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Sore throats belong to every common cold or viral illness. However, when they persist long-term, the patient should not ignore them. There are cases in which people ignored the pains and only too late discovered that their body was fighting a treacherous and more serious disease. Therefore be on the alert and pay attention to all the signals of your body.
Tonsil stones
They are also known as tonsil plugs. They appear on the back of the throat, directly on the tonsils. The tonsils have small crevices where mucus, bacteria and dead white blood cells become trapped. Eventually, these tiny pieces can turn into small white lumps that usually smell and cause unpleasant problems for their host.
The lumps range from white to yellowish in color and their size varies from person to person. Most often, however, they are only a few millimetres in size.
Most common accompanying symptoms
Besides white lumps in the oral cavity you might have noticed other signs:
- Bad breath
- Throat pain (on the tonsils)
- Cough
- Swollen tonsils
- Difficulty swallowing
- Sensation that something is stuck in your throat
- Ear pain
- Visible lumps or tonsils coated with a white film
Treatment
If the stones are small and you hardly notice them, that’s fine. The body can rid itself of impurities this way and at least you know that your tonsils are functioning properly. But once it’s larger lumps that really limit you, it’s time to start addressing the problem.
It is appropriate to change your lifestyle. Revise your diet and start exercising. If even that doesn’t help, doctors move to a more radical solution, when they suggest removing the tonsils entirely. Do not hesitate to visit your doctor, even if it’s a problem you might be embarrassed about.
Your doctor will help you remove the stones or will be able to find the culprit in your lifestyle and advise you how to resolve the situation as quickly as possible.
