If you have tonsil stones then you know how difficult it can be to deal with them. This aggravating condition is caused by the accumulation of food particles, bacteria, mucus, and other forms of debris. This accumulation takes place in the pockets of your tonsils called the crypts.
Once these stones form inside the tonsil crypts they will cause problems such as:
- Sore throat
- Problems swallowing
- Inflammation
- Excessive coughing
- Halitosis (bad breath)
These symptoms only get worse the longer the stones are left untreated. This is why it is imperative to find a way to remove these nasty stones as quickly as possible.
Should You Remove Your Tonsils?
Most doctors will recommend you have your tonsils surgically removed in order to prevent the tonsil stones from returning. However, this is usually not the best thing to do for a couple of reasons.
- For one. Your tonsils are kind of like gatekeepers that prevent unwanted intruders like bacteria and viruses from entering your body through your throat. Moreover, the lymphocytes your tonsils contain are needed to help carry essential minerals, vitamins, and nutrients to the cells in your body that need them.
- Also, even if your tonsils are removed it still isn’t a guarantee that the stones won’t show up again. Many tonsil stone sufferers remove their tonsils thinking they have finally eliminated the problem for good only to find that the stones still come back.
So if surgically removing your tonsils is a bad idea what can be done to get rid of these little critters for good?
How to Get Rid of Tonsil Stones For Good
There are definitely a lot of different tonsil stone remedies to help extract these stones out. However, once you dislodge them and spit them out what are you going to do to prevent tonsil stones from coming back?
In order to stop the formation of these pesky stones you have to do 2 things: practice good oral hygiene and remove certain foods from your daily diet.
Oral Hygiene
Your oral hygiene is so important because without it there would be no way to be free from tonsil stones for good. Practicing good oral hygiene means brushing your teeth a few times a day, flossing at least once a day, and using a good tongue scraper to scrape off debris from your tongue that can cause more stones.
To make your oral hygiene even more effective you should brush your teeth after each meal throughout the day to help prevent food particles and other debris from building up.
Also, washing your mouth out with mouthwash is another good idea to help prevent stones from returning. The type of mouthwash you should use to help prevent tonsil stones is an antibacterial mouthwash that contains chlorine dioxide.
Diet
Once you start practicing good oral hygiene you should begin seeing less and less tonsil stones. However, avoiding certain foods on a daily basis is another thing you need to do to stop them from coming back.
The best diet to get rid of tonsil stones for good is one that doesn’t involve any dairy, gluten, or alcohol whatsoever.
Dairy products cause tonsil stones because they cause post nasal drip. The excessive amounts of mucus build up that post nasal drip causes gets trapped in the tonsil crypts and causes more stones to form. Things like milk, ice cream, and cheese should be avoided or at least reduced to the minimum.
Alcohol is another thing you should stay away from because it can cause your mouth to get dry. A dry mouth causes tonsil stones because it allows the bacteria that causes them to calcify (harden) in the tonsils to build up even more.
Another thing you should remove from your daily diet are gluten products. Gluten is the protein that makes up most grains and wheat.
Gluten causes excessive mucus build up in your tonsils just like dairy products. The best thing to do is always check the label on products to see if they contain gluten. If they do try to find the gluten free alternative.
Conclusion
By avoiding these food items in your daily diet and practicing good oral hygiene you will be able to stop tonsil stones from coming back into your life once and for all.
Not only will you not have to worry about tonsil stones anymore but you will also enjoy the benefits of having whiter teeth, better smelling breath, and a diet that’s much healthier for you.