What are tonsil stones and how do they form. What causes tonsil stones to develop. How can tonsil stones be diagnosed and treated. Can dentists effectively remove tonsil stones. What are the best methods for preventing tonsil stones.

What Are Tonsil Stones and How Do They Form?

Tonsil stones, also known as tonsilloliths or tonsil calculi, are small, calcified formations that develop in the crevices of the tonsils. These yellowish or white deposits typically range in size from a tiny grain of rice to as large as a grape.

How do tonsil stones form? Tonsil stones develop when debris like food particles, bacteria, dead cells, and mucus become trapped in the crypts (deep crevices) of the tonsils. Over time, this material calcifies and hardens into stone-like formations.

• Tonsil stones are made of hardened, impacted biofilm
• They most commonly form on the palatine tonsils at the back of the throat
• Approximately 5-6% of adult dental patients have tonsil stones
• They are twice as common in men and more prevalent after age 40

What Causes Tonsil Stones to Develop?

Several factors can contribute to the formation of tonsil stones. Understanding these causes can help in prevention and management of this condition.

Common Causes of Tonsil Stones

• Poor oral hygiene
• Chronic mouth breathing
• Deep tonsillar crypts
• Large tonsils
• Chronic tonsillitis
• Hormonal changes
• Imbalanced oral microbiome
• Excess calcium in the blood without sufficient vitamins K2 and D3

Why do some people get tonsil stones while others don’t? The primary reason is an imbalance in the oral microbiome, known as dysbiosis. This can be triggered by factors like poor oral care, mouth breathing, dietary habits, and genetic predisposition.

Recognizing the Symptoms of Tonsil Stones

While small tonsil stones may go unnoticed, larger formations can cause various uncomfortable symptoms. Recognizing these signs is crucial for early detection and treatment.

Key Symptoms of Tonsil Stones

1. Persistent bad breath (halitosis)
2. Visible yellowish or white deposits on the tonsils
3. Sore throat
4. Difficulty swallowing
5. Constant feeling of needing to swallow
6. Ear pain
7. Persistent cough
8. Swollen tonsils

What does the breath of someone with tonsil stones smell like? Tonsil stones often produce a distinct odor similar to rotting fruit. This unique, foul smell is a hallmark symptom of tonsil stones and can significantly impact a person’s quality of life.

How Are Tonsil Stones Diagnosed?

Accurate diagnosis of tonsil stones is essential for proper treatment. Healthcare providers use various methods to identify and confirm the presence of these calcifications.

Diagnostic Methods for Tonsil Stones

• Physical examination by a dentist or doctor
• Visual inspection of the tonsils
• CT scan or MRI for deep tonsillar crypts
• Ruling out other conditions with similar symptoms

Can X-rays detect tonsil stones? While X-rays are commonly used for various dental issues, they are generally unreliable for identifying hidden tonsil stones. More advanced imaging techniques like CT scans or MRIs are preferred for detecting stones in deep tonsillar crypts.

Effective Methods for Removing Tonsil Stones

Tonsil stone removal can be accomplished through various methods, ranging from at-home remedies to professional medical interventions. The choice of method often depends on the size and location of the stones, as well as the severity of symptoms.

At-Home Tonsil Stone Removal Techniques

• Vigorous gargling with warm salt water
• Using an oral irrigator or water flosser
• Gently nudging stones with a cotton swab
• Inducing coughing

Is it safe to remove tonsil stones at home? While many people successfully remove tonsil stones at home, it’s important to proceed with caution. Avoid using sharp objects or excessive force, as this can damage the delicate tonsil tissue. If home remedies are ineffective or uncomfortable, seek professional help.

Professional Tonsil Stone Removal

For larger or stubborn tonsil stones, professional removal may be necessary. This can be performed by:

• Dentists
• Oral surgeons
• Ear, nose, and throat doctors (otolaryngologists)

These healthcare providers can use specialized tools and techniques to safely remove tonsil stones, minimizing discomfort and reducing the risk of complications.

Can Dentists Effectively Remove Tonsil Stones?

Dentists play a crucial role in diagnosing and treating tonsil stones. Their expertise in oral health makes them well-equipped to handle these calcifications.

How Dentists Remove Tonsil Stones

1. Visual examination and diagnosis
2. Use of specialized dental tools for removal
3. Application of local anesthesia if necessary
4. Irrigation and cleaning of tonsillar crypts
5. Providing aftercare instructions

What techniques do dentists use to remove tonsil stones? Dentists often employ a combination of manual removal techniques and irrigation. They may use dental picks, curettes, or even laser technology to dislodge and remove tonsil stones effectively. In some cases, they might recommend more advanced procedures or refer patients to an otolaryngologist for complex cases.

Preventing Tonsil Stones: Effective Strategies

While tonsil stones can be a recurring issue for some individuals, there are several strategies that can help prevent their formation or reduce their frequency.

Key Prevention Strategies

• Maintaining excellent oral hygiene
• Regular brushing and flossing
• Using an alcohol-free mouthwash
• Staying hydrated
• Avoiding tobacco products
• Managing allergies and sinus issues
• Addressing chronic mouth breathing

How can diet affect tonsil stone formation? A balanced diet low in dairy and high in fruits and vegetables can help reduce tonsil stone formation. Some people find that reducing their intake of foods high in calcium and increasing their consumption of vitamins K2 and D3 helps prevent tonsil stones.

When to Seek Professional Help for Tonsil Stones

While many cases of tonsil stones can be managed at home, there are situations where professional medical intervention is necessary. Recognizing these scenarios is crucial for maintaining optimal oral and overall health.

Signs You Should See a Healthcare Provider

• Persistent and severe symptoms
• Difficulty breathing or swallowing
• Severe pain in the throat or ears
• Recurrent tonsil stones despite home care
• Signs of infection (fever, severe swelling)
• Impact on daily life and quality of sleep

What treatment options might a healthcare provider recommend for severe cases? For recurring or severe tonsil stones, a healthcare provider might suggest more aggressive treatments such as cryptolysis (smoothing out tonsillar crypts) or, in extreme cases, a tonsillectomy (surgical removal of the tonsils). These procedures are typically considered when other treatments have failed to provide relief.

The Impact of Tonsil Stones on Overall Health

While tonsil stones are often considered a minor annoyance, they can have broader implications for an individual’s health and well-being. Understanding these potential impacts is essential for comprehensive management of the condition.

Potential Health Implications of Tonsil Stones

1. Chronic bad breath affecting social interactions
2. Sleep disturbances due to discomfort
3. Increased risk of tonsil infections
4. Potential for more severe ear, nose, and throat issues
5. Psychological impact (anxiety, self-consciousness)

Can tonsil stones lead to more serious health problems? While tonsil stones themselves are generally not dangerous, they can sometimes be a sign of underlying issues like chronic tonsillitis or poor oral health. In rare cases, very large tonsil stones might interfere with breathing or swallowing, necessitating immediate medical attention.

Advances in Tonsil Stone Treatment and Research

The field of tonsil stone treatment is evolving, with new research and technologies offering promising alternatives to traditional methods. These advancements aim to provide more effective, less invasive solutions for those suffering from recurrent tonsil stones.

Emerging Treatments and Research Areas

• Laser tonsil cryptolysis
• Coblation cryptolysis
• Probiotics for oral microbiome balance
• Novel oral irrigators and removal tools
• Research into biofilm-disrupting agents

What are the latest developments in non-surgical tonsil stone treatments? Recent research has focused on minimally invasive procedures like laser cryptolysis, which uses laser energy to smooth out tonsillar crypts, reducing the likelihood of stone formation. Additionally, studies are exploring the use of specific probiotics to rebalance the oral microbiome, potentially preventing tonsil stone formation at its source.

Understanding the Role of Tonsils in Immune Health

To fully comprehend the issue of tonsil stones, it’s important to understand the role tonsils play in our overall health. Tonsils are part of the body’s lymphatic system and serve as a first line of defense against ingested or inhaled pathogens.

Functions of Tonsils in the Immune System

1. Trapping incoming pathogens
2. Producing antibodies
3. Housing immune cells
4. Alerting the immune system to potential threats

How does the presence of tonsil stones affect the immune function of tonsils? While tonsil stones themselves don’t necessarily impair immune function, they can be a sign of chronic inflammation or infection in the tonsils. This chronic state may potentially reduce the tonsils’ effectiveness in fighting off pathogens. However, more research is needed to fully understand the long-term impacts of tonsil stones on immune health.

Lifestyle Factors and Their Influence on Tonsil Stone Formation

Various lifestyle factors can significantly influence the likelihood of developing tonsil stones. By understanding and modifying these factors, individuals can take proactive steps to reduce their risk of tonsil stone formation.

Key Lifestyle Factors Affecting Tonsil Stones

• Dietary habits (high dairy consumption, insufficient hydration)
• Oral hygiene practices
• Smoking and alcohol consumption
• Sleep position and mouth breathing
• Stress levels and overall health

How can changes in lifestyle help prevent tonsil stones? Adopting a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables, staying well-hydrated, maintaining excellent oral hygiene, quitting smoking, and managing stress can all contribute to reducing the risk of tonsil stone formation. Additionally, addressing issues like chronic mouth breathing or sleep apnea can help minimize the likelihood of developing these calcifications.

The Psychological Impact of Living with Tonsil Stones

While often considered a minor physical issue, tonsil stones can have significant psychological impacts on those who suffer from them regularly. Understanding these effects is crucial for comprehensive care and support.

Common Psychological Effects of Tonsil Stones

1. Social anxiety due to bad breath concerns
2. Reduced self-esteem
3. Depression from chronic discomfort
4. Obsessive behaviors related to oral hygiene
5. Stress from recurring symptoms

How can individuals cope with the psychological impact of tonsil stones? Seeking support from healthcare providers, including mental health professionals if necessary, can be beneficial. Cognitive-behavioral techniques, stress management strategies, and joining support groups can help individuals better cope with the challenges of living with tonsil stones. It’s important to address both the physical and emotional aspects of this condition for overall well-being.

Tonsil Stones in Children: Special Considerations

While tonsil stones are more common in adults, they can also affect children. The approach to diagnosis and treatment in pediatric cases may differ from that in adults, requiring special considerations.

