If you’ve ever coughed up a small, hard, foul-smelling white or yellow pebble—or noticed persistent bad breath despite good oral hygiene—you may have had tonsil stones (also called tonsilloliths). While they sound alarming, they’re usually harmless but annoying. Here’s what you need to know—straight from ENT (ear, nose, and throat) specialists.
🔍 What Are Tonsil Stones?
Tonsil stones are small, calcified deposits that form in the crevices (crypts) of your tonsils. They’re made of:
- Trapped food particles
- Dead cells
- Bacteria
- Mucus
Over time, this debris hardens into soft, chalky lumps—ranging from grain-of-rice size to pea-sized.
💡 Not everyone gets them—they’re most common in people with large or crypt-heavy tonsils, chronic tonsillitis, or dry mouth.
🚩 Common Signs & Symptoms
- Persistent bad breath (halitosis)—often the #1 clue
- Feeling of something stuck in the back of your throat
- Visible white/yellow spots on or near the tonsils
- Mild sore throat or earache (referred pain from shared nerves)
- Coughing up small, smelly pellets
⚠️ Not an emergency—but if you have severe pain, swelling, or difficulty swallowing, see a doctor (could be infection, not stones).
🧼 How to Remove Tonsil Stones Safely
