Home🦷 Here’s What You Need to Know About Tonsil Stones – The Weird White Lumps in Your Throat
🦷 Here’s What You Need to Know About Tonsil Stones – The Weird White Lumps in Your Throat
Have you ever seen small white or yellow spots on the back of your throat — or even coughed up something that looks like a tiny piece of cheese?
You might be experiencing tonsil stones (also called tonsilloliths) — small, harmless clumps that form in the crevices of your tonsils.
While they can be surprising (and sometimes smelly), they’re not dangerous — and more common than you think.
Let’s explore what tonsil stones really are, why they form, and how to manage them — so you can breathe easy (and fresh!) again.
đź§ What Are Tonsil Stones?
Tonsil stones are small, whitish or yellowish lumps that form in the pockets and folds of the tonsils — the fleshy tissues on either side of your throat.
They’re made of:
Trapped food particles
Dead white blood cells
Bacteria
Hardened saliva and mucus
Calcium and other minerals (which make them firm or chalky)
Over time, these materials calcify — creating a hard, crumbly lump that can range from pinpoint size to pea-sized.