Is a Water Flosser Effective for Tonsil Stones?

 When you hear the term stone in relation to a health problem, you probably immediately think of kidney stones. However, another type of stone that people often never hear about until their dentist explains the condition is tonsil stones. Don't worry, this article will let you know why you might get tonsil stones and what oral hygiene products you can use to prevent them from happening again.

Signs You May Have Tonsil Stones

Tonsil stones are hard and look like white or yellowish stones on the tonsils. Usually, tonsil stones cause no symptoms. When symptoms occur, they include:

• Persistent bad breath
• white or yellow structures on the tonsils
• sore throat
• swollen tonsils
• hard to swallow
• cough
• Chronic tonsil infection/inflammation

What Cause Tonsil Stones?

• Tonsil stones form when bacteria and other debris become trapped in the tiny crevices in the tonsils.
• The tonsils are two small tissues at the back of the throat, one on each side. The American Academy of Otolaryngology explains that the tonsils help fight off infections that enter through the mouth.
• Because tonsils are made up of lymphoid tissue, they can have crypts, which are holes in the surface. Tonsil crypts are a normal part of human anatomy. Some people may have more or larger crypts in their tonsils than others, making that person more likely to develop tonsil stones.
• The tonsils trap bacteria, viruses, and other foreign invaders, then "teach" the immune system how to fight them. Fragments are usually swallowed or washed away with saliva.

How To Prevent Tonsil Stones?

If you have tonsil stones, they may come back periodically if you choose not to have your tonsils removed surgically. While there are some preventative steps you can take to prevent them from happening again, surgical intervention may be necessary at some point in the future. Here are home remedies and treatments on how to remove tonsil stones at home:

Improve oral hygiene habits

Practice good oral hygiene at home, including brushing your teeth and using a water flosser regularly to remove bacteria from the back of your tongue when you brush your teeth.

Use a water flosser

One of the best doctor-recommended ways to remove tonsil stones is to use a portable water flosser. This is a great way to remove them without clogging, and it doesn't involve any sharp tools. This is the safest contactless method.

Quit smoking

Avoid smoking or using other tobacco products that can build bacteria in your throat that can cause you to develop tonsil stones.

Gargle with salt water

Gargle vigorously with salt water to soothe throat discomfort and help dislodge stuck tonsil stones. Try dissolving half of a teaspoon of table salt in a glass of 8 ounces of warm water and gargling.

Hydrate

Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated to prevent tonsil stones from forming. Water also increases natural saliva production and helps change the chemistry in your mouth.

Cough

A sharp cough can help loosen the stone. When the stone is loosened by the fluid, try coughing after first gargling with salt water.

Antibiotic

Antibiotics can help lower the bacterial count, which plays a vital role in the formation and growth of future tonsil stones. Antibiotics should not be used as a long-term solution because they will not treat the underlying cause of the stones.

Benefits of Water Flossers for the Oral Health

Flossing every day is just as important as brushing your teeth.

However, water flosser benefits are oral routine that is often overlooked by many people because they think that brushing alone is enough to protect the mouth from bacteria.

That being said, many people are unable to clean their mouths thoroughly because there are areas in the mouth that a toothbrush cannot reach, unlike a water flosser. When you use a water flosser, you remove any food particles left between your teeth or along the gum line, keeping any bad bacteria from living in your mouth.

Effectively removes plaque and tartar

It is very important to remove plaque and tartar because if not removed, it can lead to tooth decay requiring dental surgery by a dentist. It acts as your preventive tool against anything that might get stuck on your teeth. Without plaque and tartar, harmful bacteria cannot take hold of your mouth. Therefore, it can effectively prevent the formation of tonsil stones.

Effectively cleans food residue between teeth

Most dentists recommend it because, unlike a toothbrush, water floss reaches the deepest part of the tooth, removing food debris. According to a dental study, when water flossers are used with manual toothbrushes, they remove far more plaque from tooth surfaces than brushing alone.

Easy to use

One of the benefits of using the best water flosser is that it is very easy to use. Unlike flossing which requires a controlled hand to remove plaque between teeth, with a water flosser you simply turn it on and off and let the water flow over your teeth to remove food particles and plaque.

Reduce bacterial growth

After flossing, you can more easily reduce bacteria buildup, knowing that you'll be able to remove food particles that get stuck in your teeth. So, if you remove foods that breed bacteria, your mouth will be healthier. If the benefits of flossing outweigh the bacteria count in your mouth, there's no room for hesitation.

Conclusion

Tonsil stones are no fun. They can cause severe bad breath and are the result of bacteria or food accumulating in the pits on the surface of the tonsils. Therefore, we must pay attention to this oral health problem and use the correct methods and tools to prevent it.

Cited from https://binicare.com/blogs/binicare-blog/is-water-flosser-effective-for-tonsil-stones