What causes tonsil stones (tonsilloliths)?
Your tonsils are filled with nooks and crannies where bacteria and other materials, including dead cells and mucous, can become trapped. When this occurs, the debris can become concentrated in white formations that occur in the pockets. Tonsil stones, or tonsilloliths, are formed when this trapped debris hardens, or calcifies. This tends to occur most often in people who suffer from chronic inflammation in their tonsils or repeated bouts of tonsillitis. While many people have small tonsilloliths that develop in their tonsils, it is quite rare to have a large and solidified tonsil stone.
