Tonsilloliths are small lumps of white or yellow color which can emerge in the tonsils of an individual, and their primary symptom is bad breath, yet they also can lead to coughing and sore throat.
Tonsilloliths, also called tonsil stones, are not harmful and do not cause any significant discomfort to a person. The cause of tonsilloliths is the material that gets stuck in the tonsillar crypts and later can harden and form stones. The material may contain various minerals, including calcium, debris, food, and even bacteria.
Tonsilloliths can be diagnosed through a physical examination by simply looking at the throat or an imaging scan if the stones are not visible easily. There are several ways that can help the patient to remove the rocks. For instance, they can engage in gargling while using saltwater or coughing. Yet, surgery is also possible if tonsilloliths are particularly hard to remove using conventional methods.