Key Points for Tonsil Stones in Children

• Less common but can occur in children with large or chronically inflamed tonsils
• May be associated with recurrent tonsillitis
• Can be more challenging to diagnose due to difficulty in examination
• Treatment focuses on conservative methods and improving oral hygiene
• Surgical intervention is considered more carefully in children

How should parents approach tonsil stone management in children? Parents should focus on teaching and maintaining good oral hygiene practices. If tonsil stones are suspected, consulting a pediatrician or pediatric ENT specialist is advisable. These professionals can provide age-appropriate treatment options and determine if further intervention is necessary. In most cases, conservative management and monitoring are preferred for children with tonsil stones.

The Future of Tonsil Stone Prevention and Treatment

As our understanding of tonsil stones evolves, so do the approaches to preventing and treating them. Ongoing research and technological advancements are paving the way for more effective and less invasive management strategies.

Emerging Trends in Tonsil Stone Management

1. Personalized oral microbiome analysis and treatment
2. Advanced imaging techniques for early detection
3. Development of targeted probiotics for oral health
4. Innovations in minimally invasive removal techniques
5. Exploration of natural remedies and their efficacy

What potential breakthroughs can we expect in tonsil stone treatment? Future treatments may focus on preventive approaches that maintain a healthy oral microbiome, potentially eliminating the root cause of tonsil stone formation. Additionally, advancements in biotechnology may lead to the development of enzymes or compounds that can safely dissolve tonsil stones without the need for manual removal. As research progresses, we may see a shift towards more holistic, long-term solutions for managing and preventing tonsil stones.

Tonsil Stones: Symptoms, Causes, and How to Remove

Table of Contents[Hide][Show]

What are tonsil stones?

Tonsil stones (also called tonsil calculi or tonsilloliths) are yellowish or white calcifications that develop on the tonsils. Tonsils are a type of lymph node that line the back of the throat. 

These stones are made of hardened, impacted biofilm that builds up in the crypts (crevices) of your tonsils. They range in size between a small rice grain to as large as a grape.

Generally, tonsil stones develop on the palatine tonsils (on the sides of the back of your throat). 

Tonsil stones may be present in 5-6% of adult dental patients on average. Tonsil stones are twice as common in men than women, more common after the age of 40, and less frequent in black individuals than those of other ethnicities.

A mild case of tonsil stones may go unnoticed. However, once they make it feel like you constantly have to swallow or cause nasty halitosis (bad breath), tonsil stones can be a major inconvenience.

They often fall out on their own, but some stubborn tonsil stones must be removed by a dental professional.

IF YOU PURCHASE A PRODUCT USING A LINK BELOW, WE MAY RECEIVE A SMALL COMMISSION AT NO ADDITIONAL COST TO YOU. READ OUR AD POLICY HERE.

Tonsil Stones Pictures

Causes of Tonsil Stones

Causes of tonsil stones include:

• Poor dental hygiene
• Chronic mouth breathing (during the day or at night)
• Deep crevices (crypts) in the tonsils (where food particles can become lodged)
• Large tonsils
• Chronic tonsillitis (inflammation of the tonsils)
• Hormonal changes (like during pregnancy)
• Too much calcium in the blood without enough vitamins K2 and D3

Food debris, bacteria, dead cells (skin or oral tissue), and mucus caught on the tonsils can calcify into stones when inflammation and bacterial overgrowth are present in the mouth.  

When white blood cells are sent to an area of infection, they leave microscopic calcifications behind that, over time, may lead to tonsil stones.

Why do people get tonsil stones? People get tonsil stones, in part, because of dysbiotic in their oral microbiome. The oral microbiome becomes unbalanced due to poor oral hygiene, mouth breathing, a poor diet, genetic factors, and more.

Tonsil Stone Symptoms

Even if you can’t see them in the mirror, tonsil stones can interfere with your oral health. However, some small tonsil stones may cause no symptoms.

Common symptoms of tonsil stones are:

• Persistent bad breath (halitosis)
• Visible yellowish or white stone on the tonsils (on one or both sides)
• Sore throat
• Difficulty swallowing
• Feeling like you constantly need to swallow
• Ear pain
• Persistent cough
• Swollen tonsils

It’s uncomfortable to live with tonsil stones. The most frequently reported symptoms of tonsil stones are chronic bad breath and a feeling of being unable to swallow. They can also cause pain in the ears or throat, trouble swallowing, a cough, and other symptoms in the ear, nose, and throat.

What do tonsil stones smell like? Tonsil stones typically smell like rotting fruit. These calcifications create a unique, foul odor in your bad breath.

Diagnosing Tonsil Stones

Most tonsil stones are diagnosed by a physical examination by your dentist or doctor. They can often see the white or yellow stones formed on your tonsils, which is a dead giveaway that tonsil stones are to blame.

If you have very deep tonsillar crypts (crevices), your healthcare provider may prescribe imaging like a CT scan or MRI to locate stones. X-rays are unreliable for identifying hidden tonsil stones.

Without the presence of visible tonsil stones, your provider may rule out other conditions that cause similar symptoms, such as:

• Strep throat
• Sinus infections
• Tonsillitis/tonsil infection

A primary care provider is likely to refer you to an ear, nose, and throat doctor (doctor of otolaryngology) for treatment or to confirm their diagnosis.

How to Remove Tonsil Stones

Tonsil Stone Removal at Home

Particularly if they make you uncomfortable, you may want to get rid of tonsil stones at home.

Proceed with caution. Tonsil stone removal can be simple and easy. Unfortunately, some home remedies used to remove tonsil stones are not safe (like tweezers or a toothbrush).

To remove tonsil stones at home, try the following home remedies:

• Vigorously gargle with warm salt water
• Use an oral irrigator (water flosser) to gently spray water to dislodge the calcified stone
• Very gently nudge tonsil stones with a cotton swab 
• Make yourself cough

Tonsil Stone Removal at the Doctor/Dentist

If gargling, coughing, and other manual remedies don’t work, you may need to see a healthcare provider about surgical removal of your tonsil stones.

Minor surgical procedures are commonly performed for large or particularly painful tonsil stones.

Your tonsil stones can be surgically removed by a dentist, oral surgeon, or an ENT specialist (for severe cases).

https://www.instagram.com/p/CAnJrfDJhVz/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading

Treatment for Recurring Tonsil Stones

For frequent tonsil stone flare-ups, your doctor may prescribe medications such as:

• Anti-inflammatory drugs: Over-the-counter or prescription anti-inflammatories, such as ibuprofen, may help reduce tonsil swelling and make tonsil stones easier to remove. They can also improve discomfort and difficulty swallowing.
• Antibiotics: Antibiotics can wipe out bacteria in your gut, where most of your immune system lives, to reduce the symptoms of a severe tonsil stone flare-up. However, this isn’t a long-term option and should be used infrequently, due to the risk of antibiotic resistance.

Surgical treatments for recurring tonsil stones include:

• Laser tonsil cryptolysis: This procedure involves the use of a laser to get rid of tonsil crypts that can contribute to tonsil stone development. Only local anesthesia is used and most cases require only one visit. There are no major risks or side effects associated with laser tonsil cryptolysis. You should expect to miss no more than 2 days of work while you recover.
• Coblation cryptolysis: Coblation, or the use of radio waves to alter salt solution to charged ions, destroys tonsil crypts without using heat. Like laser cryptolysis, only local anesthesia is used and surgery and recovery are minor. Coblation cryptolysis is a relatively new procedure, introduced in 2012. Its major benefits are the lack of a “burning sensation” caused by laser procedures and no risk of facial burns or damage to the eyes.
• Tonsillotomy: In this tonsil surgery, only the palatine tonsils (where tonsil stones occur) are removed. It is also known as a partial tonsillectomy and requires general anesthesia. However, a tonsillotomy is less invasive than a full tonsillectomy and has a shorter, less painful recovery for both children and adults. Tonsillotomy is equally as effective as a full tonsillectomy — and preferred more by patients — to treat recurring tonsil stones.
• Tonsillectomy: The most drastic surgical option for tonsil stone flare-ups is a tonsillectomy. This surgery involves removing all three types of tonsils (palatine, pharyngeal, and lingual). If your dentist or doctor has identified enlarged adenoids as a trigger for nighttime mouth breathing or sleep-disordered breathing, your adenoids may also be removed during this surgery.

Because they are associated with some risks, surgical options are typically used only if tonsil stones significantly disrupt your life. Surgery for tonsil stones is controversial and should be used as a last resort after other options have been exhausted.

How to Prevent Tonsil Stones

The most effective way to prevent tonsil stones is to maintain a healthy oral microbiome through a healthy diet, good oral hygiene, and addressing dry mouth.

There are several ways to prevent tonsil stones:

• Brush your teeth twice each day and 45 minutes after eating any sugary, acidic, or processed foods/drinks
• Use a remineralizing toothpaste like Boka or RiseWell
• Scrape your tongue every day
• Floss every day
• Eat a diet rich in nutrient-dense foods and low in sugar and processed foods
• Use oral/dental probiotics if you notice signs of dental problems like bleeding gums (gingivitis) or bad breath
• See your dentist and dental hygienist at least every 6 months for regular teeth cleanings
• Avoid alcohol-based and/or antibacterial mouthwash, which are like an antibiotic for the mouth that disrupt the oral microbiome
• Mouth tape at night if you show any signs of sleep-disordered breathing (such as snoring, waking up in the middle of the night, or dry mouth in the morning)
• Stop smoking, vaping, or using any form of tobacco
• Don’t abuse alcohol
• Address chronic tonsillitis or sinus infections with your ENT and/or primary care doctor

Complications of Tonsil Stones

Left untreated, large tonsil stones may cause complications including tonsillitis, peritonsillar abscess, breathing issues, or significant swallowing issues.

Most of the time, though, tonsil stones resolve on their own or can be treated by your doctor with no complications.

Seek medical attention from your dentist or doctor if you experience:

• Tonsils of different sizes
• Blood in your saliva
• Problems swallowing, speaking, or breathing
• Pain, swelling, or lumps in the neck
• Severe pain in your mouth or throat

FAQs

Q

Are tonsil stones contagious?

A

Tonsil stones are not contagious. However, you can pass bacteria from your oral microbiome to another person’s by kissing or sharing utensils.

Since tonsil stones are related to the health of your oral bacteria, kissing or sharing utensils with someone who has tonsil stones may risk sharing the microbial culprits.

Q

Why do tonsil stones smell so bad?

