Have you ever felt like getting a metallic or bitter taste while eating, despite the fact that that you have no apparent reasons to feel that way? Do you continuously feel severe pain in your throat whenever you swallow your food? Are you suffering from a sore throat or bad breath lately? If yes, then there are chances that you may have tonsil stones – white or hard yellow formations located within or on the tonsils.
These stones can sometimes be hard to make out as their size ranges from a grain of rice to a seed of pea. While these stones don’t cause substantial health complications, if they are left untreated, they can grow bigger and cause your tonsils to swell. The symptoms that can help you identify this disease are sometimes hard to detect. If you want to know how to prevent tonsil stones, getting familiar with the symptoms is an essential part.
The Symptoms of Tonsils Stones
You can prevent tonsil stones beforehand only if you know the symptoms. In most cases, patients don’t even know they have tonsil stones until the situation becomes too severe. Whether the tonsil stones are small or large, there are possibilities that a person may remain ignorant of their existence due to a lack of severity. People can even go years without realizing they have tonsil stones.
Nevertheless, if you want to stop tonsil stones from becoming too serious, you should definitely keep an eye out for their symptoms. Most of these symptoms are also everyday issues, so you might not get the hint straight away, but if these problems become constant, there might be high chances that you have tonsil stones. Here are the most common symptoms that usually occur:
- Bad breath (halitosis)
- Bad taste in mouth
- Ear pain
- Excessive coughing
- Sore throat
- Swollen tonsils
- Tough time swallowing food
- White debris
People who constantly have a sore throat and get inflammation around the nostrils are the ones who are most likely to get tonsil stones. Moreover, sinus or allergy symptoms often indicate this issue too. If you discern one or more of the symptoms mentioned above, even though you don’t feel pain in your tonsils, it is recommended for you to maintain a good hygiene and try to prevent tonsil stones naturally. Below are the most common ways that can help prevent tonsil stones from developing or coming back once they have been eradicated from your mouth.
How To Prevent Tonsil Stones?
Now that we`ve gone through some of the most common symptoms of tonsil stones, we are going to cover 10 of the most common ways you can prevent tonsil problems in general. With these tips, tonsil stone prevention will quickly become a second nature to you! Let`s dig in.
1. Brush Your Teeth
One of the most common things that can trigger tonsil stones is food debris trapped between your teeth. To get rid of this scrape, you should brush your teeth regularly. It is recommended to brush your teeth as well as your tongue at least two times every day, especially after having breakfast and before going to bed.
2. Clean Your Tongue
If you’re unable to brush your tongue, then get yourself a tongue cleaner or scraper to remove bacteria from it. Try to scrape your tongue every night before going to bed in order to eliminate the bacteria buildup that accumulates at the back of the tongue. I know that some of you are going to try it and feel very uncomfortable, but keep on going, you will get used to it as the time goes by.
3. Gargle Salt Water
This is one of my favorite tonsil stone prevention methods, simply because is easy, fast and you can do it literally anywhere. To keep your mouth disinfected, you should gargle with salt water every day. Just stir one tablespoon of salt in a cup of water and gargle it. Salt water is an excellent way to remove bacteria from your mouth.
4. Maintain Your Oral Hygiene
It’s not just about tonsil stones; a good oral hygiene can save you from many dangerous and deadly diseases. The things you take in via your mouth can affect any part of your body either positively or negatively, so it is better that you keep your mouth clean. By regularly brushing and flossing your teeth, you can get rid of unwanted bacteria that build up inside your mouth and infect it. Also, try to use mouthwash, tongue cleaner, and other products to keep your mouth healthy.
5. Drink a Good Amount of Water
Not only your skin but your mouth also needs to be moisturized properly. By increasing your water intake, you can eliminate the dryness inside your mouth and ensure the flow of saliva. A dry mouth can allow bacteria to thrive in your mouth. As bacteria can cause tonsils, a dry mouth for an extended period can trigger tonsil stones.
6. Never Eat Right Before Going to Bed
If you have a habit of eating before sleeping, quit it right away as it can help develop tonsil stones in your mouth. When a person eats before going to bed, the food particles in the mouth get lodged in their tonsil crypts while they sleep. It is something you should definitely avoid, even if you brush before going to bed.
7. Try to Avoid Smoking and Drinking Alcohol
As beneficial drinking water is to keep tonsil stones at bay, drinking alcohol is as harmful. This is so because alcohol or drinks containing alcohol can leave your mouth very dry, which can lead to tonsil stones. The same reason can simply be applied when it comes to smoking. You don’t want your mouth to get dry in any way.
8. Reduce the Consumption of Dairy Products
If you love to eat dairy products such as milk, yogurt, and cheese, reduce its consumption as it can also cause tonsil stones. This is so because all dairy products promote the buildup of mucus in your throat and other similar substances. This condition, if left for long, can develop tonsil stones.
9. Avoid Sugary Drinks
Try to avoid sugary drinks such as packed juices or sodas as they contribute to causing tonsil stones. These drinks are not even healthy and should be avoided if you want to stay fit.
10. Avoid Taking Medications
Excessive use of medicines can make your mouth dry. Moreover, some medications make the mouth dry as a side effect. Since a dry mouth equals to more tonsil stones, you should avoid any unwanted medications that you have been taking lately. But don’t just stop taking them straight away; you should visit your doctor and discuss it with him or her.
Now you know how to prevent tonsil stones, but if you experience these symptoms we listed above, make sure you go see a doctor!