How to Clean Cryptic Tonsils

Tonsils are masses of lymphoid tissue in the back of the mouth near the opening of the throat. They are part of the immune system and can range in appearance from smooth, with superficial pockets, or rough with deep pockets. These deep pockets are called crypts. Large crypts have a tendency to collect debris, such as bacteria, dead cells, mucous, dust particles from the air and bits of food. The accumulation of this debris triggers an immune response and an attack by the white blood cells. The result is bad breath, a mildly sore throat and the formation of a foul-smelling, whitish lump known as a tonsil stone. To keep your tonsil crypts clean and stop the formation of tonsil stones, follow the steps below.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Free-standing mirror Pen light or small flashlight Warm water Cotton Swabs Anti-bacterial mouthwash Vinegar Toothbrush Oral irrigator (Water Pik)

1. Stand in front of the mirror with your mouth open as wide as you can. Shine the pen light onto the back of your throat and visually inspect your tonsils. Look for any white spots or lumps.

2. Dip the cotton swab in warm water. Squeeze to remove excess water and sweep each tonsil with the moist swab. Use the mirror to guide you. Focus on any areas where you can see tonsil crypts or debris. If you encounter a stone, gently prod the outer fold of the tonsil tissue to force the stone out of the crypt.

3. Once you have thoroughly swabbed each tonsil, gargle with anti-bacterial mouthwash.

4. Boil a cup of vinegar and wait for it to cool. Then gargle with it instead of, or in addition to, anti-bacterial mouthwash. The liquid will help to clear out any remaining debris and the acid in the vinegar will help to prevent the formation of tonsil stones.

5. Gently brush tonsils with a toothbrush that has been rinsed with anti-bacterial mouthwash to remove stones or debris from particularly deep crypts. Be warned, though, this method is much more likely to trigger your gag reflex than using a cotton swab.

6. Fill the tank of your oral irrigator with a diluted solution of anti-bacterial mouthwash and warm water. Turn it to the lowest setting and direct the spray at your tonsils to flush out any remaining particles.

Tips & Warnings

• Be gentle when sweeping or prodding your tonsils. Set your irrigator at the lowest setting or you may cause your tonsils to bleed. If this happens, stop immediately and gargle with warm salt water. Do not use your fingernail to scrape a tonsil. This can lead to an infection.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Enlarged Cryptic Tonsils- An Overview