How can I be sure this is a tonsil tooth and not something else?

Question

I had my upper left wisdom extracted 9 days ago. The past few days I have felt like something is in my throat, on the side of my throat that is the same side I had the wisdom tooth pulled. It's not sore, but I feel something there and it's annoying. I looked in my throat with a flashlight and saw a white patch on the same side of the wisdom tooth I had extracted. I went to the oral surgeon for a recheck yesterday to see how I am healing and showed it to him, and he said it was just something in the crevice of my tonsil and was not related to my wisdom tooth extraction (although it seems like a weird coincidence to me that I've never had this before and that it's on the same side of the wisdom tooth.) Anyway, he gave me a syringe and I said I could try to irrigate it out myself, but I tried and it doesn't work. Will it go away by itself if I leave it alone? Also, how can I be sure that's what it really is and not a throat infection? I am starting to get very nervous.

Answer 1

Believe me, the doctor knows the difference between an infection and a tonsil stone. What you are describing sounds like a tonsil stone. You have probably had them for a long time but didn't realize it until after the dental surgery. They are often found in those with hyperactive salivary glands, those with post natal drip and those with sinus issues.

Our tonsils have crypts so there are little "openings" or dents in our tonsils. These little crypts can fill with food particles, bacteria and dead white cells. These deposits can calcify becoming tonsil stones, also known as tonsiloliths. As long as you don't have a sore throat, there is nothing to worry about.

If seeing the tonsil stones bothers you, gargle with salt water, cider vinegar, dissolvable paracetamol or a non-alcohol, non-sugar based mouth wash. Also, since tonsil stones are common in those with sinus issues, take a decongestant to relieve post nasal drip. Never, ever dig them out! Not only can you damage your tonsils and your throat, they are only going to come back.

The only way to get rid of tonsil stones is to have your tonsils removed.