Uncovering the Truth About Tonsil Stones: What You Need to Know
Given the overwhelming size and unprecedented global reach of the Internet, you never have to look far to find online content that shocks, bewilders, amazes, or disgusts.
The rise of social media sites has allowed photos and videos to be shared worldwide like never before. Consequently, trends sometimes develop where waves of similar content seem to emerge in a period of time.
It’s probably no surprise that content related to our bodies – and all the weird, wondrous, fascinating things they can do – has proven popular online. You’re probably all too familiar with videos involving things like popping pimples (gross!), draining cysts (double gross!), and removing earwax.
What are tonsil stones?
But have you ever heard of tonsil stones? I certainly hadn’t, so when I saw a video on this topic, I decided to do what I’m good at… sharing the information with you…
I admit I’m very curious about anything related to the human body. They’re not necessarily fun to look at, but the viral craze of so-called “pimple-popping” videos has hooked me like a fish on a line.
When I came across a video about removing “tonsil stones,” I wasn’t sure what to expect.
First off, I should probably tell you what tonsil stones are exactly. I had never heard of them, let alone seen one. I might be alone in this, maybe you readers are familiar with them. Or maybe not…
According to the Mayo Clinic, tonsil stones are hard white or yellow formations that occur on the tonsils. They are not painful or harmful and can usually be treated with home remedies.
The main causes of tonsil stones are trapped materials and debris in the tonsillar crypts, located in the – you guessed it – tonsils, which are oval-shaped, infection-fighting flaps of tissue at the back of your throat. These can be minerals like calcium, food or debris, or even bacteria and fungi.
Tonsil stones are more common than you might think, although they don’t always cause symptoms. Any symptoms include bad breath, coughing, ear pain, and throat pain.
Reportedly, 3 million Americans suffer from tonsil stones each year, but fortunately, removing them is a fairly simple matter. There are various home methods, like gargling with salt water and using a delicate object – like a cotton swab – to remove them.
Not only that, but simply coughing forcefully can also dislodge and bring the stones up.
In the video below (which has been viewed a lot) you can see someone removing a tonsil stone. Warning! It’s quite graphic!
Were you aware of tonsil stones? Have you ever had one? Let us know in the comments.
Meanwhile, if you found this article interesting, check out the article below for more engaging content.
