The home remedies can save you a lot of money and downtime from surgery. However, if you have a severe symptoms, a surgery may be your best option.