Tonsil Stones: 101

October 04, 2021 3 min read

What are Tonsil Stones?

Tonsil stones, officially known as Tonsilithiths, are the calcification of food, mucus, and bacteria that form in the pits and crypts of tonsils. The pungent sulfur tonsil stone smell is the most discussed frustration and is often compared to the smell of rotting eggs. Tonsil stones are common in the United States, especially since routine tonsillectomies in children fell out of standard practice in the late 1970s to early 1980s. This means there are more young people experiencing tonsil stones than in previous decades.

How Do You Identify a Tonsil Stone?

Tonsil stones can be identified with the following three main criteria of smell, color, and shape.

Tonsil stones have a strong foul and pungent sulfur smell
The main color of tonsil stones is a combination of white, beige, or yellow color
Tonsil Stones vary in size and shape, however, they can be identified by the inconsistent bumpy surface and roundish shape. Though they are often called stones, tonsil stones are soft and can easily be squished with minimal pressure.

If you have tonsil stones, you know how frustrating and annoying they can be!

What Causes Tonsil Stones?

Tonsil Anatomy - some people have naturally occurring pits and crypts in their tonsils while others do not. People experience tonsil stones differently based on the number, orientation, and design of their pits and crypts. When it comes to the number of crypts in tonsils some people have 1-2 while others can have 10+ crypts creating a higher chance of tonsil stones. The size of these crypts can vary between people creating different sized stones. The size of the opening of the crypts is another large determinant to how people experience tonsil stones. Large openings mean the tonsil stones can more easily come out on their own without daily intervention. Unfortunately, small crypt openings that have a larger internal structure create more space for food, mucus, and bacteria to form into tonsil stones while also making it more difficult to remove the stones.

What are the Symptoms of Tonsil Stones?

smell...discomfort...taste --> reduced self esteem

The strong pungent smell of tonsil stones is one of the most frustrating parts of having tonsil stones. The fear of the smell being noticed by others in conversation often leads to personal insecurities and reduced self-esteem. Tonsil stones also cause discomfort with the feeling of a foreign body in the tonsils. Then there is the taste some tonsil stone sufferers report which helps them recognize when they have a tonsil stone. Once the tonsil stone is removed, the odor and discomfort typically go away. That’s why so many people are looking for an instant solution for removing tonsil stones.

How do People Remove Tonsil Stones?

Are you one of the 33% who remove tonsil stones with their fingers?

Tonsil stone removal is an important process for those who experience tonsils stones on the moderate to severe level of the spectrum. In our survey of 400+ people with tonsil stones, they shared the following options:

Finger
Q-tip
Syringe
Coughing
Toothbrush
Chopstick
Bobby pin
Blackhead remover
Water flosser
End of a makeup brush
Pens & Pencils

None of these options were specifically designed for tonsil stone removal or take into consideration the soft tonsil tissue anatomy. Tonsil Tech was founded on the mission to change this and launched TonsiFIX in July 2021.

Tonsil Tech's Mission

We are a team of bioengineers with tonsil stones on a mission to develop devices specifically for the safe and pain-free removal of tonsil stones. We believe this issue hasn't been adequately solved and we are excited to help!