Tonsil Stones

[Anonymous]

So my 8-year old DS had pretty large tonsil stones causing horrible breath and he freaked out when I tried to pop them out with a Q-tip. Still managed to do it but I'm really not looking forward to doing it again and again. That was pretty recent and they're not back yet - but they do come back, right? If so, do you recommend that I talk to the pediatrician about removing his tonsils? It just seems like pretty much everyone here is saying it's better to do it when still a kid, but at what point do you say now's a good time?

[Anonymous]

My 8 year old DD also has them, and often has sore throats. I'm wondering if we should see an ENT...any suggestions?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So my 8-year old DS had pretty large tonsil stones causing horrible breath and he freaked out when I tried to pop them out with a Q-tip. Still managed to do it but I'm really not looking forward to doing it again and again. That was pretty recent and they're not back yet - but they do come back, right? If so, do you recommend that I talk to the pediatrician about removing his tonsils? It just seems like pretty much everyone here is saying it's better to do it when still a kid, but at what point do you say now's a good time?

DO IT! I can't emphasize that enough. Once your tonsils are damaged enough to form crypts where food can collect and form tonsil stones, it will happen again and again.

Do it over summer break or a big holiday. When I was a kid, they weren't taking them out, now the pendulum has swung back and ENTs are taking them out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 8 year old DD also has them, and often has sore throats. I'm wondering if we should see an ENT...any suggestions?

See an ENT.

[Anonymous]

I had them from about 19-35. I'm 37 now and for some reason haven't had them in the last couple of years. As far as I know I'm not doing anything differently, maybe they will come back at some point.