Tonsillitis are often called by other names, including "tonsil stones" and "throat stones." They're called these nicknames because that's exactly what they look and feel like: tiny stones that form and lodge in your throat or on your tonsils. If you have them, you understand how much of a nuisance they can be.
How to Tell if You Have Tonsillitis
Most people who have tonsil stones do not realize it. Not only do they not know that certain physical symptoms they experience are caused by the stones, but they also do not even know that such a condition exits. If you found this site, though, chances are that you know at least something about the condition.
So how can you tell if you have them? Head to the nearest mirror and open your mouth wide. Examine the back of your throat. Scan the tonsils on the sides and back of your throat and look for calcified masses. These should look roughly like tiny white stones (almost like small teeth). If you see these, you've got "throat stones."
What to Do if You Have Tonsillitis
So you located the tiny white dots on your tonsils. You know you have tonsil stones, but you do not know what to do now. Well, in general, there are two things you should do:
1. Get rid of existing stones. You can do this by taking a toothbrush, a q-tip, or a spoon-and using it to brush your tonsils lightly. This should dislodge the stones, freeing you from constant irritation and the other symptoms they cause.
2. Prevent future stones. You can prevent future stones from forming by using a variety of different techniques. At a minimum, you should use mouthwash more frequently and employ a oxygenating toothpaste. You should also consider scraping the back of your tongue on a regular basis to keep it free of white foam and debris.
If you take the two steps I outlined above, your goal to remain throat stone free should be successful. Keep it up and your tonsillitis will disappear-and, with it, the throat irritation and bad breath.