When sometimes you feel pain and discomfort on your throat, you may actually have tonsil stones or tonsilloliths. This is an infection of the throat that starts as a strep throat and eventually become tonsil stones. This type of infection happens to the throat and is characterized by having white, calciferous formations attaching to several parts of the tonsil and throat are. These white substances are accumulated debris and bacteria that has found a way to settle in the crevices of the throat. Many factors that are considered to be causes of tonsil stones will be discussed here.
One of the causes of having tonsillolith is postnasal drip. In anatomy, the mouth, ears and nose are inter-connected which means whatever enters the mouth or nose may affect each one as well. Since not all particles that enter the throat come from the mouth, other particles which pass the nose may also enter the throat. Postnasal drip is described as the draining of mucous from the nose and sinuses. The mucous then drains directly into the back of the throat which may cause irritation.
Since mucous is a sticky substance, it may leave traces or deposits on the throat’s lining and this may attract the settling of food debris from the mouth, bacteria and other particles. The reaction of these substances will create the calciferous formation of tonsil stones. Another cause being cited for developing tonsil stones is a person’s genes or birth problems. Some people are born to be more prone to having tonsil stones compared to others. This would include those people who have overactive salivary glands.
Saliva carries food particles and debris to the throat which will most probably settle there if not flushed out with enough amount of water. This will build up if the person does not follow up with the proper oral hygiene on a regular basis. Some people also have different types of food allergies that can trigger certain reactions to the throat.
One example of this allergy would be an allergy to milk, yoghurt and other dairy products. A person who suffers from this allergic reaction will have a swelling throat which will allow settling of bacteria due to the trapped milk. Since the environment in the throat is now conducive for bacterial growth, the other debris will get trapped in the throat and react with the bacteria as well. This will now form the foundation of tonsil stones growth which should be noticed immediately to treat tonsil stones and avoid complications.