Food Stuck In Tonsils
Dealing With Food Stuck In Your Tonsils
If you've ever experienced having food stuck in your tonsils, you've probably convinced yourself that's just one more reason for having the pesky organs removed. Although many of us have had our tonsils removed at an early age, they performed a valuable function while we had them. Just as tiny hairs and mucous in our nose and nasal passages help to keep unwanted particles from entering the lungs, the spongy tissues that make up the tonsils perform the same task when we breathe through our mouth.
The tonsils serve to keep bacteria, as well as other things, out of the bronchial passages and lungs. At times the tonsils will become overloaded with bacteria, with the result they may become inflamed or infected, the condition we know as tonsillitis, the condition which usually leads to us having them removed. The same thing can happen if you get food stuck in your tonsils. The food becomes a breeding ground for bacteria, and in doing so can also result in a bad case of halitosis or bad breath.
It isn't like your tonsils are trapping large chunks of food. Food stuck in your tonsils is usually in the form of fairly small particles, but a small particle of decaying food can become a significant source of aggravation, discomfort, and with the possibility of a bad breath problem, an embarrassment.
The obvious way to remove food stuck in your tonsils, turns out not to be so obvious after all. All that needs to be done is to scrape off the food particles with something. The problem with this seeming simple solution is something called our gag reflex. Anytime you stick your finger that far back in your throat, your bound to gag, or even worse.
Spray The Tonsils - While something solid touching the tonsils may cause a gag reflex, a liquid seldom does, which means if we can scrape the food away, we can try to spray or wash it away. A high-pressure stream of water like a waterpik produces may do the job. You still may have a tendency to gag, but it's still a lot better than trying to use a finger or something else solid.
Gargling Can Work - If you don't have a waterpik, a salt water gargle may do the trick. You might have to gargle more than once, or do it every day if food particles seem to have a way of finding your tonsils, but gargling is usually quite effective. Just be sure to tilt your head way back so the salt water reaches the back of your throat. Just swishing the salt water around in your mouth is good for your tongue, teeth, and gums, but won't do much for food stuck in your tonsils.
Ever Tried Brushing? - If you are braver than most of us, or just don't gag easily, you may be able to brush your tonsils with a very soft toothbrush. If you try using one with hard bristles you may not get far, but some can actually brush their tonsils without getting into a gag reflex situation.
Tonsil Stones A Possibility - Besides causing discomfort and bad breath, food stuck in your tonsils can lead to another problem, that of tonsil stones (tonsilloliths). The bacteria causing these stones breed in crevices in the tonsils where food particles can be trapped, and eliminate sulfur as a waste product. Sulfur fumes naturally don't exactly make the breath smell sweet.
If you're encountering the above problems, it doesn't necessarily mean you tonsils should come out right away, but in the absence of tonsils these problems will no longer occur. Also consider the fact that as we get older, having tonsils removed becomes a somewhat more serious operation. A good talk with the doctor to determine what avenue you should take is probably in order.