A

Tonsil stones smell bad because they are home to anaerobic bacteria. These bacteria create sulfides, which give off a putrid smell.

Q

How long do tonsil stones last?

A

Tonsil stones may last anywhere from several days to several years. Most tonsil stones clear up in 1-3 weeks on their own. Large stones may remain on the tonsils for many years if not removed by a doctor.

Q

How common are tonsil stones?

A

Tonsil stones are somewhat common and occur in somewhere around 5-6% of adult dental patients.

Factors that increase the commonality of tonsil stones include:

• Male gender
• Age over 40
• Hispanic or Caucasian ethnicity
• Poor oral hygiene
• Frequent tonsil or sinus infections

References

1. Abdulrhman, A., Albesher, M. B., & Alqabasani, M. A. (2018). A giant tonsillolith. Saudi Medical Journal, 39(4), 412-414. Full text: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5938656/ 
2. Aragoneses, J. M., Suárez, A., Aragoneses, J., Brugal, V. A., & Fernández-Domínguez, M. (2020). prevalence of palatine tonsilloliths in Dominican patients of varying social classes treated in university clinics. Scientific reports, 10(1), 1-7. Full text: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6997381/ 
3. Takahashi, A., Sugawara, C., Kudoh, T., Uchida, D., Tamatani, T., Nagai, H., & Miyamoto, Y. (2014). Prevalence and imaging characteristics of palatine tonsilloliths detected by CT in 2,873 consecutive patients. The scientific world journal, 2014. Full text: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4214167/ 
4. Balaji Babu, B., Avinash Tejasvi, M. L., CK, A. A., & Chittaranjan, B. (2013). Tonsillolith: A panoramic radiograph presentation. Journal of clinical and diagnostic research: JCDR, 7(10), 2378. Full text: https://www.jcdr.net/article_fulltext.asp?id=3530 
5. Ansai, T., & Takehara, T. (2005). Tonsillolith as a halitosis-inducing factor. British dental journal, 198(5), 263-264. Abstract: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15870743/ 
6. Oda, M., Kito, S., Tanaka, T., Nishida, I., Awano, S., Fujita, Y., … & Kokuryo, S. (2013). Prevalence and imaging characteristics of detectable tonsilloliths on 482 pairs of consecutive CT and panoramic radiographs. BMC Oral Health, 13(1), 1-8. Full text: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3852777/ 
7. Krespi, Y. P., & Kizhner, V. (2013). Laser tonsil cryptolysis: in-office 500 cases review. American Journal of Otolaryngology, 34(5), 420-424. Abstract: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23583078/ 
8. Chang, C. Y., & Thrasher, R. (2012). Coblation cryptolysis to treat tonsil stones: a retrospective case series. Ear, Nose & Throat Journal, 91(6), 238-254. Abstract: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22711390/ 
9. Smith, S. (2016). Tonsillotomy: An alternative surgical option to total tonsillectomy in children with obstructive sleep apnoea. Australian Family Physician, 45(12), 894. Abstract: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27903040/ 
10. Wong Chung, J. E., van Benthem, P. P. G., & Blom, H. M. (2018). Tonsillotomy versus tonsillectomy in adults suffering from tonsil-related afflictions: a systematic review. Acta Oto-Laryngologica, 138(5), 492-501. Abstract: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29241412/ 

All About Tonsil Stones And How To Prevent Them – TruCare Dentistry Roswell

Tonsil stones are hard, white, or yellow-colored formations located on or within tonsils.

It is not easy for people to realize whether they have tonsils or not. They are not visible easily and can have a size of a rice grain or a grape. They do not generally cause considerable health complications. But sometimes, they grow even more extensive, which swells up the tonsils and may even have an unpleasant smell.

Reasons for tonsil stones

Crevices, tunnels, and pits, also known as tonsil crypts, make up your tonsils. Debris of dead cells, mucus, saliva, and food can get in there and get stuck. They build up over there, which is later fed on by bacteria and fungi, which further causes a bad smell.

This debris gets hard with time and turns into stone. Some people may have to deal with just one stone, whereas some might have many smaller stones.

Reasons for tonsil stones could be:

• Poor dental hygiene
• Large tonsils
• Chronic sinus issues
• Chronic tonsillitis or inflamed tonsils

How to identify tonsil stones?

Even though tonsil stones are difficult to see, they still end up causing symptoms that can help you identify them. Symptoms include:

• Bad breath
• Sore throat
• Trouble swallowing
• Ear pain
• Ongoing cough
• Swollen tonsils
• White or yellow color formation on tonsils

Smaller tonsil stone, which is very common, might not show any symptom.

Prevention of tonsil stones

Having tonsil stones once might mean you will have to deal with it again in the future. But specific preventive measures can be taken. These steps are:

Following good oral hygiene. Make sure that you clear the back of your tongue when brushing

• Stop smoking
• Saltwater gargling
• Drink a lot of water and stay hydrated
• Getting a proper check from dental care services
• Removal of tonsil stone

Tonsil stones are generally harmless. But people still prefer to get it removed because it might cause them discomfort and make them smell bad—treatments for tonsil stones range from home remedies to medical procedures.

Gargling: Gargling with salt water can help deal with the discomfort caused by the stone and May even help remove it. Saltwater changes the chemistry of your mouth. It can also help in getting rid of the odor caused by the stone.

Cough: You might discover that you have a tonsil stone when you cough. Coughing with some energy may help in loosening the stone.

Manual removal: Using a toothbrush to remove the tonsil stone is not recommended. Tonsils are delicate, so it is essential to be soft on that part. Removing it manually can be risky and cause complications, which may include infection or bleeding. If you still want to try, then use a water pick or cotton swab. However, small surgery may be required if the stone is too large.

Laser tonsil cryptolysis: In this procedure, a laser is used to remove the crypts where the stone has been lodged. Local anesthesia is given to perform this procedure. The recovery time for this procedure is minimal.

Coblation cryptolysis: In this procedure, heat is not involved. A radio wave is used to transform salt solution into charged ions, which cuts through the tissue. This procedure also reduces tonsil crypts but does not cause any burning sensation.

Tonsillectomy: It is the surgical removal of tonsils. This procedure can be done using a scalpel, laser, or Coblation device.

Surgery for tonsil stones is often controversial. Dental care services suggest the surgery only when the case is severe, chronic, and other methods have failed.

Antibiotics: Tonsil stone can also be managed by using antibiotics. These tablets lower the count of bacteria, which helps in the growth and development of tonsil stones.

The only issue with antibiotics is that they will not deal with the stone’s underlying problem and may even have side effects of their own. They cannot be used for a more extended period, which means that the stone will return as soon as you stop taking the tablets.

Complications associated with tonsil stones

The complications related to tonsil stones are rare but possible. One of the main issues that it can cause is the deep infection of tonsils, known as an abscess.

Large stones damage the tissue, which results in swelling, inflammation, and infection.

Is tonsil stone contagious?

They are made of a material called biofilm. Hence, they are not contagious. Biofilm is a combination of bacteria and fungi present in your mouth interacting with the mouth’s chemistry. The mixture thus formed attaches itself to a moist and wet surface.

When it comes to tonsil stones, this mixture hardens. Another example of a biofilm is plaque. They are also responsible for cavities and gum diseases.

Wrapping up

Tonsil stones create rare complications and bring a range of symptoms. If you have recurring tonsil stones, be sure to practice good oral hygiene and regularly visit a dental care services provider. If you are also suffering from tonsil stone, Book an appointment with TruCare Dentistry.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some of the FAQs Related to Tonsil Stone, have a look:

Are there any complications associated with tonsil stones?

The complications related to tonsil stones are rare but possible. One of the main issues that it can cause is the deep infection of tonsils, known as an abscess.
Large stones damage the tissue, which results in swelling, inflammation, and infection.

Is tonsil stone contagious?

They are made of a material called biofilm. Hence, they are not contagious. Biofilm is a combination of bacteria and fungi present in your mouth interacting with the mouth’s chemistry. The mixture thus formed attaches itself to a moist and wet surface.

When it comes to tonsil stones, this mixture hardens. Another example of a biofilm is plaque. They are also responsible for cavities and gum diseases.

Do tonsil stones go away?

Tonsil stones are risk-free buildup that will go away on their own. However, the duration of tonsil stones can vary from person to person. They may go away or melt on their own in a short period, or they can also stay for weeks if they are deep in the throat and bacteria continue to grow on them. Besides, if proper oral hygiene is not performed, it may last for years and lead to a more serious problem, such as tonsillitis.

Can tonsil stones make you sick?

If tonsil stones are large in size, they can lead to swallowing and may also trigger infections. These stones can sometimes cause a number of side effects like sore throat, swelling, cough, ear pain, and irritation (a sensation of a foreign substance in the throat), etc.

Does everyone get tonsil stones?

Tonsil stones are common. Several people get them without even knowing that they have them. They are tiny lumps of hard material that form in the tonsils. Tonsil stones are generally not harmful or painful.

When should one go and see a doctor for tonsil stones?

If a person experiences severe symptoms like ear pain, redness in tonsils, or swelling, it is recommended to see a doctor. These can be the sign of tonsillitis or any other serious issue. Also, if tonsil stones are very large, it needs immediate medical attention. Besides, if tonsil stones are recurrent, then also one must see a doctor.

How do you clean your tonsils out?

There are few at-home methods available to get rid of tonsil stones. These methods include gargling using salt water, coughing, and manual removal of stones using a finger or a toothbrush. However, manual removal of tonsil stones is not recommended as this practice can harm your delicate tonsils and may cause serious infections.

causes, symptoms, & how to remove them

Reading Time: 7 minutes

JUMP TO:  What are tonsil stones / Causes and Symptoms / Bad breath / Home remedies / Professional remedies / Prevention / Book a dentist online to diagnose

Small but mighty, our tonsils are an important part of our body’s immune system and can develop tonsil stones if you’re not careful.

We have three different types of tonsils—the palatine tonsils, the adenoids, and the lingual tonsils. However, our palatine tonsils are the only ones that can easily be seen through an open mouth. These soft, oval-shaped tissue masses are located in the back of your throat.

Tonsils are made of tissue similar to our lymph nodes and are coated with pink mucosa. They contain white blood cells that defend against bacteria and viruses that enter through your nose and mouth. Tonsils also help keep foreign objects from reaching our lungs.

