by: Noreen
Today I found out what those foul smelling, small,
white-ish, chunks that you can sometimes feel at the back of your throat when
you swallow are. They’re called Tonsilloliths or Tonsil Stones.
Although most people experience these little white
balls at the back of the throat that often get coughed up into the mouth,
this widespread affliction is rarely talked about and the awareness about it
very low. Many suffer in silence believing that their alone or the
occurrence is nothing more than dregs of last night’s dinner. Another
reason people don’t dispense with their problem of tonsil stones is because
they are embarrassingly nasty and foul smelling!
Tonsilloliths, also known as tonsil stones are stinky
little globs of mucus, dead cells, debris and bacteria that form in the tonsil
crypts which are simply small pockets or divots that appear in everyone’s
tonsils. When the trapped dead cells, mucus, and debris harden or calcify, they
form white/yellow ball in the tonsil pockets. They usually appear as tiny
little chunks in the shape of cauliflower and smell like they could wake up
your dead grandma.
The strong unpleasant odor is caused by a build-up of
sulfur-producing bacteria that feeds on the tonsil stones collected in the
crypts of the tonsils and is a combination of hydrogen sulfide, methyl
mercaptan, and other stinky substances that form in it. Tonsil stones can range
from a size of a small peppercorn to a rather large size causing discomfort in
the throat and in some cases uncomfortable side effects, including sore throat
and ear pain and tonsillitis. It is also believed to be one of the reasons for
Halitosis (bad breath).
Tonsil stones are fairly common in adults and children.
However, they tend to occur most often in people who suffer from chronic
inflammation in their tonsils or repeated bouts of tonsillitis. Studies have
shown that people who have had their tonsils removed, under most circumstances,
almost never experience tonsil stones.
There are some effective treatments for reducing the
occurrence of tonsil stones. Removing one’s tonsils is an option, but not the
best solution as tonsils play a role in the immune system and are meant to
function like nets, trapping incoming bacteria and virus particles that are
passing through your throat. Easy home treatments like gargling salt water, or
non-alcohol mouthwash is often advised for getting rid of tonsiloliths. A water
pick that emits powerful pulses of water is also a useful tool for clearing the
tonsil crypts. The simplest solution is to use a cotton swab or toothbrush so
you can push the nasty little things out and rinse your mouth free of them.
Bonus Facts:
* There are about 9,000 taste buds on the surface of the
tongue, in the throat, and on the roof of the mouth. Taste buds contain
chemoreceptors that respond to chemicals from food and other substances that
are dissolved by the saliva in the mouth.
* Your mouth produces 1 liter (1.8 pints) of saliva a day. We
each produce about 10,000 gallons of saliva in a lifetime. Saliva is required
for taste - until food is dissolved by saliva, we cannot taste it.
* The average American eats 50 tonnes of food and drinks
50,000 liters (11,000 gallons) of liquid during his life. It also takes food
seven seconds to go from the mouth to the stomach via the esophagus.
Source : http://www.todayifoundout.com
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