There is a foreign body sensation in the mouth

Oral hygiene is something we need to deal with every day. Developing good habits of cleaning the mouth will reduce the chance of bad breath and will also have certain benefits for oral health. Some people may feel as if there is a foreign object in their mouth, and may think that they have accidentally eaten something and it is stuck in their mouth. When this symptom occurs, they should go to the hospital for examination in time, as they may have tonsil stones.

What are tonsil stones

Tonsil stones mostly occur in the crypts above the tonsils. If this area is blocked for a long time, secretions cannot be drained smoothly, and cheesy substances accumulate, causing insoluble inorganic salts such as calcium and magnesium to deposit and form stones. The core may be a small foreign body, desquamated epithelial cells or bacteria. Stones often occur around ciliated hyphae.

Symptoms of tonsil stones

The symptoms of tonsil stones are similar to those of chronic tonsillitis, so many people confuse the two diseases. I thought it was the discomfort caused by catching a cold or a flu. Let’s take a look at the symptoms that patients will experience when tonsil stones occur.

1. Tonsil stones are usually small in size and are often embedded in the crypts on the tonsils, causing discomfort or pain to the patient.

2. If there is purulent infection around the stone, there may be sore throat and reflex ear pain.

3. In severe cases, patients may experience difficulty swallowing, slurred speech, increased saliva, and limited mouth opening. When there is an infection, people often experience bad breath. Sometimes stones can break out from the tonsillar crypts or the palatoglossal arches.

4. The stones contain a large amount of sulfonamides and carry a large number of bacteria. When the stones are broken, they will emit sulfide gas with a smell similar to rotten eggs. Compared with the discomfort caused by the stones, the problem caused by this odor is more serious because it will cause patients to have embarrassing chronic bad breath.

5. Because most stones are trapped in the tonsil crypts, patients with tonsil stones often feel a foreign body sensation in the throat.

How to Prevent Tonsil Stones

1. Maintain oral hygiene:

Prevent bacteria from accumulating on your tonsils by brushing, flossing, and using a daily mouthwash. Brush your teeth every night before going to bed, as leaving food particles in your mouth overnight can lead to bacterial growth.

2. Don’t breathe through your mouth:

Especially at night, mouth breathing dries out your mouth, which can lead to bacterial growth and tonsil stones.

3. Consider tonsillectomy:

In some cases, you may have a condition in your mouth that makes you more susceptible to developing tonsil stones. If you have related problems such as difficulty swallowing, unbearable pain and tonsillitis.