Tonsils have tonsillar crypts which are like pits, crevices, or tunnels. Tonsil stones, also called tonsilloliths, are white or yellow formations made up of bacteria and live biofilm that get stuck in these tonsillar crypts and harden.

And they can be dangerous when not dealt with properly. Here’s everything you need to know about how to keep your tonsils healthy and what to do if you are affected by tonsil stones.

Causes and symptoms of tonsil stones

What causes tonsil stones? Tonsil stones may be caused by poor dental hygiene, large tonsils, chronic tonsillitis (inflamed tonsils), or chronic sinus issues. Debris in your tonsil crypts, whether it be particles of food from insufficient teeth cleaning or mucus from postnasal drip, can also cause tonsil stones. Some sources say around 8 percent of the population has tonsil stones, while other studies claim as many as 30 percent of people have them.

Tonsil stones causes can root from genetic factors. You’re at an increased risk to develop tonsil stones if you’re between the ages of 20 to 40. Women are around 33 percent more likely to get tonsil stones than men. People are more prone to tonsil stones if they have dry mouth, postnasal drip, overactive salivary glands, infections, or recurrent tonsillitis. In fact, a study published in the British Dental Journal discovered that 75 patients in the study who had tonsillitis also had tonsil stones. Only 6 percent didn’t develop tonsil stones as a result of this inflammation.

Frequently, people with tonsil stones don’t even realize they have them. That’s because the size and location of tonsils stones affect the symptoms they cause. They can range from the size of a grain of rice to a grape—with the smaller ones less likely to cause any symptoms. Small tonsil stones may even  be swallowed or coughed up without the person noticing. However, if you cough up tonsil stones, you’ll likely notice the smell right away. The larger ones are easier to detect as they can cause your tonsils to become inflamed and tend to smell noticeably unpleasant.

Why do tonsil stones make your breath small bad?

Sometimes, tonsil stones smell. Tonsil stones have a foul odor because they have a high amount of sulfur. According to a study conducted at the National Center for Biotechnology Information, 75 percent of people with uncommonly high quantities of sulfur in their mouths have tonsil stones. Tonsil stones raise your chances of bad breath by up to 10 times. Tonsil stones smell bad and can make your breath also suffer.

In addition to chronic bad breath, common symptoms of tonsil stones include white or yellow spots on tonsils, a sore or restricted throat, swollen tonsils, a feeling that something is stuck in your throat, ear pain, and/or difficulty swallowing. One might also experience coughing or a metallic taste in the mouth.

Tonsil stone pain can even spread to your ear and create a chronic earache. This is because your tonsils are connected to your ears by the glossopharyngeal nerve, which is commonly referred to as Jacobson’s nerve.

Symptoms that require medical attention include (but aren’t necessarily limited to): pus from the tonsil area, severely enlarged or very red tonsils, bleeding tonsils, breathing issues, pain (especially if uneven on each side), swallowing problems, and a sore throat of over a month.

Serious tonsil stone complications are rare, but do occur. It’s possible for your tonsils to become deeply infected or for large tonsil stones to damage tonsil tissue, so err on the side of caution when dealing with large tonsil stones.

How to get rid of tonsil stones

Tonsil stone removal can be tricky. Often, tonsil stones will dislodge on their own. If they don’t naturally dislocate and are painful or have a foul odor, it’s possible to remove them at home.

Gargles

Many people try to manually remove their stones with a toothbrush, but this isn’t recommended as your tonsils are delicate. Using rough items could cause bleeding or an infection. Tonsil stone removal should be very carefully tried at home, but seek professional help if you find at home remedies are not working.

Gargling with salt water, a nonalcoholic mouthwash, or diluted apple cider vinegar can help with any smell and possibly dislodge the stones. Some people choose oxygenating mouthwashes containing chlorine dioxide and natural zinc compounds. These are strong and should be used sparingly—not more than once or twice a week. Coughing, whether natural or forced, also tends to loosen up and helps remove tonsil stones.

Water flossing or Waterpik

A low-pressure water irrigator, such as a water flosser, is another useful tool for dislodging tonsil stones, as well as prevent new ones from developing.

To remove your stones with a water flosser, carefully aim the flosser towards the tonsil stones. Put it at the lowest setting and test to make sure it isn’t too painful. Do this in a well-lit area and be aware they may fall to the back of your throat. It isn’t dangerous to swallow tonsil stones, but it can be unpleasant to do so. Don’t use this method on children as they could choke.

See a dentist

If your tonsil stones are large or persistent, you may need help from a doctor or dentist to remove them. An official tonsil stones diagnosis can be challenging because the stones can hide in the folds of your tonsils. However, tonsil stones can show up in dental X-rays or a CT scan.

The first course of action is sometimes antibiotics because they decrease the amount of bacteria tonsil stones need to grow. However, antibiotics are more for tonsil stone management than a long-lasting cure and have side effects. You may need to see a dentist or doctor to prescribe pain medication if it gets unbearable.

Laser tonsil cryptolysis

Another option is laser tonsil cryptolysis. In this procedure, you’re often given local anesthesia before a laser is used to remove the crypts where the tonsil stones are lodged. This procedure is low in pain and recovery time is usually speedy. There is a slight risk of an airway fire (a surgical fire that occurs in an airway) or receiving oral or facial burns.

Coblation Cryptolysis

If lasers make you nervous, you can have tonsil stones removed with coblation cryptolysis (radio frequencies) that involves no heat. This method also removes tonsil crypts, but by changing a salt solution into charged ions that cut through the tonsil tissue. One session can significantly decrease stones or eliminate the current ones completely. Recovery takes only a few days.

Tonsillectomy

As a final resort, a medical professional may recommend a tonsillectomy. These are less common than they were in the past. Today, only severe or chronic cases require this procedure. And while it’s more common for children to have tonsillectomies, it’s also possible for adults.

To qualify for a tonsillectomy, you need to have seven cases of tonsillitis or strep throat within one year. During a tonsillectomy, your tonsils are surgically removed with a scalpel, coblation device, or laser. In addition to helping with tonsil stones, tonsillectomies can help with tonsillitis (infection of the tonsils), quinsy (recurring abscesses near tonsils), and some instances of obstructive sleep apnea.

Depending on your situation, you might also get your adenoids removed. Signs of enlarged adenoids include breathing through the mouth, a nasal-sounding voice, noisy breathing, and snoring. This procedure is called an adenotonsillectomy. Patients typically have trouble swallowing and a sore throat for a few days following the procedure and may continue to have some pain for a week or two. Bleeding is another possible side effect.

How long do tonsil stones last?

Tonsil stones usually dislodge on their own over a few weeks. Sometimes, a person can cough and dislodge the tonsil stone. However, if the problem persists, we recommend you see a dentist to discuss possible treatments.

How to prevent tonsil stones

A tonsillectomy is the only way to completely prevent tonsil stones, but as previously mentioned, this is only done after other methods have failed to eliminate your stones.

Maintaining good oral hygiene is one of the best methods anyone can use to prevent tonsil stones. In addition to brushing your teeth twice daily, make sure to brush your tongue to remove bacteria. Alternatively, consider using a tongue scraper. Limit smoking, dairy products, and alcohol.

It is important to see a dentist frequently in order to maintain good oral hygiene. 

Smoking and alcohol can dry out your mouth and this can raise the chances of tonsil stones building up. Increase your water intake to stay hydrated and wash away food particles in your throat. Either gargle with salt water or use a water flosser to rinse bacteria off of your tonsils every week. If you have postnasal drip often, clean out your nasal passages.

Need Help?

Without surgery, you can’t completely prevent tonsil stones. But the good news is that, in many cases, tonsil stones show no symptoms and can be naturally eliminated without you realizing you had them at all.

However, as we’ve explored here today, it’s also possible for tonsil stones to be large and painful.

To help prevent these stones, try various mouth rinses and have high standards for your oral hygiene. If you still develop painful tonsil stones, you can try to remove them naturally with a water flosser or gargling. Alternatively, a professional can prescribe antibiotics, perform laser tonsil cryptolysis, use coblation cryptolysis, or conduct a tonsillectomy.

If you aren’t sure whether you’re suffering from tonsil stones or what to do about the ones you have, it’s time to check in with a dental professional. Find personalized dental care that’s approachable, convenient, and focused on you by signing up for Opencare right now.

Do Tonsil Stones Ever Go Away?

Tonsil stones are not something that just go away on their own. If left untreated, they can lead to serious complications. If you kid has tonsil stones, it is recommended to have them removed as soon as you can.

Gain a better understanding of what tonsil stones are, what causes them, how to prevent them, and what to do to get rid of them.

Causes and Symptoms of Tonsil Stones

Tonsil stones are calcified deposits of debris that got stuck in the folds and pockets of the tonsils. The debris includes dead cells, mucus, bacteria, and food particles that were compacted to form small white- or yellow-colored stones. Individuals who are susceptible to forming tonsil stones are those with large tonsils and/or tonsils with lots of pockets and folds.

If your child develops tonsil stones, it may result in various complications.

The most common symptoms of tonsils stones are the following:

• Foul-smelling breath
• Weird, metallic taste in the mouth
• Swollen tonsils
• Sore throat
• Difficulty swallowing
• Severe, uncontrolled coughing
• Pain radiating to the area of the ear/s

Prevention and Treatment of Tonsil Stones

When it comes to tonsil stones, the cliche “prevention is better than cure” applies. The easiest way to treat tonsil stones is to prevent them from developing in the first place. Much like any other oral health problems, this can be done through proper diet and good oral hygiene.

Here are some tips to try out to prevent tonsil stones:

• Brush and floss your teeth twice a day. Getting rid of food particles and other debris in the mouth should effectively prevent stone formation.
• Brush or scrape your tongue after brushing and flossing. Cleaning your kid’s tongue is also a must. The rough surface of the tongue makes it an ideal place for bacteria to collect, hide, and spread to the tonsils.
• Drink lots of water – A dry environment allows bacteria to thrive, and promotes faster calcification to the debris. By increasing your fluid intake, not only are the bacteria washed away, but calcification is also halted by the moist environment.
• Gargle with warm saline solution after eating. Doing this will wash away food particles, mucus, and bacteria that may have lodged in the tonsils.
• Gargle with diluted extract of grapefruit seeds. Doing this at regular intervals will help fight the bacteria that causes tonsil stones.
• Use nasal drops to relieve post-nasal drips. Relief of post-nasal drips reduces the amount of bacteria and mucus. When picking your nasal drops, avoid those with alcohol, saccharine, and sodium laureth sulfate. These compounds can dry out the mouth.
• Have your tonsils removed surgically. If your kid’s tonsil stones don’t go away or always recur, your dentist might suggest removing the tonsils permanently..

