Do tonsil stones cause bad breath?
Disease description:
My childhood friend has recently been experiencing a sore throat and was diagnosed with tonsillitis, along with severe bad breath. Can tonsil stones cause bad breath?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Guo Huijie
Tonsil stones may cause bad breath. This is because tonsil stones mainly result from recurrent tonsillitis, leading to long-term blockage in the tonsillar crypts and poor drainage of secretions, which then accumulate into cheese-like substances. Bacteria and food debris within these accumulations gradually decay and harden, eventually forming stones under the influence of calcium salts. These stones are typically yellowish and granular, and often emit a foul odor. In addition, tonsil stones may obstruct the tonsillar glands or crypts, impairing drainage and promoting bacterial growth or accumulation of food debris, thereby producing unpleasant halitosis. For patients with tonsil stones, in addition to actively treating the stones themselves, maintaining good oral hygiene and avoiding spicy, irritating, and greasy foods are also important to help alleviate symptoms of bad breath.
