Tonsillolith Symptoms, Causes & More
Article Sources
- 1. Krespi, Yosef P., and Victor Kizhner. 'Laser Tonsil Cryptolysis: In-Office 500 Cases Review.’ American Journal of Otolaryngology, W.B. Saunders, 10 Apr. 2013, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0196070913000690#
- 2. C. Chang; R. Thrasher. 'Coblation Cryptolysis to Treat Tonsil Stones: a Retrospective Case Series.’ Ear, Nose, & Throat Journal, U.S. National Library of Medicine, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22711390/
- 3. Alfayez, Abdulrhman, et al. 'A Giant Tonsillolith.’ Saudi Medical Journal, Saudi Medical Journal, Apr. 2018, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5938656/
Causes
Tonsils can have pockets, tunnels and crevices, which are commonly known as tonsil crypts. These spaces in the tonsils may trap various forms of debris, such as food, saliva and dead cells, that build up over time. Microorganisms such as fungi and bacteria feed on the buildup and release a distinctive bad odor.
As time passes, the debris solidifies into a tonsillolith. An individual may have only one large tonsillolith or many smaller ones. Tonsilloliths may occur because of chronic sinus issues, chronic inflammation of the tonsils or poor dental hygiene. Viral infections due to the adenovirus and rhinovirus are also common causes.3Alfayez, Abdulrhman, et al. ‘A Giant Tonsillolith.’ Saudi Medical Journal, Saudi Medical Journal, Apr. 2018, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5938656/
