Before we can jump to the instructions on how to get rid of tonsil stones, let us consider carefully what they are. The stones are food particles, bacteria, and other materials that solidify on the surface of the tonsils. Sometimes, they can be hard and sometimes, they are soft. The accumulation of the calcified debris can lead to the symptoms. Often times, some of them may be present after coughing. You might notice small stones that vary in color from white to yellow pieces.
The stones can be embarrassing and troublesome. Among the symptoms, include foul breath, discomfort in the throat, sharp pain when swallowing, and lumps on the throat. Natural means of removing the stones can only be possible when they are large enough for you to see it. Although the stones may be small, the symptoms are all together perceivable.
3 Important Remedies For Tonsil Stones
There are several numbers of treatment options available for everyone who wants to be free of this irritation. There are various remedies available to remove them, such as surgery, laser, curettage, irrigation and many more. Let us consider in detail the 3 remedies that are mostly used and are recommended by medical practitioners too.
1.Oral Irrigation:
It is a very simple, but effective remedy of removing most of the small tonsil stones. With the utilization of adequate water pressure, it is possible to remove even those stones which are present inside the crevices.
This uses pulsating jets of water with a convenient pressure and to spray it onto the stones to move them out of the pockets. A stream of water is a much safer option while removing the stones and cleaning out the debris. But when tonsil stones are not easily removed by this method then it is always better to approach a doctor.
Oral irrigation should preferably be done by an expert. If you do it yourself there’s the possibility that you might use the wrong type of oral irrigator or use the wrong water pressure. If irrigation is not done properly, there are chances of getting ruptured tonsils or injury in the throat.
2.Surgical Treatment:
A laser treatment is long term treatment. For this treatment a local anesthetic is necessary. A scanned carbon dioxide laser is used for this treatment.
It removes the stones by vaporizing the surface of the tonsils. In this treatment the crypts and cervices also get flattened and become unable to trap any substances.
The disadvantage of it is, once the crypts become unable to trap harmful substances like bacteria, and viruses, the person becomes more prone to other infections.
There are various over the counter products that are also available to treat your tonsil stones if they are in the primitive stages.
Similarly there are various alternative treatments available for these stones.
Alternative treatments are the oldest methods and mostly use natural resources for curing health problems. These are the methods used all over the world in different ways by different people residing in different places.
They normally use the local natural resources to cure their health problems. These alternative remedies are slower, but are long lasting, without side effects and comparatively inexpensive.
3. Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy is based on the extracted essential oils from plants and trees. It is nothing but the use of essential oils to cure health problems. These are mostly prepared from herbs.
But it also includes herbs, floral essences, therapeutic tea, and medicinal plants for curing health problems. Herbal tea is also a better solution for inflammation in the throat.
You can have two to three sips of herbal tea every hour. It is also helpful to use cotton swabs soaked in tea tree oil for dabbing onto the tonsil stones.
Essential oils in aromatherapy are the essence extracted from the plants, thus they are very strong and effective. There are several types of essential oils with various properties.
The essential oils which can be used as antivirus oils are Lavender, Lemon, Oregano, Savory and Eucalyptus. These all contain antivirus properties and hence are very useful in this condition.
Some essential oils are important because of their antibiotic properties. Rosemary, Geranium, Marjoram, Chamomile and Eucalyptus are all helpful in curing tonsil stones due to their antibiotic nature.
Some essential oils with fungicide properties are also play a good role in curing these stones such as, Peppermint, Chamomile, Melissa, Tea tree, Bergamot, Lemon, Lavender and Eucalyptus.
Let us consider some essential oils beneficial for tonsil stone symptoms:
- Eucalyptus oil: This oil has very strong antibacterial and germicidal properties. It also works as a good decongestant. It is mainly used in most of the medicines for cold and respiratory difficulties. It is good to remove small stones with a cotton swab soaked in this oil.
- Cardamom oil: This is antiseptic in nature and cures throat related problems.
- Cedar oil: It is antiseptic and beneficial for relieving mucus and other throat disorders.
- Lemon oil: It is antitoxic and antiseptic in nature. It also has antibiotic properties. It improves the immune system by eliminating toxins from our body.
