They can range from the size of a grain of rice to a large pea and are usually off-white or yellowish.
How Do They Form & What Are the Signs?
The Process: Everyone gets debris in their tonsil crypts. For most, it washes away naturally with saliva and swallowing. But for some, the crypts are deeper or more prone to trapping material. When the debris sits, bacteria multiply, leading to the calcification process.
Common Signs & Symptoms:
- Bad breath (halitosis): The #1 symptom. The bacteria produce volatile sulfur compounds, which smell like rotten eggs.
- A feeling of something stuck in the back of the throat.
- Difficulty swallowing or a sensation of throat tightness.
- A persistent sore throat or tickle, unrelated to illness.
- Ear pain: Due to shared nerve pathways.
- Visible white or yellow flecks on the tonsils.
- A chronic cough as your body tries to dislodge them.