Weird "nuggets" in my tonsils

[Dr Steve]

Sometimes I notice these weird white things embedded in my tonsils...if I cough one out it's hard and like plastic and stinks to high heaven. What are these disgusting things? Do I need to do anything about them? (posted anonymously to email)



These are "throat nuggets" more accurately called "tonsil stones" or even more arcanely "tonsilloliths". They are accretions of bacteria and old food and saliva that harden in the crypts in your tonsils. As the body draws off the protein and water, all that's left is a craggy mineral/gel concoction making a hard thing that is indeed a nugget or stone.

http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/9774/cas1cj4.jpg

You can clean them out of your tonsils pretty easily with a water pic.

here's a wikipedia article on them:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonsillolith

tonsilloliths are NOT an indication for surgery or really any treatment at all unless they get huge and cause pain or infection.

good luck and thanks for writing!


your friend,


steve

[SouthSideJohnny]

Thanks for the tip Dr. Steve. I have been experiencing these recently, and they're irritating, to say the least. The worse part is that they will sometimes fly out of my mouth after I'm talking for an extended period.

[usoilworker]

durring my last few years in the navy i had started to develope these nuggets as well after goin in to the clinic they pulled a coupe out and said just food plaque. I've pulled a few out myself from time to time they really stink if you squish em ewww.

[Death Metal Moe]

Those things fucking suck, and they reek.

But for some reason I end up squishing them between my fingers and sniffing them.

[Annie Waits]

Those things fucking suck, and they reek.

But for some reason I end up squishing them between my fingers and sniffing them.

same here! i love and hate them

[Chigworthy]

You guys have mutant spawn in your gullets.

[A.J.]

My college roommate used to get them all the time. He referred to them as "nuggets" as well. He used to sit there picking those things out of the back of his throat.

[Dr Steve]

My college roommate used to get them all the time. He referred to them as "nuggets" as well. He used to sit there picking those things out of the back of his throat.

It's a cool trick on dates. Stinky chunks of old food and saliva = guaranteed aphrodisiac. :-)

[FUNKMAN]

i heard if you're irish they are called mcnuggets...

[ruckstande]

Since I'm new here I'll post a link that my local tv station had about these. If there is a permanent treatment out there for this I'm all for it.

http://cbs3.com/health/Health.Alert.Stephanie.2.895311.html

[fezident]

I'm gonna vom.

[jlehane]

those stallagmites . http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a65/j3lehane/coyote_acme.png http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a65/j3lehane/wile_coyote.gif :furious: Apetitus Giganticus

[biggestmexi]

hey dr.