Can tonsil stones make you feel nauseous

They are thought to be impacted bits of food, salivary debris and other tooth or gum cells that have been shed that get stuck in cracks and holes in the tonsils

How are tonsil stones removed?

You can pick them out.

What is the cure for tonsil stones?

Remove the cracks - usually by laser, as it can accurately remove part of the tonsil, leaving the rest behind.

Do tonsil stones smell?

Yes because they are at least partly made of food, which is organic, so it rots over the days and weeks that the stones are present.

Are there tonsil stones removal tools?

Yes. There are various water jets and picks have been designed for tonsil stones removal.

Are tonsil stones common?

Yes up to 25% of people with tonsils get some tonsil stone formation

Are tonsil stones hard?

Ones that have been present a long time tend to calcify and go hard.

Are tonsil stones bad? 

Tonsil stones are not thought to have any serious side effects.

Are tonsil stones normal?

Yes its a normal variant of tonsils.

Are tonsil stones recurring? 

Yes, once you've started getting tonsil stones, they tend to keep on going until they are treated/lasered.

Can tonsil stones make you ill?

Yes - tonsil stones can trigger chronic tonsillitis, which can lead to Myalgic Encephalitis (M.E.) and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Can tonsil stones cause bad breath? 

Yes, as rotting food smells foul.

Can tonsil stones make you sick?

Yes - tonsil stones can set off acute and chronic tonsillitis.

Can tonsil stones cause headaches?

Yes with chronic tonsillitis.

Can tonsil stones cause swollen glands?

Only if the tonsils become inflamed.

Can tonsil stones bleed?

Usually when someone takes an instrument to them and actually damages the tonsil tissue itself.

How can tonsil stones be removed safely?

Laser tonsillectomy under local anaesthetic (Tonsillotomy) is a common procedure to safely remove tonsil stones. Understand tonsillotomy here.

Mike Dilkes specialises in treatments for tonsil problems and tonsil stones. To find our more and understand treatment for tonsil stones please feel free to contact us in confidence.

Persistent sore throat, difficulty swallowing, or the sensation of something in the back of your throat all may be signs you have tonsil stones.Shutterstock

Discomfort in the back of your throat, with or without bad breath, despite regular brushing and flossing, may be a sign of many possible conditions, including strep throat or tonsillitis (an infection of the tonsils). But if you notice that you also have yellow-whitish bumps on your tonsils, it’s likely you have tonsil stones. (1)

Understandably, the sight of these bumps growing in the back of your mouth can be a cause of concern and alarm. “People may think it’s an infection or a growth of some kind,” says Jennifer Setlur, MD, an otolaryngologist at Massachusetts Eye and Ear in Boston.

Tonsil stones (also referred to as tonsilloliths or tonsilliths) are in fact deposits that can form in the crevices and pits on the surface of the tonsils (usually because of the buildup of food particles, bacteria, or other debris. And fortunately, they are usually harmless. (1,2)

RELATED: All About What Causes Tonsil Stones

Symptoms of Tonsil Stones Include Bad Breath, Sore Throat, Trouble Swallowing, and More

You may experience one or more of these symptoms if you have tonsil stones: (1,2,3)

  • Chronic bad breath
  • Visible pale-yellow or white deposits on your tonsils
  • Persistent sore throat
  • Sensation of a foreign object in the back of your throat
  • Trouble swallowing
  • Pain
  • Cough
  • Earache
  • Bad taste in the mouth
  • Throat infections that are hard to treat with antibiotics

RELATED: Everything You Need to Know About a Sore Throat

One of the most common ways people find out they have tonsil stones is by spotting these growths while looking in the mirror. “You may notice them when flossing your teeth,” Dr. Setlur says.

But in other cases, tonsil stones are not visible to the naked eye. (1) Sometimes the formations may be too small to see with your naked eye, or they may be buried too deep in the tonsillar tissue, explains Aaron Thatcher, MD, a clinical assistant professor with the department of otolaryngology at the University of Michigan Medicine in Ann Arbor.

Can tonsil stones make you feel nauseous

Another common symptom of tonsil stones is bad breath, caused by the unpleasant odor in the masses themselves. “Some people may go to the doctor or dentist because of their bad breath,” says Dr. Thatcher.

But, it’s worth noting that not everyone with tonsil stones experiences bad breath, or indeed, any symptom at all. Indeed, the lack of symptoms experienced by many people may mean this condition is much more prevalent (and underdiagnosed) than we realize, says Thatcher. (1)

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Can tonsil stones make you feel nauseous

Can tonsil stones make you feel nauseous

What Do Tonsil Stones Look, Feel, and Smell Like?