Getting Rid of Tonsil Stones

If your kid is already with tonsil stones, you can try to get rid of them by:

• Gargling with diluted extract of grapefruit seeds. This helps loosen any existing tonsil stones.
• Manually removing tonsil stones. This is not recommended, as you risk poking and injuring your kid’s throat. However, if you really want to try it out, gently lift out the stones using the end of a toothbrush or a cotton swab.
• Bringing your kid to the dentist. Large tonsil stones that can’t be removed using the aforementioned methods necessitates surgical removal by a dentist.

Looking for a dentist who can help with tonsil stones? Find a Kool Smiles partner dentist near you!

Sources:

Tonsil Stone Removal: http://tonsilstoneremoval.org

Tonsil Stone Removal:

http://tonsilstoneremoval.org/how-to-prevent-tonsil-stones-without-surgery

WebMD: http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/tonsil-stones-tonsilloliths-treatment-and-prevention

Ask the Dentist: Tonsil stones might be the cause of your bad breath

IF YOUR bad breath is driving you nuts and you’ve explored every avenue to get it fresh maybe you have overlooked your tonsils as the cause.

About 8 per cent of us have tonsil stones, the posh term being tonsilloliths. Each creamy mass is a hardened stew of food debris, bacteria and calcium which has become entrapped in the crypt pits of the tonsils. If left to their own devices these stones can grow, blocking up the tonsils, causing further infection. The largest recorded tonsillolith measured was an impressive 14.5 centimetres and was recorded in 1936.

Tonsil stones and the surrounding environment is a perfect breeding ground for anaerobic bacteria, allowing them to exude their foul-smelling, eggy sulphides that waft away, giving the bad breath.

However, its not just a case of whipping your tonsils out: like the vast majority of the body, tonsils have a function. The tonsils act as a type of germ sieve, trapping any bacteria or viruses that have been breathed in. Proteins called antibodies produced by the immune cells in the tonsils help to kill germs and prevent throat and lung infections.

These clever little throat masses produce antibodies against polio, streptococcal pneumonia, influenza, and numerous other infections.

Holes in the tonsils are actually a normal part of your anatomy. The bigger the holes in your tonsils the more likely you are of developing infection or tonsil stones. Tonsil stones are not only the perpetrators of bad breath, they can also be responsible for ear pain or a persistent cough. If they become huge swallowing can be a challenge.

Although preventing the growth of tonsil stones completely is almost impossible, you can try tipping the balance into the health arena by keeping your mouth as spit spot as possible to reduce the chance of infections.

Gargling with salt water or gentle coaxing out with a cotton bud often does the trick of dislodging a stone. There are also sucking devices to try and get the stone to budge; however, the suction may not be strong enough. Water flossers are a useful method to blast the stone out and reduce debris and bacteria at the same time.

However, a doctor may need to step in to remove them. Tonsils can be surgically resurfaced to reduce the number of holes in them, thus lessening the number of holes where stones can grow. Total removal of the tonsils is now considered a treatment of last resort.

Carrollton Dental Health And Tonsil Stones

Hi, my name is Dr. Melissa Rodriguez and I am a cosmetic dentist with a full-service practice in Carrollton. Today in the Carrollton The Carrollton Dentist dental blog I would like to address the subject of tonsil stones. The first thing that Carrollton, Farmers Branch, and Plano dental patients usually ask about tonsil stones is, “What in the world are tonsil stones?”

Before we answer that, let’s review what the tonsils are. Your tonsils sit in the back of your throat. They are gland-like and there is one tonsil located in each pocket on either side of the back of your throat. Tonsils are made of the infection-fighting tissue known as lymphocytes, but tonsils aren’t really that great at their job of germ killing.

Tonsils have many areas where dead cells, mucous, and bacteria can become trapped. If this debris accumulates and becomes concentrated, white formations can occur in the pockets. Once it hardens, it becomes a tonsil stone.

It is rare for these tonsil stones to become large and cause problems, but if they do, you may experience the following symptoms:

Bad breath
Sore throat
Difficulty swallowing
Ear pain
Swelling of tonsils

It’s important to discuss treatment with your Carrollton dentist or doctor. The only sure-fire way to avoid tonsil stones is to have the tonsils completely removed, but very few cases become this serious.

Thank you for visiting my dental blog. I am passionate about the oral health of my Carrollton area patients. I also want them to have the beautiful smiles that they desire, that’s why I love to discuss with them the many cosmetic dentistry procedures available, such as teeth whitening, veneers, invisible braces, dental bonding, and dental implants.

For general, pediatric, or cosmetic dentistry, call (469) 671-2905 today to schedule an appointment with us!

Dr. Melissa Rodriguez
The Carrollton Dentist
2440 N Josey Ln, Ste 101
Carrollton, Texas
(469) 671-2905
https://www.thecarrolltondentist.com/meet-the-dentist.php

The following online article was used as source material for this blog:
“Tonsil Stones”, WebMD, https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/tonsil-stones-tonsilloliths-treatment-and-prevention, accessed on September 11, 2013

Taking a Look at Tonsil Stones

While you may not know it, you’ve got two bodyguards in the back of your throat: your tonsils. These soft collections of tissues in the back of your throat collect and filter out unwanted bacteria and viruses in your body. But sometimes more than bacteria and viruses get caught in your tonsils — some people have extra pockets or crypts in their tonsils, which can collect food material and old cells. This condition is known as tonsil stones.

Evolution of Tonsil Stones

Tonsil stones are called “stones” because they are much harder than your average piece of food. However, they tend to start off softer. A piece of food, such as a small piece of bread, becomes stuck in your tonsil crypts. When you swallow, digestive enzymes in your saliva start to break down the softer portions of your food. The remaining portion is harder.

The food particle in your tonsil starts to collect some “friends” over time. This includes bacteria and cells that have sloughed off from the lining in your mouth. These cells contain a hardened substance known as keratin, the same material that provides hardness to your fingernails and strength to your hair. Understandably, they then harden the food material in your tonsil into a stone-like mass.

How Do I Spot a Tonsil Stone?

Tonsil stones have a different appearance and cause varying symptoms in people. You may start to notice the back of your throat feels itchy or have a feeling of fullness in the back of your throat. Tonsil stones can look like the following:

• White and round, much like a pearl
• Orange-yellow and cheese-like
• Rough, gray, uneven particles

The good news is that most tonsil stones will fall out on their own without causing much fuss. You may not even notice them until one day, you feel as if you’ve swallowed something unexpected. If you notice something in the back of your throat, you may be able to spot a tonsil stone by opening wide and saying “ahhh,” which makes the tonsils more prominent.

To Remove or Not to Remove a Tonsil Stone

If the idea of having a stone-like conglomeration of bacteria, old food and cells makes you want to remove a tonsil stone immediately, you are not alone. It can be tempting to take a swipe at a tonsil stone, attempting to remove it from your mouth altogether. However, the best approach for tonsil stone removal can be tricky to decide. You have a few options:

Wait for the stone to fall out. As long as the tonsil stone does not grow too large, you likely won’t experience any complications from it, and it will eventually pop out all on its own.

Gargle with salt water in an attempt to dislodge the tonsil stone. Mix one-fourth to one-half a teaspoon of salt in warm water, and tilt your head back so the water flows toward the back of your throat without swallowing it. Repeat the “ahhhhh” noise to activate the tonsils. A Waterpik, a machine that shoots a steady stream of water, also may help to dislodge the tonsil stone.

Brushing or scraping the tonsil stone away. This is not an advised option because the tonsils tend to have a steady supply of blood vessels to the area. One wrong or too-rough scrape, and you likely have a mess on your hands. Also, scraping near the back of your throat can activate your gag reflex, causing you to feel as if you are choking, according to Paul Donohue, MD, a physician writing in The Herald-Tribune.

Surgical removal of the tonsils or tonsil stone. In rare instances, a tonsil mass can become so large that it is infected or causes difficulty swallowing. In this instance an ear, nose and throat doctor may be recommended to remove the tonsil.

Who Gets Tonsil Stones?

Tonsil stones are much more likely to occur in adolescents. The tonsils tend to be larger in the young because they are helping to support a growing immune system. As you age, the tonsils shrink, which will make tonsil stones less likely to occur. However, tonsil stones can cause chronic tonsillitis infections, sore throat and bad breath.

While you can’t change the shape of your tonsils, you can practice good oral hygiene habits that reduce the chances you will experience future tonsil stones. Frequently gargling with salt water or warm water also can help dislodge particles.

90,000 Tonsillitis and their treatment – MEDFAMILY

Tonsilla stones, otherwise known as tonsillitis, are nothing more than particulate matter that forms in the pockets or crypts of the tonsils. Tonsillitis can be painful or not, it can even be invisible for a long time, especially when they do not manifest themselves in any way.

It has been found that tonsil stones are common in people who often suffer from tonsillitis. This also applies to people who do not follow oral hygiene.Tonsilla stones form in the crypts of the tonsils when they collect food debris, specks and other particles. Over time, these deposits become hard, attracting calcium, which sometimes causes infection and irritation.

Tonsilla stones can also form due to a combination of bacteria, debris, and mucus. They can be small and sometimes very large in size and even painful in nature. The size of tonsil stones is determined by the size of the pocket in the tonsils and can be directly proportional to the debris collected in it.

They can also be called the calcified type of deposits found in the tonsils, yellow or white in color. Tonsilla visible stones are those that protrude from the pockets of the tonsils located on the sides of the throat. When the tonsil stones touch each other after they have been removed, you feel these movements very unpleasant. If they open or burst, they can cause an unpleasant odor. This is due to the sulfur content in them.

Tonsilla stones can lead to sore throat, which in general can be very disturbing and uncomfortable.Tonsilla stones can cause bad breath without any other complications or problems. If a fever develops and tonsil stones become painful, it is best to see a doctor right away. This could be due to inflammation or infection, which may require treatment. When sufferers use water rinses and similar equipment, it is best to use them with less power and with great care, as excess pressure can damage the tonsils and spread bad breath throughout the mouth.The bad smell can be so severe that the person may not even be able to eat for many days.

