Does it feel like there is a lump in the back of your throat? However, when you look in the mirror is it hard to see anything?

If so, then you might be suffering from tonsil stones?

Essentially, tonsil stones are little whitish balls of bacteria, debris and old food that form in the crevices of your tonsils. They can build up to the size of golf balls which is why it can sometimes feel like there is a giant lump on the back of your throat.

Many people assume that a lump on the back of your throat automatically means that you have an infection with your tonsils. This is not actually the case. Tonsil stones, or tonsiliths are not an infection and they cannot be removed with a couple doses of antibiotics.

They are not that easy.

To determine whether or not you have tonsiliths, you need to open real wide and see if there are any white balls on the back of your tonsils. They may be too hard to see but if you do catch a glimpse of something white back there, then you have these stones.

Other symptoms of tonsiliths include bad breath and a sore or scratchy throat caused by the enlarged white balls in the back of your throat.

The reasons we get tonsil stones are not exactly known. Some people are prone to them while others are not. This may have something to do with your oral hygiene or it may have something to do with the bacteria inside your mouth. Some people have larger tonsil crevices while others are blessed with small tonsil crypts. There's no point questioning why we get them. The main question when it comes to tonsil stones is- how do I get rid of them?

There are a few methods you can use to get rid of these awful little bumps. First off, you can try to cough or hack them out. You can also use a cotton swap or a toothpick and try to lift them out. This can be difficult for those with a poor gag reflex. You can also use a syringe to squirt salt water onto the stones which can loosen them.

Keep in mind that the best way to prevent these awful smelling balls from coming back is by practicing good oral hygiene. Stay one step ahead of the bacteria tonsiliths and say goodbye to that lump on your throat.