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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Tonsil stones ruining my confidence

71 replies

Lemonandadropofhoney · 07/02/2022 09:53

This will probably be moved to the general health board but I'm shamelessly posting for traffic.

Fellow tonsil stone sufferers, please tell me you have found a magical cure?

I have been plagued by these since my late teens. I have very deep crevasses in my tonsils that collect these disgusting lumps and absolutely nothing I do helps! Gp recommended I use corsodyl mouthwash and that's all they could suggest.

I have to clean my tonsils every other day using a cotton bud. My breath smells like rotten flesh on a daily basis and absolutely nothing takes it away. I brush, floss, use mouthwash and use interdental brushes twice daily. I have been thankful for mask wearing as I'm always extremely self conscious when speaking with people incase they catch a whiff of my rotten mouth. I won't kiss DH because I don't want to subject him to the unpleasantries in my mouth.

As mask wearing is slowly easing off, my anxiety is going through the roof! Please share your mumsnet wisdom and help me rid myself of these for good.

OP posts:
BetterBee · 07/02/2022 09:55

CAn you have your tonsils removed?

Butternutsqoosh · 07/02/2022 09:55

I have no knowledge about this, but couldn't you just get your tonsils taken out?

Sufferingjaysus · 07/02/2022 09:55

Can you have a private consultation with an ent specialist doctor about getting your tonsils removed

felttipn · 07/02/2022 09:59

@Sufferingjaysus

Can you have a private consultation with an ent specialist doctor about getting your tonsils removed
This. It would be about £200 and they would probably agree to send you back to the NHS for any treatment
Fangdrew · 07/02/2022 10:01

If you can afford it, get a private tonsillectomy. I had this in my twenties and it’s absolutely revolting, like having a throat full of poo on a daily basis. As the crypts are so deep I honestly don’t know if any topical treatments would help, and manual removal increases the risk of trauma and infection. I really feel for you and completely understand the impact on your confidence. It’s a really distressing condition.

ihaveonecat · 07/02/2022 10:04

I have them, and they're a pain. No advice but I just remove them as often as I "taste" then
Gargling with salt water helped and cutting down dairy

Cbtb · 07/02/2022 10:07

Have you tried nettinpot or a sinus rinse? That really helped mine

NotTheMrMenAgain · 07/02/2022 10:10

I saw a video on line about a procedure where a doctor will use a laser to remove tissue from the tonsils, making the tonsil crypts less deep or removing them altogether. It'd be less invasive than a full on tonsilectomy and is meant to be quite effective. I think it comes with a caveat that tonsil tissue can grow back though.

DaisyDreaming · 07/02/2022 10:11

They can laser your tonsils to make them smooth and get rid of the crevices. I figured a way to create suction (as if your trying to bring up some mucus) help shift loose ones. Mine went on for years and then vanished after a long course of antivirals. It’s always my first sign I’m coming down with something so I think I just had a virus causing them for a few years non stop

BookBanter · 07/02/2022 10:12

My daughter had these and they were huge. About the size of a 5p coin at their largest. They would regularly cause discomfort with swallowing and alter her sense of taste. The smell was unreal, even from the other side of a room. Luckily, the NHS agreed to remove her tonsils before she started school age 5 because of the swallowing impact. The ENT doctor at the time said that tonsil removal is the only solution to get rid of them for good.

People will mention mouthwashes and gargling with salt water etc but this is like putting a plaster over a seeping wound. You can either spend the rest of your life manually removing them with a torch, mirror and tool of your choice, or enquire about surgery. The NHS may help if it's having a health impact, otherwise you may have to go private. Lots of places will allow you to pay in instalments.

Good luck. I completely sympathise and I am so grateful my daughter was given the surgery at a young age.

Original poster
Lemonandadropofhoney · 07/02/2022 10:14

I wasn't aware I could have my tonsils removed for an issue like this. I'll definitely look into it. The GP didn't mention it at my visit.

I have tried a sinus rinse, it definitely helped however it didn't solve the issue completely. It always comes back.