- Pepper (black) oil: It works as a great tonic for the digestive and respiratory system. Thus it is very useful in tonsilloliths.
- Tea tree oil: It is antiseptic and also works as a local anesthetic agent. It cures all types of infections.
Getting sufficient rest, drinking lots of liquid, avoiding tobacco and alcohol, and gargling with warm water are some of the common things which help in getting relief from irritating symptoms and discomfort caused by tonsil stones. If you have already undergone tonsil surgery and removed your tonsils, then you need to take more care of your entire intake. You need to be very careful while eating as well as any exposure to the ears, nose and eyes. The reason is that your watch guard, i.e. tonsils is not there to take care of all these things.
How to Remove Tonsil Stones at Home
Besides for the three most remedies we mentioned above, there are also a few natural ways to remove these stones at home. Here is a method in details:
- First, you will need the following; a clean earwax remover or ear curette (usually made of metal – sterilized), a bobby pin, or water pick. Make sure the materials undergo a thorough sterilization process. You will also need a standing mirror and adequate lighting. Before the procedure, give your mouth a thorough cleaning. Wash your hands well. Now you are ready for the procedure.
- In front of the mirror, push your tonsils outward by sticking out your tongue as far as possible. With a steady hand, carry out a gentle yet firm scraping action. You need to be gentle and take your time. Take a deep breath each time before scraping, so that you can take out as much stones as possible.
- Gargle with warm water after every scraping. This will help loosen the stones. You can always do the removal the next day when you feel a stinging sensation. Never be so hasty to remove them all. You can continue to do so after every 2 days. This is how to get rid of tonsil stones cheaply.
Other Common Home Remedies
• Scraping the tonsilloliths using a fingernail
This could be easily done, but there are also drawbacks associated with this method. This is unhygienic, plus, there is possibility that you could scratch and hurt your tonsils when not done properly. If you wish to use this method, just make sure to keep your hands clean.
• Using a cotton swab to squeeze the tonsil
Another home remedy is by utilizing a cotton swab to squeeze the tonsils so that the stones would easily come out. This treatment would be more effective when you moisten the swab with water. This will also prevent the cotton strands from sticking in your tonsil.
• Toothbrush
A more sanitary way of removal is by using a toothbrush. Just ensure to make use of a soft bristled toothbrush so that your tonsils will not get easily irritated. Gently brush the tonsil part wherein there are tonsil stones to remove them.
• Gargling with mouthwash
Another simple remedy is by gargling an alcohol free mouth wash after eating. This remedy has proven very effective in eliminating the tonsil stones. You can also gargle warm water with salt if you have no mouthwash.
• Applying herbal remedies
There are various herbal remedies to apply, in order to get rid of tonsil stones. Some effective herbal remedies are celery, cucumber and Wasabi. You just have to consume these herbal remedies and in a few days, you can feel better because your stones are removed.
• Watch out for the food you eat
The food that you eat can commonly trigger the development of tonsilloliths. Sweets are some of the common foods that cause such stones and irritation of the tonsils. Once you are eating certain foods, ensure to drink water immediately to make sure that your tonsils are cleared from food particles.
These are some of the home remedies that you can apply, and these remedies are relatively cheaper because they can be easily employed at home.By applying these treatments, you can live your life better because you do not have to suffer any pain and irritation that tonsilloliths could cause you.
Brush your teeth at least three times a day or best yet, do it after eating. This would effectively eradicate the harmful bacteria that cause the development of the condition. When you follow proper oral hygiene, and improve your oral hygiene you can certainly prevent the occurrence of such condition.
When to See a Doctor
While some stones are hard to see, you may notice the same symptoms as you would if you have larger stones. This is the part when you need to see a doctor. These stones are identifiable using X-rays or CT-Scan. Many choose to use formulated gargle instead of surgery. It is much cheaper, and it removes the underlying causes of bad breath. The stones cause embarrassing symptoms but now, you know exactly what to do. Always remember, to observe cleanliness when performing the removal. There is always a cheaper and better way to remove tonsil stones.
