Hi, my name is Dr. Gabriel McCormick and I am a cosmetic dentist with a full-service practice in Bozeman. Today in the Bozeman dental blog I would like to address the subject of tonsil stones. The first thing that Belgrade, Big Sky, and Livingston dental patients usually ask about tonsil stones is, “What in the world are tonsil stones?”
Before we answer that, let’s review what the tonsils are. Your tonsils sit in the back of your throat. They are gland-like and there is one tonsil located in each pocket on either side of the back of your throat. Tonsils are made of the infection-fighting tissue known as lymphocytes, but tonsils aren’t really that great at their job of germ killing.
Tonsils have many areas where dead cells, mucous, and bacteria can become trapped. If this debris accumulates and becomes concentrated, white formations can occur in the pockets. Once it hardens, it becomes a tonsil stone.
It is rare for these tonsil stones to become large and cause problems, but if they do, you may experience the following symptoms:
Bad breath
Sore throat
Difficulty swallowing
Ear pain
Swelling of tonsils
It’s important to discuss treatment with your Bozeman dentist or doctor. The only sure-fire way to avoid tonsil stones is to have the tonsils completely removed, but very few cases become this serious.
Thank you for visiting my dental blog. I am passionate about the oral health of my Bozeman area patients. I also want them to have the beautiful smiles that they desire, that’s why I love to discuss with them the many cosmetic dentistry procedures available, such as teeth whitening, veneers, invisible braces, dental bonding, and dental implants.
For general, family, or cosmetic dentistry, call 406-586-7661 today to schedule an appointment with us!
Dr. Gabriel McCormick
Bozeman Dentistry – Gabriel McCormick, DMD
1482 N. 15th Ave., Suite 2
Bozeman, Montana
406-586-7661
The following online article was used as source material for this blog:
“Tonsil Stones”, WebMD, http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/tonsil-stones-tonsilloliths-treatment-and-prevention, accessed on September 11, 2013
