I went to the doctor b/c there was a white 'thing' on my tonsil. She said it was a food particle, and it would go away. It didn't, so I poked at it with my toothbrush and got it, but it's back and keeps coming back. It's annoying. What is it and what should I do?
Reply: ---------------
Most likely the white particle is indeed partially digested food debris that is getting trapped in a tiny fold known as a crypt of the tonsil. Certain people have very deep crypts in the tonsils and tend to be predisposed to this problem. It is generally an innocuous condition but occasionally is associated with chronic minor sore throat problems. Aggressive oral hygiene measures are the recommended initial treatment for symptomatic cases. This involves vigorous gargling using antiseptic mouth wash such as Cepacol or simply gargling with a mild salt solution on a daily basis. For more difficult cases, a water-pik device is often recommended with daily cleansing of the tonsil. If one is symptomatic with daily or frequent mild sore throats, and these aforementioned measures prove to be unsuccessful after several months, then one might consider tonsil surgery.
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Steve Dankle, MD
Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
Milwaukee, Wis
NOTICE: OFCN is not engaged in the rendering of professional medical services. The information contained on this system or any other OFCN system should not supplant individual professional consultation. It is offered exclusively as a community education service. Advice on individual problems must be obtained directly from a professional.
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