Tonsil Stones: Discover what they are, how they appear, and how to get rid of them forever.

Tonsil Stones: Discover what they are, how they appear, and how to get rid of them forever.

Tonsil Stones: Discover what they are, how they appear, and how to get rid of them forever.

If you’ve ever coughed up a small, hard, foul-smelling white or yellow pebble—or noticed persistent bad breath despite good oral hygiene—you may have had tonsil stones (also called tonsilloliths). While they sound alarming, they’re usually harmless but annoying. Here’s what you need to know—straight from ENT (ear, nose, and throat) specialists

What Are Tonsil Stones?

Tonsil stones are small, calcified deposits that form in the crevices (crypts) of your tonsils. They’re made of:

Trapped food particles
Dead cells
Bacteria
Mucus

Over time, this debris hardens into soft, chalky lumps—ranging from grain-of-rice size to pea-sized.