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If you often find yourself with bad breath and a sore throat at the same time, you may have tonsil stones.

These stones, are often caused by a buildup of mucus, bits of food and bacteria in the mouth. This is condition is somewhat rare, but can be quite perplexing for the patient. Some data suggests that more than five percent of those with tonsil issues may be experience this condition.

Tonsil stones are mostly calcium based formations. They are usually quite small, but can be painful. The tonsils end up with the stones, when the stones are formed in the mouth. Tonsils act as filters for the mouth and therefore end up collecting these stones.

There are several simple home remedies that can be used to treat these stones:

Gargle with salt water

One simple method for treating tonsil stones is to gargle with salt water. When you gargle, the salt water helps to wash out the stones and kill the bacteria they harbor. Since the bacteria causes bad breath, the salt water gargle also helps to neutralize the odor as it cleans the mouth.

Drinks lots of water

The simple act of drinking water can also help to clear the stones. Water flushes out the mouth and helps wash away the problematic stone particles and their foul smelling bacteria. By preventing a buildup of the stones by the act of drinking water, you can help clear the mouth of the troublesome stones. Drinking also flushes the tonsils, which act as strainers of the food and liquids we consume.

Cotton tipped pads  (aka swabs)

You can use cotton tipped pads (aka swabs) to gently clean the stones. You should do this in front of a reflective surface such as a mirror. However, please consider consulting your doctor before trying this method. Gently use the cotton tipped pads to loosen the stones from the tonsils. Then finish the procedure with a salt water or mouthwash gargle.

Use your toothbrush

It also may be possible to use a very soft toothbrush to loosen the stones. When you locate the stones, use a very action to dislodge the stones from the tonsils. Once the stones are mobile, you can wash them away with a gargle or mouthwash rinse.

Drink the juice of the lemon

The juice from a lemon can also be used to wash away tonsil stones. Use more than two tablespoons of the juice and mix it with warm water. Then proceed to gargle with the mixture. Make sure to focus your efforts around the tonsils. Rinse out the gargle and flush your mouth clean.

Using onions in raw form or cloves of the garlic plant

Itis possible to also treat the condition by chewing raw cloves or the garlic plant or bulbs of onions. It is well know that garlic fights bacteria. Onions also work in a similar fashion when they are raw. By chewing these bulbs in raw form, an individual can fight the bacteria residing in the tonsil stones. In addition, eating at least three onions day-to-day will also help fight the bacteria caused smell.

Yogurt which is not sweetened

Consuming yogurt that is not sweetened is also an effective remedy for the stones. The yogurt helps to remove the bacteria. Each time the yogurt is eaten the bacteria in the stones is countered. This type of yogurt consumption is very helpful when fighting this condition.

Juice of the lime

Just like lemons, limes also help to fight the bacteria promoted by the stones. Again, create a simple gargle of lime squeezed juice and rinse the affected region with the potion. The lime is sanitizing to the oral cavity and promotes cleaning of the bacteria on the stones.

A balanced diet and cleanly habits

A person suffering from the stones should consume a diet that is rich in probiotics and vitamins. Probiotic bacteria are good bacteria that are well equipped to fight the stones bad bacteria. A diet loaded with vegetables is not suitable for sustaining the troublesome stones.

In addition cleanly oral habits also help fight stone formation. Brush your teeth often. Floss regularly and rinse your mouth with mouthwash or a salt water gargle.

Medical Treatment Options

If these home remedies do not prove adequate to treat the condition, there are several medical options to explore with your doctor.

First, your doctor can conduct a simple test for the stones that involves swabbing the rear portion of your mouth. Your doctor will test for a number of possible causes including viral infections.

If your doctor finds that the stones warrant serious treatment, he or she may recommend the following:

• Antibiotics. Treating with antibiotics helps kill the bacteria in the tonsils. This treatment may be enough, or in many cases it is only temporary solution that requires further treatment.
• If the tonsils are severely infected your doctor may decide to remove them. The procedure, called a tonsillectomy completely removes the tonsils and therefore solves the problem.
• A new laser procedure called Cryptolysis is not also available. It is much less invasive and painful than old fashioned tonsil surgery. However the procedure is sometimes only a temporary solution since it does not completely remove the tonsils.

Only your doctor can recommend the best treatment for you. However keeping your mouth clean and practicing good oral cleanliness is something you can do on a daily basis to prevent this condition from reoccurring.

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.