You’re brushing your teeth, gargling, minding your own business—then you cough, and out pops a small, white, foul-smelling pebble. Welcome to the weird world of tonsil stones (or tonsilloliths). While not dangerous, these little calcified clumps can cause chronic bad breath, throat discomfort, and that annoying feeling like something’s stuck in your throat. The good news? With the right care, you can prevent them—or even stop them for good. Tonsil stones are hardened clusters of debris that form in the crevices (called crypts) of your tonsils. They’re made of: Dead white blood cells Food particles Bacteria (especially odor-causing anaerobes) Mucus...
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