Title: How and Why Do You Get Tonsil Stones? | Everyday Health
Headings: What Exactly Are Tonsil Stones and What Causes Them?
What Exactly Are Tonsil Stones and What Causes Them?
Tonsil Stones Form When Bacteria, Food Particles, or Other Debris Get Trapped in Your Tonsils
Tonsil Stones Are Not Necessarily Caused by Poor Oral Hygiene, but Practicing Good Care Can Help
Tonsilloliths Are Not Like Other Stones That Develop in the Kidneys and Elsewhere
The Good News Is That Tonsil Stones Are Usually Not Harmful
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Content: Drinking Alcohol Increases Disease-Causing Mouth Bacteria
Part of the reason tonsil stones form has to do with the structure of one’s tonsils. Some people have tonsils that are characterized by deep pits and craters, commonly referred to as “crypts.” Tonsil stones can develop in these cavities when bacteria, food particles, saliva, mucus, and other debris build up and get trapped. “ This material builds up because the crypts have a vase shape,” says Dr. Thatcher. “ It lets food in and enables it to stay.” ( 1,2)
Tonsil Stones Are Not Necessarily Caused by Poor Oral Hygiene, but Practicing Good Care Can Help
A common misconception is that tonsil stones are caused by not practicing good oral hygiene. But the truth is that people who brush, floss, and take good care of their teeth and gums can still develop tonsil stones. “ We don’t think it’s oral hygiene,” Thatcher says. “ In fact, people who are most obsessed with good hygiene can develop tonsil stones.” That said, brushing, flossing, and gargling regularly can reduce bacteria and remove particles in the mouth and help minimize or prevent stones from forming, says Dr. Setlur.