The best way to heal a relapse of tonsils is through surgery. For small tonsils, stones that are not painful or show any symptoms may not require surgery. It is enough to use gentle procedures such as salt rinsing and oxygenated mouthwashes.

Tonsillectomy not only can lead to various health problems later, but the price will not be the cheapest. The operation may also interfere with daily activities for some time. Hence, it is most often avoided. In fact, there are natural and scientifically proven ways to get rid of tonsil stones permanently so they never come back.

Causes, symptoms and methods of treatment of purulent plugs in the tonsils

A pus-filled plug in the throat is a collection of pus that forms in the tonsils (tonsils).The presence of such may indicate an untreated acute tonsillitis (angina, acute inflammation of the palatine tonsils), but most often purulent plugs are a sign of chronic tonsillitis. The development of the inflammatory process and the subsequent accumulation of pus causes severe sore throat, contributes to the onset of bad breath and a number of other symptoms. In the absence of treatment, the disease worsens several times a year, and this, in turn, is fraught with the spread of infection throughout the body and the development of extremely unpleasant complications.

Otolaryngology deals with the treatment of purulent plugs. But if you start the disease, you may need surgery to remove the tonsils.

Causes of congestion in the tonsils

The most common factors in the development of purulent plugs in the tonsils are:

• Chronic inflammatory diseases of the nose. Chronic inflammation of the paranasal sinuses (frontal sinusitis, sinusitis, and so on) contributes to the fact that part of the bacteria is regularly secreted into the pharynx, and then enters the tonsils.
• Non-observance of oral hygiene. In the oral cavity there are always harmless microorganisms. However, they can begin to activate in the event of a decrease in the body’s defenses. Moreover, after eating food, its microparticles can remain in the oral cavity, which can penetrate into the lacunae of the tonsils and then participate in the formation of purulent plugs.
• Decreased immunity. Weakening of the body’s defenses can lead to increased activity of the normal microflora of the oral cavity.Also, low immunity contributes to the incomplete destruction of the infection in the case of acute tonsillitis, and this inevitably leads to the development of a chronic disease.
• Food factor. Deficiency in the diet of B vitamins and vitamin C, monotonous protein foods also reduce the protective properties of the body, stimulating the development of inflammatory processes in the glands.
• Tonsil injury. Injury to the glands can lead to infection. Also, the wound channel can become another suitable place for the development of a purulent plug.

Symptoms

In most cases, the plugs in the tonsils do not cause any concern to the patient, especially if they are small in size. In some cases, purulent plugs in the tonsils may be accompanied by signs that suggest the development of the disease.

The presence of plugs in the tonsils may indicate:

• Sensation of a foreign body in the throat. Purulent plugs located in the thickness of the tonsils can irritate the nerve endings of the mucous membrane, as a result of which a person can feel a foreign body in the throat.Similar sensations can be observed from one or both sides (depending on the location of the plugs). In some cases, this can provoke a dry (phlegm-free) cough that does not provide relief.
• Pain and difficulty swallowing. The release of biologically active substances in the focus of inflammation contributes to the increased sensitivity of the nerve endings of the pharyngeal mucosa, and this can manifest itself as painful sensations during a meal. Sometimes the plugs in the tonsils can be so large that they can create a mechanical obstacle to ingested food.Moreover, a progressive inflammatory process can lead to hypertrophy (enlargement) of the tonsils, as a result of which the passage of food is also difficult.
• Bad breath. According to the above, pathogenic fungi, bacteria and other microorganisms can be the basis of the plugs in the tonsils. In the course of their life, some of them are capable of producing sulfur compounds (for example, hydrogen sulfide), which cause a specific smell.Interestingly, conventional methods (brushing your teeth, using chewing gum, etc.) will not eliminate the odor.
• Detection of purulent plugs during medical examination.

Treatment of purulent plugs

Before starting a complex treatment, it is necessary to undergo an examination. This includes a throat swab and a complete blood count. Thanks to such a study, a specialist can accurately determine the degree of damage, and then prescribe a competent treatment.

Throat swab is designed to identify pathogenic microorganisms in the oral cavity, as well as to determine their response to antibiotics, which are used in the form of injections or tablets.In most cases, phenoxylmethylpenicillin, Clindamycin, Clarithromycin are prescribed. To make the treatment as effective as possible, the doctor prescribes antibiotics on an individual basis.

Some medicinal sprays have analgesic, antibacterial, antiseptic effects. These include Bioparox, Orasept, Ingalipt, Faringosept, Chlorophyllipt.

To relieve painful sensations, you can use Traysils, Strepsils, Falimint. These drugs are produced in the form of lozenges, which, when absorbed, not only perfectly relieve pain, but also have a high therapeutic effect.

Otolaryngologists also recommend regular gargling using various pharmacological agents. Such a composition can be prepared independently using salt, boric acid, iodine and soda. A more complex solution involves the use of an extract of medicinal herbs (Stomatidin, Rotokan, Furacilin). Gargling has a pronounced antiseptic effect. Moreover, it can be used to easily remove purulent plugs from the throat. This procedure should not be limited in quantities; experts recommend that it be carried out as often as possible.As a result, most pathogens die, the patient’s temperature drops, and his general condition improves.

Of course, such results do not mean that you can self-medicate. Therefore, it would be wise to immediately consult an otolaryngologist if you find purulent plugs in the tonsils. The Maya Clinic specialists in Kazan will conduct a comprehensive examination, make an accurate diagnosis and give useful recommendations for the best treatment of purulent plugs in children and adults.In the arsenal of ENT doctors in Kazan from the Maya Clinic are not only the most effective, but also completely safe therapeutic methods.

The Maya Clinic offers a wide range of services such as plastic surgery, neurology, cosmetology, orthopedics and much more. Make an appointment with a specialist specialist!

90,073 90,000 symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment of periocoronitis of the wisdom tooth in “SM-Dentistry”

home

Patients

Diseases

Pericornite

Pericoronitis occurs during the eruption of wisdom teeth: the gum soft tissues that surround the still unerupted tooth become inflamed.If you do not visit the dentist on time, serious complications are possible.

Symptoms

Pericoronitis of the wisdom tooth is always accompanied by the appearance of the so-called gingival hood, and this name as a whole reflects the peculiarity of the disease. The tooth begins to erupt, but the soft tissues located above it interfere with it. Visually, it is noticeable how the inflamed and swollen gums hang over the tooth. This interferes with the normal closure of the dentition. The patient, chewing food, bites soft tissues, only aggravating the problem.To avoid complications, you should consult a qualified dentist at the first symptoms.

Symptoms usually develop gradually:

• the patient is worried about acute pain radiating to the ear;
• it becomes difficult to chew food due to non-closure of the dentition;
• gum tissue swells, change the shade to a darker one;
• nearby lymph nodes can become inflamed;
• between the gum and the tooth, purulent discharge may be observed.

Acute purulent pericoronitis is diagnosed in 60-70% of cases of eruption of the lower wisdom teeth. Often, pericoronitis occurs in children – it accompanies the appearance of milk teeth or their change to permanent ones.

Reasons

The disease develops due to:

• obstructed, prolonged eruption of the tooth;
• permanent injury to the soft tissues of the gums covering the erupting tooth;
• penetration of pathogenic bacteria into the gum tissue, causing purulent inflammation;
• accumulation of food debris in the gingival hood, which contributes to the reproduction of harmful microorganisms.

Diagnostics

In “SM-Dentistry”, patients with symptoms of pericoronitis are treated by dentists of the highest category, who are able to solve the problem with minimal trauma. After examining the oral cavity, the patient undergoes X-ray diagnostics using a modern Vatech apparatus. The examination will allow the doctor to determine the position of the erupting tooth, assess the condition of the tissues and develop the most correct plan of action.

Treatment of pericoronitis in “SM-Dentistry”

Treatment is most often performed by a surgeon.In “SM-Dentistry” they use a tooth-preserving approach in treatment, therefore, if there is an opportunity to eliminate the problem, avoiding tooth extraction, the doctor will make every effort to this.

It is necessary to open the “gingival hood” and cleanse the tissue from purulent accumulations. Then the doctor sutures the gums, applies a soft tampon with a drug that accelerates healing. At the request of the patient, it is possible to use a platelet-rich mass, which makes the recovery as fast as possible. Then the dentist will prescribe anti-inflammatory and pain relieving medications and will tell you in detail about the rules for caring for the wound.This is the simplest treatment option, but it is possible if the erupting wisdom tooth develops normally.

If the tooth grows incorrectly, for example at an angle, moves the adjacent tooth, injures it, then it is better to remove it. Otherwise, it will cause even bigger problems and complications. In such cases, the impacted wisdom tooth is removed with subsequent suture on the gum.

When the first symptoms of pericoronitis occur, do not delay seeking qualified help to avoid complications.Fill out an application on the website “SM-Dentistry” (reception around the clock) or make an appointment with the dentist by phone: +7 (495) 777-48-06 – the appointment is daily from 9:00 to 21:30.

Do you want us to call you back?

90,000 Dermatitis and the role of Leptotrichia bacteria in their occurrence

Seborrheic and oral dermatitis is one of the urgent problems of dermatocosmetology.

Doctors note that the number of patients with these diseases, which are manifested by a significant cosmetic skin defect in the form of an oily sheen, peeling and rashes accompanied by itching, is constantly growing.

Why does dermatitis occur? How does he make himself felt? And what to do to cope with this condition? The questions are answered by dermatovenerologist (adult), dermatovenerologist (children), cosmetologist of SCNT “NOVOSTOM” Musaelova Natalya Vladimirovna.

What, When, Why and Why

The bacterium Leptotrichia bucalis has been shown to play a role in the development of seborrheic dermatitis in recent years.

Seborrheic dermatitis is based on chronic inflammation of the skin associated with an increase in the amount and change in the quality of sebum with localization in those areas of the scalp and trunk where the sebaceous glands are developed – the hairy part of the head, eyebrows, eyelashes, nasal folds, ears, ear spaces, anterior areas of the chest, interscapular and groin areas.

Damage to the scalp is observed in the form of dandruff, scales, crusts, thinning and thinning of hair, very often accompanied by itching and irritation.You can often see yellowish scaly crusts and hemorrhagic crusts formed as a result of scratching. Often, the process involves the skin of the forehead, behind the ear, and the area of ​​the ear canals.

