Lymph nodes in the back of your mouth and the top of your throat are called tonsils. Since lymph nodes are the infection-fighters of the body, one can look at the tonsils as the body’s first line of defense against infection that my come in through the mouth. From time to time, it is possible to have debris lodged in these tonsils. The tonsils contain lymphocytes which work to rid the body of the debris. The result is hardened, calcified bits which often get swallowed but may get caught in the tonsils. These are known as tonsil stones.
Tonsil stones are very common and often harmless. In fact, it is possible to have tonsil stones without even knowing it. However, even when harmless, it is still possible for them to cause unwanted symptoms such as bad breath. In more extreme cases, though, they can become a haven for bacteria. Larger tonsil stones can be visible to the naked eye. They are white or yellow formations.
Symptoms of tonsil stones include the white and yellow formations already mentioned, as well as bad breath. Other symptoms are much more unpleasant and include swelling of the tonsils, trouble swallowing, a sore throat, or even an ear ache.
Luckily, if you have tonsil stones, there are many natural treatments you can try to help get rid of them.
1. Apple Cider Vinegar
The first natural cure for tonsil stones is gargling with apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar is a vinegar that is made from apples. It is made by crushing apples, draining the liquid, and letting that liquid ferment into apple cider. A second fermenting process turns it into a vinegar. Apple cider vinegar is thought to have many health benefits, including lowering cholesterol, helping with various stomach ailments, and even helping with weight loss.
Since it is a vinegar, it is very acidic. Because of this, apple cider vinegar can also help to get rid of your tonsil stones. The acid in the vinegar can help to dislodge and breakdown the hard deposits on the tonsils.
To use apple cider vinegar as a natural cure for your tonsil stones, simply add one tablespoon to 8 ounces of warm water. Gargle 1-3 times daily. The gargling should help to dislodge the particles. As a bonus, until the stones are fully gone, apple cider vinegar is also known for fighting bad breath and helping to soothe sore throats. So it can also help to relieve the symptoms until the problem has been done away with.
[nextpage title=“Next” ]2. Garlic
Another natural cure is garlic. Garlic has been called “nature’s antibiotic” because of its ability to fight infection and kill bacteria. Garlic contains an ingredient called allicin which fights microbes. One clove of garlic daily is enough to kill off the bacteria in a tonsil stone. The best way to take the garlic is first of all to make sure you are using raw garlic. Second, it is best to slice or even crush the garlic and let it sit for about 10 minutes before you consume it. By letting it sit, you are allowing the allicin content in the garlic to grow and for it to increase it’s natural bacteria=fighting abilities.
[nextpage title=“Next” ]3. Cough
Many times, there are no unpleasant symptoms of having a tonsil stone. In those instances, it might be best to simply wait and cough the debris up and out of the tonsils. Coughing after all is your body’s natural way to keep your throat and airways clear. if you decide to cough to get rid of a tonsil stone, the best thing to do is to cough energetically but not too aggressively. It is also important to cough into a tissue so the tonsil stone can be thrown away. If you do decide to cough to get rid of a tonsil stone, make sure not to injure your throat.
[nextpage title=“Next” ]4. Cotton Swab
Sometimes, it can be good to reach in and simply use a tool to remove the tonsil stone. After all, a tonsil stone is simply a piece of debris trapped inside a fold of tissue. Therefore, if you use an instrument to manipulate those folds, you may be able to get the tonsil stone to pop out.
The best tool to use for this is a cotton swab. First of all, make sure to wet the swab and to be very careful since the tissue here is very delicate. Use the swab to gently push down on the tissue surrounding the tonsil stone. The goal here is to get the tonsil stone to pop out and hopefully it will pop out towards the front of the mouth. Once it pops out, spit it out and gargle with salt water to get any remaining debris.
[nextpage title=“Next” ]5. Oil Pulling
Another way to try to dislodge the tonsil stone is to use a method known as oil pulling. Oil pulling is an oral detoxification method used in Ayurvedic medicine. In oil pulling, you take a tablespoon of a common cooking oil (olive oil or sesame oil, for instance) and swish it around your mouth for 10 to 20 minutes. This technique is used for fighting cavities and gum disease and is a wonderful way to get rid of tonsil stones also. Doing this once a day can not only fight tonsil stones, but get rid of microbes in your mouth and throat.
[nextpage title=“Next” ]6. Salt Water
Another liquid to gargle with can be salt water. Gargling daily with salt water can help not only to get rid of tonsil stones but to help prevent them in the first place. A half a teaspoon of salt in an 8 ounce glass of water is perfect for this purpose. Gargling with salt water can help to detoxify the mouth and to clear out any debris. If you know, or suspect, that you have a tonsil stone, simply gargle a little more vigorously in an attempt to dislodge it from the folds of the tissue.
[nextpage title=“Next” ]7. Stay Hydrated
By now, you should have heard that you need to drink 8 glasses of water daily. Staying hydrated has many medical benefits. One of these is to keep saliva production high enough to help wash out debris and bacteria. A dry mouth makes it easier for bacteria to remain and even to flourish in the mouth and throat, which means there is a better chance of tonsil stones forming. Water helps to keep enough saliva to prevent this and to prevent infection in general.
[nextpage title=“Next” ]8. Probiotics
Probiotics are an essential part of any healthy diet. Probiotics are a type of “good” bacteria that help to fight “bad” bacteria and infection. Probiotics can be found in many foods, especially yogurt. They can also be taken in supplement form. Since tonsil stones are often caused by bacteria, and can get worse with the proliferation of bacteria, a natural extension of probiotics’ fighting and killing “bad” bacteria is to help prevent the formation of tonsil stones.
[nextpage title=“Next” ]9. Good Oral Hygiene
Finally, maybe the single greatest thing you can do to prevent tonsil stones is to practice good daily oral hygiene. Proper oral hygiene is essential for fighting all sorts of things: cavities, bad breath, gum disease. By brushing and flossing regularly, you can keep your mouth clean of the debris that causes tonsil stones in the first place.
