Tonsiliths- A potential source of bad breath
Posted in Otolaryngology on July 30, 2010
The most common cause of halitosis, or bad breath, is bacteria and foods particles that are trapped on the back of the tongue. In some individuals, however, the cause of halitosis may be tonsiliths, stone-like objects that form on the surface of the tonsils. The tonsils located in the back of the throat. In some individuals, particularly those with a history of recurrent tonsillitis, the surface of the tonsils can become very irregular, with deep crevasses and pits on the surface. These pits trap old food particles, and bacterial overgrowth on these particles can produce the tonsilith concretions. The bacterial overgrowth can also lead to sulfur granules on the tonsiliths, which causes the bad breath. In addition to halitosis, patients can also complain of feeling like something is stuck in or irritating the back of the throat. Patients may also complain of frequently coughing up the tonsiliths while eating.
Conservative treatment measures include frequent gargling with salt water and the use of a water pik to force the tonsilith out of the crypts and pits. If conservative measures are unsuccessful, then carbon dioxide laser resurfacing of the tonsils or surgical excision of the tonsils may be needed.
Sincerely,
N. Shah, MD