On the smooth skin of the face, back, chest, foci of redness and papular plaques appear. Very often, in the occurrence of these dermatitis, it is possible to trace a genetic predisposition, stress, gastrointestinal diseases, hormonal disruptions and the influence of external and climatic factors.

The leading role in the pathogenesis of seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp and dandruff is attributed to pathogens, yeast-like fungi.

These fungi are a constant component of healthy skin microflora in more than 90% of the population. They use the secretion of the sebaceous glands for their growth and development. Variety Malassezia futur is more common on the scalp. Pityrosporum orbiculare – on the skin of the trunk and face. Stressful situations worsen the course of seborrheic and oral dermatitis due to changes in hormonal levels.In men 40-60 years old, seborrheic dermatitis is observed more often than in women, perhaps this is due to a decrease in the male hormone testosterone.

Thus, the above reasons lead to the spread and increase in the number of previously saprophytic microorganisms and the development of foci of inflammation with impaired immune skin response.

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in anaerobic microorganisms, namely in bacteria of the genus Leptothrichia u Leptothrix.

One of the varieties – Leptotrichia bucalis, an inhabitant of the human oral cavity.Microscopy Leptotrichia have the form of straight or slightly curved rods with a diameter of 1.0 – 1.5 microns with pointed or rounded ends. With long-term parasitization of leptotrichia on the mucous membranes of the oral cavity and genitals, leptotrichosis infection leads to a general decrease in the resistance of the macroorganism, which is a trigger factor in the development of inflammatory reactions on the skin and mucous membranes

Scrapings from lesions are examined for diagnosis. The main criterion for the diagnosis of leptotrichosis is the detection of the pathogen (10-15 bacteria in all fields of vision) with the presence of elements of inflammation (leukocytes, histiocytes).Without the absence of elements of inflammation, the carrier of bacteria should be considered.

Mainly the tonsils, the lateral and posterior part of the pharynx, and the tongue are affected. Leptotrichosis is a pseudomycotic lesion of the oral mucosa. Objectively: a grayish-whitish plaque appears on the mucous membrane of the oral cavity, tongue, and arches of the soft palate with a transition to a light brown, brown color, which cannot be removed freely with a spatula.

The diagnosis of the disease is made on the basis of characteristic clinical data and the microscopic picture of the drug.

Microscopy in scrapings from the mucous membrane of the hard palate reveals spores and pseudomycelium of the genus Candida from the tongue of leptotrichia with elements of inflammation. Therefore, the correct interpretation of bacterioscopic drugs should be carried out, given that the treatment of candidiasis and leptotrichosis is not the same.

Dermatitis treatment

Based on the results of microscopic studies and the study of the immune status, the clinical picture of patients with seborrheic, oral dermatitis and leptotrichosis, it is necessary to use complex therapy .

For the treatment of mucous membranes, bacteriophages (staphylococcal, complex) and antiseptic solutions (Betadin and Miramistin) are used by application on the tongue or for rinsing the mouth, as well as antimycotic (Orungal, Lamisil) and antiparasitic (Orungal, Lamisil) and antiparasitic (Orungal, Lamisil) and antiparasitic (Orungal, Lamisil) and antiparasitic (inside) solutions …

For the treatment of skin inflammation used in combination antibacterial (Metrogyl) and antifungal (Nizoral, Triderm, Akriderm GK, etc.) drugs.

Source

90,000 Prices for the services of the medical center “Medlux”

ECG (electrocardiography)

700 R

Holter (daily) ECG monitoring

2 860 R

Echocardiography (EchoCG) ultrasound of the heart

2 420 R

Evoked auditory potentials

2 500 R

Evoked visual potentials

2 500 R

Spirometry

1 320 R

24-hour blood pressure monitoring (ABPM)

2 420 R

Holter monitoring of ECG + blood pressure

3 300 R

Respiratory therapy (CPAP), day

1 500 R

Electromyography of the lower extremities of 2 or more nerves

4 300 R

Electromyography of the upper limbs

from 2 300 R

Facial electromyography

3 400 R

Electroencephalography

2 500 R

Neurosonography

1 650 R

Fetal echocardiography (ultrasound of the fetal heart) in dynamics for medical reasons

1 100 R

Fetal echocardiography (ultrasound of the fetal heart) in multiple pregnancies

3 600 R

Fetal echocardiography (ultrasound of the fetal heart)

3 200 R

EchoAG of the vessels of the lower extremities

3 500 R

EchoAG of visceral vessels

3 900 R

EchoAG of the veins of the lower extremities

2 150 R

EchoAG of brachiocephalic vessels

3,000 R

EchoAH of lower limb arteries

2 300 R

EchoAH of renal vessels

2 600 R

90,000 Appendices: Latest news from Russia and the world – Kommersant Business Guide (88692)

In some regions of Russia, half of their residents are already fully adentia by the age of 65. The number of people who have lost all their teeth by the age of 30 is incalculable. At the same time, it only seems that the toothless person is otherwise healthy. In fact, the whole organism suffers.

Back in 1988, the World Health Organization (WHO) set, as it turned out, an impossible global task – to ensure that in 2010 there will be no more than 20% of people aged 65 and older who are completely toothless, and 99% of the population is 35 -44 years, at least 20 teeth were preserved. “In Russia, we have not come close to these indicators yet.In some regions, the number of people who have lost their teeth by the age of 65 reaches 50%, “says Anna Solovieva, professor, head of the Department of Dentistry at the Educational and Scientific Medical Center for Presidential Affairs.

Socio-economic conditions make a significant contribution to the situation with toothlessness. Analytical epidemiological studies show that poorly educated and poor people are more likely to become completely toothless than people of the same age with good education and income.In recent years, in a number of industrialized countries, there has been a positive trend in the preservation of natural teeth in older people. In 1975, for example, 25% of the adult population in Denmark was completely toothless, but over the next 30 years their number dropped by a factor of five. This suggests that medical dental care has become more effective.

Due to the great loss of teeth in the elderly population in all countries in 1981, Kayser even identified the need for this population in the form of a “shortened dental arch”: at least 20 teeth without gaps and without the need for removable dentures.In 2002, WHO adopted this criterion for assessing the dental health of the elderly.

As for Russia, according to the Second National Epidemiological Dental Study, more than 18 teeth were removed from the average Russian over 65 years old. On average, the number of completely toothless people in the country is 14% with a significant scatter of data by region, more than 60% of the older population use removable dentures.

Experts note that the main problem is not toothlessness as such, but the diseases that lead to it.Today, there are two main reasons for the loss of permanent teeth. “The first is inflammation of the tissues surrounding the tooth, or periodontitis. This disease has a long history. Even in the remains of the jaws of an ancient person who has reached middle or older age, researchers were able to determine the loss of bone tissue in the tooth – this is the symptom that is characteristic of periodontitis today. the same bone tissue leads to inflammation, which is provoked by microbes of dental plaque. The disease lasts a long time and is practically asymptomatic for a person, attracting attention in the later stages, when help is no longer effective, “says the chief freelance dentist of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, rector of the Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry.A. I. Evdokimova, Honored Doctor of the Russian Federation, Professor Oleg Yanushevich.

The second main cause of secondary adentia is caries, which leads to the destruction of hard tooth tissues. Its appearance is directly related to plaque microbes. In addition, the development of caries depends on the structure of the tooth enamel, the nature of the diet. The harder the enamel (and this is determined by the presence of fluoride), the more a person eats rough food that can clean the surface of the tooth, the less caries. And vice versa. The combination of periodontitis and caries can lead to the loss of a tooth or even all teeth in a short time.

According to statistics, the main cause of tooth loss (80% of cases at the age of 40-50 years) is periodontal disease. This is followed by caries and its complications, orthopedic indications, trauma, oral cancer, infectious diseases of the oral cavity, congenital pathologies. According to the WHO, 16-40% of children between the ages of 6 and 12 suffer dental injuries in playgrounds, at school, as well as as a result of road accidents or violence. A very rare occurrence is complete primary (congenital) adentia, when a person is born without tooth buds.

Dentists note that smokers have an increased risk of complete tooth loss. Periodontal disease in them develops more often and progresses faster, and in this case it does not matter if you smoke an electronic cigarette or a regular one.

The risk of developing periodontal diseases also doubles among drinkers. The experts are particularly concerned about the fashion for carbonated drinks. The orthophosphoric acid contained in them literally eats away at the tooth enamel, forming erosion. And a large amount of sugar in carbonated drinks contributes to the active development of caries and, as a result, tooth loss.

In addition, dentists note that some patients do not want to spend time (or money) on dental treatment and ask to have them removed immediately, not understanding what awaits them in the future. Practitioners note that some patients have completely missing teeth by the age of 30. One of the reasons is people’s ignorance that the loss of one tooth will inevitably lead to the loss of another tooth.

Experts blame both the general decrease in human immunity and the lack of a culture of oral care for the appearance of caries and periodontitis: no more than 30% of the country’s population is able to properly care for teeth.According to statistics, more than 50% of people brush their teeth for 46 seconds, which is absolutely ineffective. It’s like rinsing a greasy skillet with cold water. Cleaning should last at least two, and preferably three minutes. And almost no one knows that the upper teeth need to be brushed separately from the lower ones, dentists say. Moreover, there is evidence that many people in Russia do not brush their teeth at all.

Most people are also reluctant to attend preventive examinations to dentists. If in Soviet times there was a total system of general medical examination of the population, now few people go to the dentist “without a reason”, which is, as a rule, severe pain.Although a good reason for going to the doctor is, for example, redness of the gums, tongue and tonsils: they should be pink, without deposits.

According to experts, signs of periodontal disease (bleeding, calculus, periodontal pocket) are present in more than 80% of the adult population of the Russian Federation, and the incidence of caries in the adult population of the Russian Federation reaches 95-100%. According to the WHO for 2012, severe periodontitis, which in the last stages leads to loosening and loss of teeth, is found in 15-20% of middle-aged people (35-44 years).Globally, 60-90% of school-age children and almost 100% of adults have dental caries.

