If you have always felt like something is stuck in your throat, and you are suffering from bad breath that does not leave no matter what you do, you might just be a sufferer of tonsil stones or tonsilloliths. These stones are formed in the deep pockets of the tonsils when food particles, dead white blood cells, bacteria and mucous collect.
Although considered harmless, getting rid of tonsilloliths is important if you are probably tired of the embarrassment of bad breath. It is always advisable to adopt natural modes of treatment as there are safe and do not lead to any other complications. There are a number of simple natural remedies for tonsilloliths that can help you get rid of the problem.
Personally, I would consider gargling to be a very effective remedy to get rid of tonsil stones. Millions of people have tried this method and got tremendous relief from their complaints. Though extremely popular in the Asian countries especially India, this natural remedy is yet to catch on in the West.
How to gargle:
One should slightly tilt his/her head backwards and bubble the liquid in mouth for at least 45 seconds. Drop your head back down and spit the liquid out. The process when performed repeatedly will help to get rid of tonsil stones. It also helps to provide you fresher breath.
Substances that can be used for gargling:
There are many natural substances with medicinal properties that can be used for gargling. Most commonly mouthwash, table salt, cayenne pepper, hydrogen peroxide, grape fruit extract, zingiber officinalis, lemon and apple cider vinegar are used for carrying out this act. There are lots of medicines available in liquid forms which are particularly used for gargling. Beware that you do not swallow the liquid. There are numerous studies which are being conducted across the country that have demonstrated the effectiveness of gargling. You can implement this method into your daily routine to get rid of tonsil stones.
How does gargling help to treat tonsil stones:
Gargling has always traditionally been used to treat sore throats. But when performed by patients with tonsil stones, it helps to dislodge the hardened lumps from the throat due to the continuous flushing of the area. Gargling with medicinal substances is an added benefit as it helps to prevent infections. An important thing to remember is that gargling should be done regularly for a period of time to be effective in flushing out the stones.
Prevention is better than cure, so maintain good oral hygiene even after your stone is dislodged as it helps in correcting the underlying causes and prevents bad breath and new stones formation.