Tonsil stones form when food particles, saliva, plaque, and cellular debris (such as the lining of the mouth) accumulate, says Setlur. They look like pastel-colored pale yellow masses, and they can be spongy or hard like a stone. While they’re usually about the size of a small piece of gravel, in less common instances, tonsil stones that are untreated can become much bigger.

“Some can grow to be golf-ball size,” says Thatcher. When they grow to be very large, they can lead to breathing or swallowing problems. (1,2)

Tonsil stones can smell unpleasant, which is why an unfortunate effect of tonsil stones can be bad breath. “The bacteria produce sulfur compounds, which can cause odor,” says Thatcher. (1)

Tonsil Stones May Be More Common Than We Think

The data documenting how many people are affected by tonsil stones is scant, partly because many may not realize they have the condition. Sometimes people with tonsil stones never experience symptoms, and in many cases, tonsil stones aren’t a serious medical illness, which means researchers are less likely to study the condition, says Thatcher.

But there have been some recent studies that suggest that tonsil stones are much more common than previously thought.

For example, a 2018 study analyzed almost 4,000 computed tomography (CT) scans and found that up to 30 percent of patients had tonsil stones. (4)

A 2013 study analyzed 150 CT scans and found that tonsil stones were present in as many as a quarter of the scans. (5) The researchers note that the rates may be higher in the general population (since this study only involved patients who were scanned).

Tonsil Stones Are Not Contagious

Another common question someone might ask is, “If you have tonsil stones, does that mean you have to worry about passing it on to someone you love when you kiss them or share a cup or utensil?” The good news is that tonsil stones are not contagious.

If you suspect that you have tonsil stones, or if you see growths on your tonsils that look like they may be tonsil stones, you should see your doctor to get a diagnosis and discuss your treatment options.

“Typically, people will see a primary-care physician or dentist first,” says Setlur. But you may be referred to an otolaryngologist if your doctor or dentist suggests the stones should be removed by a specialist.

RELATED: What You Should Know About Preventing Tonsil Stones

Be On the Lookout for These Symptoms

While tonsil stones usually do not pose a serious risk to your health, there are symptoms that can mean you need more urgent medical attention. Call your doctor if you see any of these symptoms, which may be an indication that your tonsil is infected or there is another serious medical problem going on, like cancer. (6)

  • Tonsils that are inflamed or look very red (especially if one side is different from the other)
  • Pus coming from the tonsil or area around it
  • Problems swallowing
  • Pain (especially if it’s more on one side than the other)
  • Sore throat that lasts more than a month
  • Breathing problems
  • Bleeding of the tonsils
  • Pain in your ear

Can tonsil stones make you feel nauseous

Can tonsil stones make you feel nauseous

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Editorial Sources and Fact-Checking

  1. Tonsil Stones. Cleveland Clinic. May 11, 2021.
  2. Tuesday Q and A: Self-Care Steps May Help Prevent Tonsil Stones From Returning. Mayo Clinic. October 14, 2014.
  3. Alfayez A, Albesher MB, Alqabasani MA. A Giant Tonsillolith. Saudi Medical Journal. April 2018.
  4. Kim M-J, Kim J-E, Huh K-H, et al. Multidetector Computed Tomography Imaging Characteristics of Asymptomatic Palatine Tonsilloliths: A Retrospective Study on 3,886 Examinations. Oral Surgery Oral Medicine Oral Pathology Oral Radiology. June 2018.
  5. Fauroux M-A, Mas C, et al. Prevalence of Palatine Tonsilloliths: A Retrospective Study on 150 Consecutive CT Examinations. Dentomaxillofacial Radiology. May 29, 2013.
  6. Tonsil Cancer. Cedars-Sinai.

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Can tonsil problems cause nausea?

All of these symptoms can be seen with tonsillitis or other infections of the upper airways. Fever, nausea and vomiting are often present with different types of illness.

Can tonsil rocks make you sick?

Tonsil stones commonly cause bad breath. They can also cause an irritable cough, earache, sore throat or a foul taste in your mouth.

What sickness comes with tonsil stones?

In severe cases, tonsil stones can lead to chronic tonsil inflammation or infection of your tonsils, which is called tonsillitis. Tonsillitis symptoms include severe throat pain, feeling sick, swelling of the tonsils, and sometimes a fever.

Why do I feel like vomiting when I have tonsils?

These symptoms are present in a wide variety of medical conditions, including ear infections, middle ear inflammation, and diabetes. If you are concerned about your symptoms, then you should contact your doctor right away.