White spots on tonsils

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

So, look—I dealt with this stuff constantly back when I was a kid, usually right alongside whatever other random illnesses I was fighting through at the time... quite a streak of bad luck, really.

Fast forward to now—I’m 23—and my throat has become incredibly sensitive to cold drinks. Every single time I take a sip of something ice-cold (and I mean *ice* cold, haha), I end up getting these little blisters on the inside of my tonsils.

It’s the same deal if I’m walking barefoot on cold floors or just moving around in chilly environments.

A little while back, I got caught in the rain while camping, and by the next morning, one of those blisters had flared up... I finally spat it out after a few days. Then, today—about a week and a half later—I spat another one out, and honestly? I have this nagging feeling there’s still something stuck in there on the inner side of my tonsils...

The point is, I really don't want to go through the whole ordeal of having my tonsils removed, so I'm wondering if there's any actual therapy or treatment out there that can stop these things from forming. It's been dragging on for a while now, and frankly, it's pretty irritating.

Thanks.

Just get them pulled, you'll save yourself the headache.

There’s really no therapy for this other than manual cleaning, which—let’s be honest—is a disgusting experience for both the patient and the person doing the digging. 😁

You should talk to a doctor about just getting them pulled. There isn't a middle ground here. It’s either surgery or you're committed to constant deep cleaning and an aggressive oral hygiene routine for the rest of your life.

I’m dealing with the exact same thing.
I’m 23, though I’m not sure if that actually matters in this context. 😁

Basically, what placidjackal36 said is spot on.
You either scrape it clean, grab something to help clear it out, or just accept that you're going to have to see a doctor to get it pulled.
For me, this was a literal six-month cycle a couple of years ago—one would disappear, and then another one would pop up right away.
After trying a few rounds of Ciprol, which my doctor had me on, I realized the meds weren't doing squat, so I decided to take matters into my own hands.

I feel a bit better now, but honestly, I still wake up most mornings with this weird sensation in my mouth.
I already know exactly what's happening, so I just reach for my toothbrush.🤣
Just last week, I had a pretty mediocre attempt at DIY surgery because I couldn't manage to get the whole thing out.

I don't know about you, but I can't stand having it sitting in my mouth. The breath? Good grief, it's like a stray cat.🙄 So, my advice? Just keep clearing it out yourself for now.
Also, I went to see an ENT, and they told me that if this keeps up, I have the green light to just get my tonsils removed.
If those tonsils don't just fall out on their own from all the misery they're going through, I'll probably end up heading in for the procedure eventually.😁

The first time this happened, I had just finished some popcorn. I honestly thought a kernel was just stuck somewhere in my throat 😂
Then, the second time, my doctor told me it was strep throat and prescribed antibiotics, which felt incredibly bizarre because I wasn't in any pain, nor did I have a fever... I was convinced food was just lingering 😂
I don't view this as a threat or anything dangerous; in fact, I haven't even noticed how frequently it actually occurs. Most of the time, I just deal with it using Jolly Ranchers... the standard kind... the ones with a bit of grit... and they do a great job of scraping everything away, all five 😍 two or three times down my throat... unchewed... 😁
I’m actually glad I stumbled upon this thread, because now I know it wasn't the popcorn after all 😂

So, does anyone know if there’s an actual mouthwash or some kind of rinse out there that works?

The whole thing is—well, it's a mess—because these damn tonsil stones are forming deep inside my tonsils, so you can't even see them...

I honestly don't know if I have any left, though it feels like they're always lurking, but it drives me absolutely insane.

Is there any way to actually cut down on how often this crap shows up? It feels like it has everything to do with those times I drink something ice-cold or catch a bit of a chill...

And if I just go ahead and get the tonsils removed, who knows—maybe it’ll just migrate somewhere else, like my heart or my veins, or something equally ridiculous...

steelseal12 said:Is there any kind of gargle or mouthwash that actually works?

The thing is, this crap is forming deep inside my tonsils, so you can't even see it from the outside...

I don't know if I have anything left to lose at this point—honestly, it feels like I've hit rock bottom—but this situation is driving me absolutely insane.

Is there any way to at least reduce how often this happens? It seems to me like there's a connection to when I drink something cold or catch a chill...

If I just have them surgically removed, who knows? Maybe it'll just migrate somewhere else, like my heart or my veins...

Actually, it's quite the opposite... if you don't get them handled, you're looking at potential heart valve infections, rheumatic fever, kidney failure, and things like that. I'm not trying to scare you, but those are some serious complications that can crop up if a bacterial infection goes untreated. My advice? Go see an ENT specialist and discuss getting them out. Besides, why haven't you seen your primary care doctor yet? If this is a bacterial infection, you'd need antibiotics...

For rinsing, try using Hexoral or Betadine, but be careful with it (read the side effects, dosage, and contraindications thoroughly) and don't use it for an extended period...

Ashley Campbell7 said:The first time this happened, I had just finished some popcorn. I honestly thought a kernel was just stuck in my throat. 😂
Then, later on, my doctor told me it was actually strep throat and prescribed antibiotics. It felt totally off, though—nothing hurt, no fever, nothing... I just kept thinking there was food lingering back there. 😂
I don't see it as a big deal or anything dangerous; I haven't even noticed how often it happens. Honestly, I usually just clear it out with some Smacks... you know, those hard, crunchy ones... and if I swallow them whole—maybe two or three at a time... 😁
it just scrapes everything right out. 😍 I'm actually glad I stumbled onto this thread, because now I know it wasn't just the popcorn. 😂

You were swallowing Smacks? How did they not get stuck? 😲

I don't have any actual bacterial tonsillitis or anything—just saying that those little blisters tend to pop up on me every once in a while... Anyway, thanks for the heads-up!

Finally, someone else dealing with this... feeling way better now
Man, my left tonsil swelled up and I actually ended up poking at these little blisters with a Q-tip for two days (LOL). No fever or anything, just weirdness. My ENT told me it was just inflammation and to just rinse with some Hexoral, and honestly, it’s been fine for two weeks now. It’s still a bit swollen, but the blisters are gone so I don't even notice it anymore.

So, let's say today—it’s been raining non-stop, the temperature took a dive, and I ended up shivering a bit because I left the windows in my room cracked open too wide... now my lymph nodes are acting up again, feeling swollen, and my throat is starting to get that familiar irritation...

Does anyone have any actual ideas? Honestly, this whole thing is driving me insane...

Also, does anyone know a truly top-tier ENT specialist around here?

steelseal12 said:Take today, for example—it’s raining, the temperature dropped, and I caught a bit of a chill because I left the windows open... now my lymph nodes are acting up again and my throat feels off...

Anyone have any ideas? This is driving me insane...

Also, does anyone know a top-tier ENT specialist?

You didn't catch a chill. It's actually just oral bacteria. We all carry them around, but when your immune system dips—or life gets stressful—their numbers skyrocket. Also, people who've dealt with strep throat in the past often end up with tonsil crypts—basically little pockets where those bacteria settle in and become an issue (otherwise, you wouldn't even notice them).
A lot of folks claim they can cause issues elsewhere—like heart problems—so it might be worth boosting your immunity—maybe try some probiotic yogurt to help balance out the good bacteria against the bad.

Ugh, I’m dealing with the exact same thing... ugh. First off, whenever I swallow, it feels like something is just stuck right there in my throat. Then, out of nowhere, I’ll have this coughing fit and all this white, gross stuff just comes flying out. And let me tell you, if you were to rub it between your fingers? The smell is absolutely revolting. Just yuck.