@ihaveonecat This is exactly what I do. I can taste them and I know I have to clean them out again. It's revolting!

OP posts:
ChillysWaterBottle · 07/02/2022 10:26

I don't understand how or why but I stopped eating cereal and they just disappeared. Over ten years later never had them again except for a brief period when I...began eating cereal again. And they then disappeared when I stopped. Like I said I don't know why but it suggested to me food could be a factor.

You have my sympathies though they are miserable.

Original poster
Lemonandadropofhoney · 07/02/2022 10:39

@ChillysWaterBottle I'm willing to try anything so I'll give it a go thank you.

The less invasive laser treatment sounds like a great option. I know getting tonsils removed can be quite risky but at this stage I'm willing to consider all options. I do have private insurance so I'll give them a call and see if they can advise.

Thank you all for the recommendations.

OP posts:
Yerroblemom1923 · 07/02/2022 10:40

Can you remove them with a cotton bud etc? Does that help?

Frazzledbutcalm · 07/02/2022 10:45

My dd has had them from childhood, she’s now 18 and constantly has them, they literally fall off then the other side gets one within days, that then falls and back to the other side a few days later. It is constant. GP has said nothing can be done, other than very good oral hygiene (which dd has anyway), and NHS will NOT take out tonsils for this particular problem.

Our only option is to go privately and see if a surgeon would agree to the operation - we’ve not looked into that yet however.

EezyOozy · 07/02/2022 10:48

Have you tried rinsing your tonsils with a syringe , There are special ones. Also you can get a silicon spoon thing with a torch that illuminates it so inspect your tonsils , then rinse with syringe after (and water will flush more out ). Let me know if you need a link

EezyOozy · 07/02/2022 10:50

(Or rinse with saline or mouthwash )

Singlebutmarried · 07/02/2022 10:52

My mum had really bad tonsil stone and ended up having them removed.

It was interfering with her eating. Turned out the tonsils had ‘extended’ down the throat and it was a longer more complicated procedure than anticipated.

She now can taste food properly, doesn’t have the rancid breath and more importantly can breathe and swallow properly.

OP I’d definitely ask your GP for a referral to ENT and get the buggers removed.

Benjaminbunnyslettuce · 07/02/2022 10:57

I get these and agree they are disgusting. I just pop them out most days with a finger as even if there isn’t one visible there are normally small bits in the crypts I can’t see. My gag reflex has pretty much disappeared these days. I know some people use a water flosser or salt water gargling to good affect too and I’ve heard good things about the procedure in a previous comment where your tonsils are lasered to smooth them out.

Mufflette · 07/02/2022 10:58

Tonsil removal/smoothing does seem to be the solution! But in the meantime have you tried a tongue scraper? It does help a bit.

ihaveonecat · 07/02/2022 11:03

@Mufflette

Tonsil removal/smoothing does seem to be the solution! But in the meantime have you tried a tongue scraper? It does help a bit.
Oh yes I forgot about that! I use the tung brush and gel
vastgrandupgrade · 07/02/2022 11:06

I had my tonsils removed for this reason. The NHS did it.

Bubbles1st · 07/02/2022 11:21

Wow I've been flooded with horrific memories of when I use to suffer, the stench of such a tiny thing is almost impressive apart from it being in your mouth.

I always use to be able to feel them poking out and irritating the back of my throat, I used to use a big pen lid to scoop them out 🤢

Anyway I genuinely needed my tonsils removing thank goodness but the recovery was actually pretty grim too!

HanSB · 07/02/2022 11:27

You can use a tonsil stone remover with a light to scoop out the ones hidden around the sides and backs, I think there must be some you can’t get to with a cotton bud. I used to have to do it every couple days to get any debris before it formed into a tonsil stone. Now I eat low carb and sugar and haven’t had any for a couple years so I think diet has a big effect too

WhyYesYABU · 07/02/2022 11:31

That sounds awful. I would ring private healthcare and/or tell your GP you have private healthcare and get a referral letter if you don't have private GP service. I don't know how stubborn they are but have you tried a waterpik? Wondering if you could blast them 3 times a day with one?

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