However, Professor Yanushevich does not trust the sad statistics: “Data are often cited that the incidence of caries in Russia exceeds 90% of the adult population. But I doubt the objectivity of such statistics. The fact is that such information is based on reports from medical institutions. all cases of caries treatment are recorded, including primary and secondary treatment.And on one tooth several caries can develop, and each time the treatment will be reflected in the reports (may also be attributed).As a result, the number of diseases reported by statistics may be even higher than the entire population of the country. But, you must agree, 120% will look inadequate, and therefore appear in reports, inquiries, messages “more than 90%”, “about 94%” and so on. Alas, since the times of the Soviet Union, epidemiological surveys in the field of dentistry on a national scale have not been carried out. “

It only seems that the toothless person is otherwise healthy. In fact, the whole body suffers from the loss of teeth.”There is a popular phrase:” No tooth – no problem, “says Anna Solovyova. Indeed, with the loss of a tooth, all associated foci of infection go away. So from the standpoint of dentistry, tooth extraction is a radical sanitation (cure) of all dental diseases. But the absence of teeth creates personal discomfort, makes communication difficult and impairs social adaptation. With the loss of teeth, speech is impaired, food intake is difficult. Unchewed food is a risk factor for the development of pathology of the gastrointestinal tract.Trauma to the oral cavity with a lump of food or a movable removable prosthesis can provoke extremely undesirable diseases of the mucous membrane, up to and including cancer.

With the complete loss of teeth, the very function of the chewing muscles changes. As a result of a decrease in the load, the muscles lose volume, become flabby, and atrophy. Changes also occur in the shape of the jaw. This is reflected, among other things, in appearance: a person ages faster, wrinkles become more.

According to statistics, more than 50% of people brush their teeth for 46 seconds, which is absolutely useless.It’s like rinsing a greasy skillet with cold water. Cleaning should last at least two, or preferably three minutes

Photo: TASS

People who have lost all their teeth have three main problems. Chewing comes first. Restriction in the consumption of certain foods and the difficulty of chewing lead to gastritis and colitis, vitamin deficiencies and a decrease in the body’s defenses are often observed. The second problem is the dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint.This leads to all sorts of functional disorders, including problems with the spine (this relationship is now scientifically proven). The third problem is associated with the pathology of the oral mucosa, which often ends in cancer of the mucous membrane.

However, toothlessness in itself cannot cause a person’s disability either in Russia or in many countries of the world, although the consequences of prolonged absence of teeth are fraught with the development of severe ailments that lead to disability.

In developed countries, adentia is not a reason for registering a disability.Moreover, a person is encouraged by dental insurance not to bring himself to such a state. It’s just not profitable.

Experts, by the way, do not doubt that it is high time in our country to adopt a law on compulsory dental insurance. If this were done, people would probably take better care of their teeth.

In the meantime, prosthetics is considered the main way out for loss of teeth, which many cannot afford. Prosthetics in Russia has always been paid. Some regional territorial funds provided prosthetics for pensioners and disabled people at the expense of their budgets.But that was not everywhere. The Association of Dentists of Russia and the specialized commission of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation have repeatedly proposed to introduce prosthetics in the complete absence of teeth into the system of state guarantees and secure this with dental insurance.

But caries and periodontal disease were not the scourge of mankind in ancient times. Judging by the data of anthropologists, the ancient man preserved most of his teeth during his short life. True, these teeth were pretty worn out. In the course of evolution, human lifestyle and eating habits have changed.Raw roots and tough meat cooked on charcoal were replaced by food that was well chopped and deeply heat-treated, and most importantly, we began to consume much more sugars. The price for the benefits and convenience of civilization was the growth of tooth decay. But only in the middle of the last century, mankind began to seriously develop measures for public and personal prevention of caries and periodontal disease.

Among the most important achievements of the 20th century in the prevention of dental diseases: the discovery of the causes of caries and periodontitis, the identification of microorganisms that provoke the development of major dental diseases, the elucidation of the role of dental microbial plaque, the fluoridation of water and salt, the development and mass introduction of school programs of prevention and hygiene education, the creation of fluoride toothpastes, development of highly effective professional and home methods of combating periodontal diseases.

Many manufacturers of oral hygiene products claim that various chemical additives in the composition of their toothpastes have a pronounced therapeutic and prophylactic effect. But it is generally accepted only that the regular long-term use of toothpastes with fluorides (fluoride compounds) helps to reduce the susceptibility of teeth to caries, especially in children and adolescents. Many countries even ban the sale of fluoride-free toothpastes as a deliberate harm to the health of users.Some pastes have other medicinal effects, such as anti-inflammatory. But it is important to remember another thing: there are no miraculous toothpastes. Ultimately, the effectiveness of the paste depends on the quality of the hygiene procedures that a person performs.

From year to year, both in Russia and in developed countries, the percentage of completely toothless people is decreasing. Dentists say that this is the merit of implantology: the number of implantations for loss of teeth is constantly growing, and this operation is much more affordable today than it was three to five years ago.

Technologies in dentistry are developing very quickly. Most of the techniques are available, although dental restoration is not cheap. There is a joke in the professional environment that “dentistry starts with a ruble and does not stop at a million.” Today, patients are offered implantation with subsequent prosthetics; removable constructions are used less and less, which are more often combined with implantation. And in the future, experts believe, the problem of tooth loss will be helped by cell technologies and growing teeth from the patient’s stem cells.

And yet the main thing is to protect teeth from youth, dentists do not get tired of repeating.

Arina Petrova

Bacteria mirror

Worldwide, 60-90% of school-age children and almost 100% of adults have dental caries.

Complete toothlessness acquired during life (scientifically – secondary adentia) became the scourge of all countries of the world without exception.First of all – the elderly population. According to Petersen and Yamamoto, the prevalence of toothlessness among people aged 65-74 varies from 6% to 72% in different countries. It is curious that in the developing Gambia and Egypt there are only 6% and 7%, respectively, while in the USA – 26%, Germany – 37%, Great Britain – 46%, Canada – 58%, Ireland – 72%.

According to statistics, the main cause of tooth loss (80% of cases at the age of 40-50 years) is periodontal disease. According to the WHO for 2012, severe periodontitis, which in the last stages leads to loosening and loss of teeth, is found in 15-20% of middle-aged people (35-44 years).According to experts, signs of periodontal disease (bleeding, calculus, periodontal pocket) are present in more than 80% of the adult population of the Russian Federation.

This is followed by caries and its complications, orthopedic indications, trauma, oral cancer, infectious diseases of the oral cavity, congenital pathologies. The incidence of caries in the adult population of the Russian Federation reaches 95-100%. Bacteria, as a rule, become the cause of caries, tartar, periodontal disease.

In addition to the loss of teeth, infectious diseases of the oral cavity lead to a host of other serious problems.A hole in a tooth or bleeding gums are just the beginning of trouble. For example, a bacterium that causes tooth decay (streptococcus) can cause cardiovascular disease, pneumonia, and arthritis. The well-known Helicobacter Pilori, which causes stomach ulcers, lives in tartar. Chronic inflammation of the oral cavity does not leave a trace for health. It has been proven that they can become a trigger for the development of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, joints, ENT organs, kidneys, osteomyelitis, diabetes mellitus, sepsis. For example, people with periodontal disease are at twice the risk of heart catastrophes and have twice the amount of plaque in the blood cholesterol than people with a healthy oral cavity.”The oral cavity is the mirror of the soul,” dentists say.

According to the WHO, 16-40% of children aged 6 to 12 suffer dental injuries in unsafe playgrounds, in unsafe schools, as well as as a result of road accidents or violence.

A very rare occurrence – complete primary (congenital) adentia, when a person is born without tooth buds.

Among different human populations, there is a certain percentage of people with the so-called natural sanitation, that is, with full dental health.The number of such people in some populations reaches 20%, and in some – below 1%. Such dental health depends primarily on genetics. Secondly, on the quality and chemical composition of drinking water. Thirdly, on the nature of the diet.

Arina Petrova

90,000 When the gums fester, what can this be said about?

When pain and swelling of the gums occur, this indicates the development of an inflammatory process that requires immediate intervention by a dentist.With the transition of the acute phase to the chronic one and the spread of the infection deep into the tissue, complications can develop – from the loss of the causative tooth to infection of neighboring organs, including the tonsils and sinuses.

Reasons

The most common reasons why the gums fester are:

• trauma – it can be caused by rough use of a toothpick and a brush with stiff bristles, as a result of which pathogenic bacteria penetrate into an open wound, and suppuration begins;
• lack of regular oral hygiene – with inadequate care of the teeth, first soft plaque begins to accumulate on them, which can be cleaned off on their own, and then hard plaque, which transforms into a stone, not only serving as a breeding ground for opportunistic microflora, but also leading to bleeding and suppuration from the gums;
• periodontal tissue diseases – gingivitis, diagnosed with inflammation of the gums and, if untreated, flows into periodontitis, one of the typical signs of which is the formation of so-called periodontal (periodontal) pockets.

In addition to pathological processes in the oral cavity, an unsuitable (oversized) or incorrectly installed prosthesis / crown can lead to gum suppuration. Due to the non-physiological distribution of the load, the gums are constantly injured, inflammation occurs.

Clinical picture

Often, when the gums fester, there are other characteristic signs of the pathological process:

• soreness;
• redness;
• bleeding;
• edema.

With a prolonged course, an increase in body temperature is possible, the lymph nodes under the jaw may be enlarged.

Diagnostics and treatment

The diagnosis is made on the basis of anamnesis data collected during the conversation and examination of the patient’s oral cavity, the results of instrumental (an X-ray of the tooth is prescribed) and, if necessary, laboratory diagnostics.

The tactics of treatment, when the gums fester, are determined by the causes of the inflammatory process:

• for gingivitis and periodontitis, plaque and calculus are removed, the cavity of periodontal pockets is washed with special antiseptic solutions;
• if suppuration is the result of dental deposits, professional oral hygiene is carried out, including ultrasonic cleaning, thanks to which it is possible to remove even hard tartar and return the natural whiteness of the teeth;
• When poor-quality orthopedic treatment is to blame, the doctor removes the old prosthesis and replaces it with a new, comfortable and non-traumatic structure for the surrounding tissues.

For prophylactic purposes, a course of broad-spectrum antibiotics can be prescribed. Scraping of granulations is carried out only after the inflammation subsides.

To avoid relapse, it is recommended that you visit your dentist at least twice a year. Routine examinations will prevent the development of pathology or detect it at an early stage, when it will be possible to maintain dental health without resorting to radical, including surgical, methods of treatment.

Read more:

.