If you have a bad breath problem which you can't seem to get rid of no matter what you try, you could have tonsil stones.
This common condition occurs when tiny particles of calcium, food and other matter become collected together in the tiny crevices of the tonsils.
As time goes on, these "stones" will harden and become difficult to remove.
Fortunately, there are ways of removing tonsil stones without resorting to having a tonsillectomy.
Firstly, you can try a manual removal of the tonsil stone.
This is not an easy procedure if you have a sensitive gag reflex.
You will need to try to pop them out by using either your finger or another round object, such as a toothbrush end or cotton wool bud, being careful not to cause any damage to the back of the throat or, indeed the tonsil.
Another way of removing tonsil stones is simply to cough hard.
By closing up and constricting the throat and then coughing hard, some people find that occasionally a stone will pop out.
The problem with this method is that there is no guarantee of removing all of your tonsil stones and if even one remains, your bad breath problem will not go away.
Although when attached to your tonsils, the stones can cause bad breath, this is nothing to the smell when a stone is broken open! The smell is caused by a combination of sulphur compounds which have formed within the stone and bacteria which has grown, over time, as the stone has formed.
Once you have managed to remove your tonsil stones, there are ways to prevent new ones forming and this revolves around a thorough and robust oral hygiene regime.
It goes without saying that teeth should be brushed twice daily and flossed at night.
You may also like to consider using a mouthwash daily.