Does your breath smell bad? Do you have bad breath alot? Do you feel like no matter how much you cough, you just can’t seem to get rid of “something” at the back of your throat? Then, you may be suffering from tonsil stones. Tonsil stones are be cured relatively easily but you first have to determine if that’s indeed what you have.

Tonsil stones are generally small “stones” comprising of calcium, small bits of food, and other “mouth debris” that can collect over time and turn into stones within the crevices of your tonsils. Just like how your teeth can collect hard tartar build up over time, a similar situation can happen with tonsil stones. This mixture of debris can cause not only nagging discomfort but also chronic bad breath.

Removing tonsil stones isn’t necessarily difficult. Essentially, what you need to do is dig them out of the crevices of your tonsils. Some people simple use their own toothbrush, or a cotton bud (or Q-tip), a finger or some other non-sharp object. Just be aware that if you are prone to easily gagging, then sticking something to the back of your throat may not be the best idea to do yourself.

While it’s entirely possible to remove tonsil stones yourself at home, you may want to opt for surgery or at least have your medical doctor do the dirty work, so to speak. There are different medical treatments available so it’s a good idea to speak to your doctor to find out how you can get rid of your tonsil stones quickly, painlessly, and effectively.