What Causes Tonsil Stones?
Tonsil stones or tonsilloliths are small stones that form from mucus, bacteria, dead cells, and other materials that are trapped within the crevices of the tonsils. What causes tonsils stones is a complex process. In order to understand that process, let’s first look at the tonsils and what purpose it serves in our bodies.
The tonsils are part of the body’s immune system. These small glands located at the back of the throat contain lymphocytes—cells that fights pathogens and prevents infections. The tonsils also serve as a safety net for the body by trapping bacteria, fungi, and viruses to stop them from entering the body.
Our tonsils were very useful in the past. Back in the time when humans had limited access to clean water and the methods of cooking and food preparation were not that hygienic. In the present, however, the tonsils are becoming quite useless. There are even circumstances wherein they can become a hindrance. Instead of protecting the body, the tonsils can sometimes be a gateway to infection. The tonsils inability to do its job properly is part of what causes tonsil stones.
So, how do you get tonsil stones? As we age, our tonsils shrink and they start having deeper creases and crevices. Bacteria, dead cells, mucus, and other foreign bodies can get trapped in these crevices. Most of the time that debris can just irritates the tonsils and can cause tonsillitis or inflammation of the tonsils. Sometimes, all of that debris can stay trapped and harden into a tonsillolith or a tonsil stones.
If this is the case, how come tonsillitis is more common than tonsil stones? Research suggests that the type of bacteria and the amount of bacteria in the mouth may be another factor that causes tonsil stones.
People who have bacterial biofilms in their mouth are more likely to develop tonsil stones than those who don’t. Bacterial biofilms are different species of bacteria that group together and form clumps or sheets. The bacteria in biofilms are more resistant to antibiotics and they tend to “coat” whatever they infect. In theory, the way these biofilms bind to debris is what promotes the formation of solid tonsil stones.
Post-nasal drip is also another factor that may contribute to the formation of tonsil stones. Post-nasal drip is when excess mucus, caused by sinusitis, cough or cold, runs down the back of the throat. All that excess mucus can drip into the little pockets and spaces on the tonsils. Mucus is an ideal breeding ground for bacteria and it also binds well to dead cells and foreign debris. The more mucus there is the more likely tonsil stones would form.
Tonsil stones are fairly common. It affects 1 out of 10 people and occurs more commonly in young adults. Most tonsil stones are very small, about the size of a grain of rice or smaller. It’s rare to find a large tonsillolith, which is about the size of a pencil eraser. However, it is also observed that there are certain types of people who are at greater risk of developing tonsil stones than most of the population. These people are those who have
- Recurrent bouts of tonsillitis
- Recurrent bouts of upper respiratory tract infection
- Poor oral hygiene
- Weak immune systems.
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